Two friends found a Tennessee barn full of EVs and had to master volts to save them
Published on Jun 06, 2025 at 8:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jun 06, 2025 at 9:23 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A duo of electric car enthusiasts and content creators discovered a large Tennessee barn-find collection of rare ’90s and early ’00s EVs.
Visiting a friend’s property, they found Rav4 EVs, electric S10s, vans, and other unique EVs with plans to salvage and restore them hidden inside.
While it was an epic find, many of the vehicles needed serious battery work.
But was the restoration project even going to be possible?
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EV fans, Kyle and Alex from Out of Spec Renew, went through some of their friend Bonnie’s old EV collection in a Tennessee barn to see what they could get up and running, as well as what they would need to make them work.
The team performed preventative maintenance on Bonnie’s Tesla P100D to avoid coolant leaks in the large drive unit.
Next up, they examined a dual-motor electric golf cart converted to lithium-iron phosphate batteries. But they encountered communication faults on one motor controller.
The team also investigated a Ford Transit Connect EV with battery and heater problems, and tried charging to revive it.
They noted rare and nostalgic cars, such as a Dodge Epic Van, and discussed their top-tier preservation.
Using OBD2 tools, they found and cleared battery diagnostic trouble codes. However, they were faced with critical faults like interlock errors blocking startup.
Many cars had been repowered with salvaged cells, and the team acknowledged restoration would be a multi-year effort due to battery and system issues.
The project was extensive and is ongoing. As such, the team encouraged viewers who might be interested in the vehicles, especially Rav4 EVs, to get in touch.
Want more car nostalgia? All the rarest supercars of the ’90s had one thing in common that made them an elite super group of amazing and innovative cars.
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London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness, and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the senior content writer and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms, and coveted brands. When her OOO is on from writing about cars and heading up on-site SEO you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym, or exploring the city she loves.
