RAV4EV in Japan

Eiichi Oogami drives his 1998 RAV 4 EV in the Japanese countryside of Kyushu. A member of the Japanese Electric Vehicle Club, he has spent the last two years converting a Peugeot to electric drive with the help of fellow club members who gather once a month to work on it.

In February 2007, he found a website advertising a used RAV4 EV for sale and says that "I knew this car was very rare. I rushed to see it and decided to buy it at once. I wanted to reduce CO2 for our environment and keep silent while driving. But I say now it's FUN to drive an EV." Eiichi uses it mainly to commute to work and he charges every other day. His wife uses it for errands. People point at the car when they see the EV decal (in Japanese) on it. So, is he happy with his car? "Yes, more than that. I am proud of being a RAV4 EV owner." And when his conversion is done, he will be even prouder!