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A seller in Fort Collins, Colorado, is asking $2,000 for a 2002 Toyota RAV4 EV that reportedly still runs and has its factory battery pack. The seller describes it as a project, citing the battery’s age and the vehicle’s condition, and recommends transporting it by trailer.
A 2002 Toyota RAV4 EV listed for $2,000 in Fort Collins, Colorado, reportedly still runs and retains its original battery pack, according to the seller’s listing shared in the Obscure Cars For Sale Facebook group and reported by The Drive. The seller calls it a project car and advises prospective buyers to bring a trailer, citing the battery’s age and the vehicle’s condition.
The seller says the electric SUV’s EV-specific components work, along with equipment it shares with the gasoline-powered RAV4. The listing describes extensive cosmetic wear: “pretty much every body panel” has dents, dings or scratches. The seller says the vehicle has not been crashed and has no structural damage. Those condition statements have not been independently verified in the source material.
The car is reported to include two MagneChargers, which connect to NEMA 14-50 outlets, and the seller says its onboard charging hardware works. The RAV4 EV used a paddle-style MagneCharger connection rather than the plug used by many later electric vehicles. The listing also notes that the tires, fitted in August 2024, are from the gasoline version because EV-specific tires are no longer available. The windshield has a rock chip and may not be the original heated version.
The RAV4 EV’s original 27.4-kilowatt-hour nickel-metal-hydride battery was EPA-rated for 95 miles when new, according to The Drive. That historical rating does not establish the range or battery health of this particular vehicle today. The seller’s description gives no current measured range, battery-capacity test or detailed service history.
A Rare Early Electric SUV
The listing draws attention to an electric vehicle from an early phase of modern mass-market EV development. Toyota introduced the first-generation RAV4 EV in 1997, during California’s zero-emission vehicle mandate era. Most examples were supplied to fleets, and The Drive reports that only 328 were sold to the public before production ended in 2003.
For collectors and EV enthusiasts, a car that reportedly still operates with its original pack offers a surviving example of technology that is now unusual. But age and rarity do not establish that it is roadworthy or usable for everyday travel. Buyers would need to verify battery performance, charging operation, parts availability and the vehicle’s condition before treating the listing as evidence of practical range or reliability.
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The First RAV4 EV Generation
The first-generation electric RAV4 was developed in response to California’s requirements for automakers to sell zero-emission vehicles. Its NiMH battery chemistry was similar to technology Toyota used in hybrid vehicles. The model’s charging setup also reflects its era: the MagneCharger system was shared with General Motors’ EV1 and used a paddle that fit into a charging port.
Toyota later returned to the electric RAV4 name with a second-generation model launched in 2012. That version used Tesla powertrain components, according to The Drive. It followed the 1990s vehicle by nearly a decade and was part of a small run of electric models as Toyota pursued other approaches, including hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
““pretty much every body panel””
— The seller, as quoted in the listing
Battery Health Remains Unknown
The key unanswered question is the present condition of the original battery. The source reports the seller’s claim that the car runs and that its charging hardware works, but it does not provide a recent capacity test, a verified driving range or independent inspection results. The 95-mile EPA figure was the vehicle’s rating when new, not a confirmed estimate for this example today.
It is also unclear how long the RAV4 has been driven regularly, whether it has had battery or electrical repairs, and whether replacement parts are available for any failed components. The seller’s statements about the car’s accident history, structural condition and working equipment are listing claims, not independently established findings. The source does not identify a sale date or say whether the vehicle has since sold.
Inspection Before Any Purchase
The next step for an interested buyer would be to contact the seller and confirm that the vehicle is still available, then arrange an in-person inspection. A qualified technician familiar with older electric vehicles could assess the battery, charging system and high-voltage components, while a road test could help establish how the vehicle operates. Because the seller advises trailer pickup, prospective buyers should not assume it is ready for a long drive.
No inspection results, sale confirmation or follow-up information are included in the report. Until those details emerge, the asking price and the seller’s description are the available information—not a verified assessment of the RAV4’s current roadworthiness or usable range.
Key Questions
How much is the 2002 RAV4 EV listed for?
The seller is asking $2,000, according to the listing reported by The Drive. The source does not say whether the vehicle has sold or whether the price has changed.
Does it still have its original battery?
Yes, the seller says the RAV4 EV retains its factory battery pack. The source does not include an independent inspection or battery-capacity test.
How far can this RAV4 EV drive now?
The model was EPA-rated for 95 miles when new. That figure does not confirm this vehicle’s current range; the listing provides no recent range test or battery-health measurement.
Why does the seller recommend bringing a trailer?
The seller describes the vehicle as a project car and cites the age of its battery. The listing does not establish that it is unsafe or unable to drive, but buyers should verify its condition rather than assume it can make the trip home under its own power.
Source: thedrive.com
