We've been following the saga of a 2001 Toyota RAV4 EV that came up for auction on eBay and sold for a record-setting (as far as we know) bid of $89,200. Unfortunately, for the seller, monkeydude12, the winning bidder backed out and, according to ABG commenter Yanquetino, a message appeared on the auction stating that the seller had received a message from the original winning bidder stating that, "I am sorry about the bid my husband placed on this item. He thought he retraced it but I guess he didn't. He has a brain tumor and can't see real well. Could you please offer this item to the next highest bidder? Thank you for understanding." Bummer, monkeydude.

However, all was not lost. There was still a rare RAV4 EV to be had and so negotiations soon ensued with the 2nd highest bidder. We are happy to report at this time that, although the original record price was rescinded, the final agreed upon price of $69,850 is still (again, as far as we know) a record.

Alas, records are made to be broken. As we reported to you earlier today, a seller by the name of "fluffytheleopard" has just entered another RAV4 EV into the eBay fray and the bidding combat has already pushed the price of that very cherry looking ride to the dizzying height of $50,100. We shall continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed.

[Source: monkeydude12 A.K.A. "Joe"]

it may not be the most original take on the question of why we don't have a robust EV infrastructure in America today, but Michael Kanellos's post over on CNET on just who killed the electric car is nonetheless a very good read.

Take this line as an example: "This is General Motors and Ford Motor we're talking about. U.S. automakers are the last bastion of industrial feudalism on the planet. The most innovative things they've come up with in three decades are the cupholder and the Lee Iacocca goggle glasses. (It was a huge fashion statement back in the '70s, kids.) These people are going to engineer a global conspiracy that eludes regulators around the world, financiers and competitors? GM execs are more concerned about who gets named to the Rolling Hills Country Club membership committee."

You like? There more where that came from, but if you're pressed for time the takeaway point is that making a "real" EV for the masses is no easy task, and the difficulty means there are a lot of reasons why no automaker has tried since the EV1 and RAV4 EV and Ranger EV went away. The success of hybrids, trouble with building a better battery, the inherent difficulty in making and selling cars and - very importantly - cheap customers are all to blame.

I heartily disagree with Kanello, though, when he says that understanding something by "follow(ing) the money", is something only crazy people do. There's a lot that gets revealed when we look at financial motives.

[Source: CNET]

At the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, we find a microcosm of what could be the future of garages. Under the cover of the "SolarPort" resides as many as 39 Toyota RAV4 EVs. They charge their batteries using nothing but the sun's power captured by solar panels on the roof. The excess power they generate is routed to the Civic Auditorium, offsetting their electric bill each month, and since they generate 44,400 Kilowatt-hours of power per year (for comparison, the average house uses 4000-8000 KW-hours per year), that was clearly a wise move. As you notice by the shots of the EVs (as well as the dust collecting on the charge terminals), these are not new RAV4s. This is a system that has been functioning for a couple years now, which seem to be going by without extensive maintenance. The project was paid for by the City of Santa Monica, Edison Technology Solutions, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, and the Utility Photovoltaic Group (now the Solar Electric Power Association), and built by Solar Unity Company, Inc.

This is an excellent demonstration of using resources to their full efficiency. Imagine having a carport similar to this at a suburban apartment complex. When the residents are not charging their vehicles (whether they be plug-in hybrids or full EVs), excess solar power is sent to the building's grid, or an emergency backup battery system, like a U.P.S. for an entire building. It could not be cleaner toward the environment, and it's free, depending on how you look at it. Your transportation costs are now part of your electric bill, which is supplemented by a free, unlimited energy source. As soon as some popular, marketable electric cars are released to the consumer, these innovations will become even more viable. Too bad it's taking so long for the rest of the world catch on to what the Santa Monica Civic Center has had for years.

More details to come.



[Source: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium]

Once or twice a month, it seems, an old EV makes its way to eBay. Currently, there are two of the best-known electric vehicles of recent times are on the auction site (good luck finding an EV1 on there), with about a week left before each auction ends. Here's the skinny on each.

First, a 2002 Toyota RAV4 EV. The original buyer, who put about 40,000 miles on it, is selling the car (why? His family got too big for the RAV4 and they've moved into a Highlander). The seller is including two Toyota flat-panel inductive chargers, so you can install one at work if needed. The batteries still hold power for a range of 70-100 miles, and can still move the RAV4 at 80mph. Plus, this particular vehicle does have a CA HOV sticker. Current bid $35,000.

Second, the 1998 Ford Ranger EV. These trucks, with their lower range, always sell for less than RAV4 EVs. The current bid for this particular truck is $5,100. The seller has had it for a year (he thinks it was owned by the University of Michigan at some point). He thinks the batteries are original, and that it can get 50 miles on a charge. One charger comes with the vehicle.

[Source: eBay]

Well, well, well. Who says you can't buy a Toyota RAV4 EV anymore? Earlier this month, a RAV4 EV sold on eBay for a paltry $46,000 (down from earlier RAV4 EV auctions that sold for over $60,000). Now there's another of these electric beauties on offer. This particular all-electric SUV is in Los Angeles, California and is currently bid up to abotu $16,000.

It seems every time an electric vehicle is for sale on eBay, the seller needs to explain why they're getting rid of this dream car (remember the Xebra from the transferred Air Force member?). This time 'round, the reason is the seller's job will require them to regularly drive outside the RAV4 EV's 100-mile range, so a new car is in order. The seller (who is also the vehicle's original owner, according to the description) has taken good care of the SUV, even going so far as to have it "professionally washed every week since acquisition". That's dedication.

[Source: eBay]

Say what you want about electric cars, they can go for a pretty penny on eBay. Recently, electric versions of Toyota's RAV4 have sold for $60,000-$70,000 (way up from the original list price of around $40,000, which also got ten grand or so in tax credits). There's another of these electric SUVs currently for sale on the site. The auction ends Oct. 25 and has been bid up to $11,000 already. This car has under 34,000 miles and the nickel-metal hydride batteries can be expected to last for around 100,000 miles before needing replacement, the seller says. Toyota has announced they'll service RAV4 EVs as long as the vehicles are "sustainable", whatever that means.

Added bonus: there are more pictures of a RAV4 EV as part of this auction than I've ever seen. If you want an in-depth tour of the vehicle from your screen, check it out.

[Source: eBay]

The ever-elusive electric RAV4 has once again shown its face. You can set your sights on one of the last of the major automakers' electric vehicles that still run wild in the streets in this eBay auction (by the way, did you know that Microsoft Word will tell you that Ebay is spelled wrong, but eBay is correct? Who took the time to program that into the Word dictionary?). This RAV4 EV currently has a bid of $35,000, but the reserve is not met (the Buy It Now price is $65,000, which is about on par with other recent RAV4 EV auctions. See here and here). The vehicle is in California and still has 15,000 miles on the battery pack's warranty, but no other warranty is provided. Although Toyota no longer sells the RAV4 EV, it will service them.

[Source: eBay]

Why does this story seem like déjà vu? Lessees of the tiny Nissan Hypermini vehicles were disappointed in Nissan's decision to take back the vehicles when the leases expired and blocked the truck that came to pick up the Hyperminis. If you've seen "Who Killed The Electric Car?" then perhaps you're imaging the scene where the EV1 drivers block the truck in the film. The difference here is that the lessees were not passionate individuals but the city council of Pasadena, CA. To block the truck, an electric Toyota RAV4 was "poorly parked" in front of the truck by the council.

Nissan says it no longer makes the Hypermini and can't maintain the cars. I tell ya, as soon as someone makes and markets a decent EV that people can actually buy (instead of lease), they're going to make a mint. The market is certainly there.

[Source: Channel 4]

When I went to Santa Monica the other day to cover the Tesla Roadster unveiling, I went for a walk late at night once I was finished with work. While wandering along the Santa Monica pier, I came across a Toyota RAV4 EV, and thought that the strange city lights would make for some good pictures. I like the sign that says "No Parking Any Time. Electric Vehicles Exempt". I've traveled a fait bit, but I've never seen an EV charging station. Maybe California really is ahead of the game. I also got a shot of the LAX Shuttle, which runs on compressed natural gas. In case anyone out there likes these images, I'll release them under the Creative Commons License V 2.0. See the rest after the jump. Enjoy.

[Source: Me]

$15,000 for the batteries?  An older battery system seems to be one of the main differences between the most-recent RAV4 EV which sold on eBay for almost $15,000 less than the RAV4 that sold for about $70,000 there about a month ago. As the only somewhat mass-produced, full-size electric vehicle still kicking around that was made by a major auto manufacturer, the RAV4 EV is a unique automobile. The RAV4 EV has been discontinued, but with Toyota's recent announcement that the company would service the RAV4 EVs as long as the vehicles are "sustainable", buying the EV now is not a bad investment. The seller says that this particular vehicle still has about a year and a half of warranty left on the battery system, powertrain and restraint systems, so if the expensive batteries do suffer some in the next few months, there is some recourse.

[Source: eBay. Hat tip to Michael Polsinelli]

Related:
Toyota RAV4 EV sells for almost $70,000 on eBay
Where Toyota's RAV4s are at today and tomorrow

The fate of the General Motors electric vehicle, the EV1, has, literally, been documented all over the place. But the fate of electric vehicles from another major automobile manufacturer has been less publicized. Perhaps that's because, unlike GM's EV1 crushing policy, Toyota has announced it will keep all of its RAV4 EVs that are still running on the road "as long as they are safe and it is practical to do so" and "as long as they are sustainable". Toyota said last week that RAV4 EVs can continue to be leased (or purchased) by lesees and that vehicles returned to Toyota will be redeployed if they're still up to snuff. If they're not, then they will be harvested for parts and the rest will be recycled. Sounds a lot more sensible to me than letting them rust in the desert.

[Source: Toyota]