Monday saw Toyota reveal the new Toyota RAV4 EV at the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles, an all-electric SUV with an expected driving range rating of approximately 100 miles.

The RAV4 EV is expected to go on sale in late summer of 2012 through select dealers in four major Californian metropolitan markets; Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles/Orange County and San Diego. It’s price will be $49,800, and Toyota is expecting to sell around 2,600 units over the next three years.

“It’s all about blending the best of two worlds,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division. “The all-new RAV4 EV marries the efficiency of an EV with the versatility of a small SUV – in fact, it is the only all-electric SUV on the market.”

According to the Toyota press release, “the RAV4 EV combines a Tesla designed and produced battery and electric powertrain with Toyota’s most popular SUV model.”

“The front wheel drive RAV4 EV allows drivers to select from two distinctly different drive modes, Sport and Normal. In Sport mode, the vehicle reaches 0-60 mph in just 7.0 seconds and has a maximum speed of 100 mph. Normal mode achieves 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds with a maximum speed of 85 mph. Maximum output from the electric powertrain is 154 HP (115kW) @ 2,800 rpm.”

“We believe that the RAV4 EV will attract sophisticated early technology adopters, much like the first-generation Prius,” said Carter. “It’s designed for consumers who prioritize the environment and appreciate performance. We look forward to seeing how the market responds.”