Toyota’s new Rav4 plug-in hybrid lets you fast charge the battery

is a news writer fond of the electric vehicle lifestyle and things that plug in via USB-C. He spent over 15 years in IT support before joining The Verge. Toyota is redesigning and “electrifying” its Rav4 lineup for 2026 with models that aren’t quite EVs, but could masquerade as one. The mega popular SUV will come standard with hybrid powertrains, including a plug-in version with a feature you’d expect in only pure EVs: fast charging. That’s right, the 2026 Rav4 PHEV can now plug into CCS-compatible DC fast chargers, which means owners can quickly fill up its battery during long road trips — effectively playing imposter amongst all the EVs charging up at rest stops as it secretly conserves its gas tank. Rest stops often lack standard AC level 2 plugs that many plug-in hybrids rely on — the kind you’d have installed at home so you can wake up to a full charge every morning. Image: Toyota The new Rav4’s on-board AC charger can also charge faster now at 11 kW, an upgrade from the previ ... Read full article.