The electric RAV4, the first result of Toyota's electric-car collaboration with Tesla, will be sold directly to consumers next year, Toyota says in trying to stamp out reports to the contrary.

"Recent reports have incorrectly stated that the 2012 RAV4 EV will only be marketed to fleet and car-sharing programs. We'd like to set the record straight. The 2012 RAV4 EV will definitely be sold to the general public," the automaker said in a statement.

Not so for Toyota's other electric coming next year, the tiny Scion iQ. It will be sold only to fleets and car-sharing programs.

The electric RAV4 will use Tesla's unique electric-battery and control technology. That means that its battery will be made up of thousands of laptop-computer batteries bound together into packs, like in the Tesla roadster.

There's no information yet on the electric RAV4's price, which could determine just how many individuals will be willing to buy them. There are a lot of good feelings for this EV though, since some old RAV4 electrics from the 1990s are still running around places such as Southern California.