eBay find of the day: right-hand drive RAV4 EV
How's this for self-promotion? AutoblogGreen reader Anthony B. sent us this tip about an all-electric Toyota RAV4 EV that's up for sale on eBay - and why not? It's his car. This 1999 RAV4 is a bit different than the other ones we've mentioned before because it's in Japan. Oh, and it's right-hand drive.
According to the vehicle description on the auction page, only 60 RHD RAV4 EVs were made, and only three are known to be in private hands today (anyone out there want to confirm or deny this? EVNut makes it look likely).
The vehicle is currently in Osaka, Japan but is listed on the UK eBay site. There are reportedly 46,276 miles on the odometer and it comes with extras like heated seats. Anthony says he gets about 100 miles per charge from the 10-year-old vehicle. Apparently, the Japanese RAV4 EV has a second charging port that allows a generator to be connected and power the battery while it's moving down the road. Anthony writes that "It drives like a dream!" So, why is he selling it, again?
Gallery: Right hand drive Toyota RAV4 EV
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[Source: eBay UK]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Swede 3:31PM (4/20/2009)
Gallery title is wrong
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Sebastian 4:43PM (4/20/2009)
whoops. should be fixed now.
Nick 3:47PM (4/20/2009)
Makes you wonder why they take so long to produce working EVs today
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brn 7:11PM (4/20/2009)
Making an EV is easy. Making it practical isn't. Those old EVs weren't practical. The battery technology was/is the limiting factor.
marz 4:33PM (4/20/2009)
Was the generator input factory or aftermarket? I used to think the tag along range extender
not so great, but why not for only the few times a year most people would need it?
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Richard 5:15PM (4/20/2009)
Why not? I have a generator in my garage that doesn't ever get used. It's for when a hurricane takes the power away for a few days. It would work great if put on a trailer and you need to go long distances beyond the battery's range. From what I understand, though, most EV cars don't allow for recharging while driving. Does anyone know if that's possible?
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John 5:35PM (4/20/2009)
Richard in theory they could but it would but complicated. a battery can only be discharged or charging at any given time, regenerative breaking works because the battery is then not discharging in powering the vehicle, usually a capacitor is used in some form which can give the battery a constant charge from regen breaking. it could be done if the pack were separated into 2 parts and you could have one part powering the car the other part charging and it would then switch between both, eg when one part was filled by the generator the computer would switch to discharge that and the other part would then switch to charge mode. so i guess in theory its relatively easy... i am pretty sure some early electrics in the 90's home brew kits could charge and discharge at the same time...
John Rowell 9:52PM (4/20/2009)
John, you could charge a battery at the same time you're using it -- the charging current is used first by the load and then anything remaining goes to the battery. I have a small solar electric system which works in this way.
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Nick 11:23PM (4/20/2009)
brm
"Making an EV is easy. Making it practical isn't. Those old EVs weren't practical. The battery technology was/is the limiting factor."
Oh that's why people that use these old EVs (Including the RAV4) have only praise about it. There's absolutely no issue with the batteries either, sure they don t get 300 miles to a charge, but they proved good enough for 10 years of driving!
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brn 9:28AM (4/21/2009)
Nick, they use lead-acid or NiMH batteries. I assure you, they're not driving today with the original batteries. A replacement battery pack for your Rav4 EV is $26,000. I assume the Ranger EV replacement pack is similarly priced. Additionally, these battery packs weigh up to 2000 pounds. That's the payload of a full size pickup.
I didn't say they were junk. In fact, I think they're pretty damn cool. I said they weren't practical. If they were practical, they'd still be in production.
Ben 1:05AM (4/27/2009)
BRN - Best Read Numbers and Facts (before posting)
BRN I`d just like to point out some errors you have made. First of all yes, sir they are driving with the original batteries. I`m driving a 98 model and I can tell you it is a very happy NiMH battery that gets average 83 miles per charge. You appear to show your lack of research by saying they "use" lead acid or NiMH. And don`t try and say you weren`t referring specifically to the Rav4. Toyota chose ONLY the NiMH for production cars. You have a very messy post because you then throw in the Ford Ranger EV (while conveniently forgeting to put in Ford) which does have lead acid batteries and make a comment about 2,000 pound battery packs which appears to apply also to the Rav4. If you`d care to be specific from 1999 the Rav4 battery pack is 910pounds which is an improvement on my 1998 model which is 1016 pounds (461kg).
Now, to your final sentence which is a clanger, if you know the story or "saga" behind the fantastic NiMH battery produced by Panasonic for the Rav4 EV. Standard Oil(Chevron) was so threatened by these batteries that after gaining control of the patents, they sued Toyota so they couldn`t build the 95 amp high powered ones anymore. In the wash up of the law suit Chevron allowed Toyota to use the same NiMH technology in the Prius for their shallow cycle battery but HELLO...Chevron only allowed Toyota to use less than 8 amp batteries!!! That`s why the the Toyota Prius uses 6.5 amp batteries when there are 95 amp batteries driving around in cars by the same same company Toyota today which you are not allowed to use in your Toyota Prius. Because then your Prius wouldn`t need gas. Comprende?