The Toyota bZ4X is the Japanese firm's first fully electric model. It's arriving a bit late to the party, but if the brand does its job, it could be a moderate success. It's not going to sell like hotcakes, but it might still provide some benefits in terms of brand image. After all, this model is built on a new design platform, called e-TNGA, which should serve as the foundation for the new family of electric vehicles that Toyota is planning.
The fact is, the bZ4X got off to a rocky start. First, it faced a major recall because "certain units could lose their wheels." That problem has since been fixed, but the most difficult issue to resolve was its electricity consumption and charging power . Well, now the brand has announced that a couple of new features are coming this year, 2024, to address this problem. Take note, because it sounds very interesting, doesn't it?
The renewed Toyota bZ4X from 2024 does not receive aesthetic changes...
Before we delve into the technical details of the revamped Toyota bZ4X, let's take a look at its aesthetics. The summary is quick and simple, as the brand has chosen not to include any changes to its appearance for now . Thus, we have one of the most attractive and original electric compact SUVs . This is especially true because it sports a distinctly manga-inspired look with sharp headlights and a prominent rear end and wheel arches.
As for its technical specifications, to refresh your memory, the bZ4X is powered by an electric drivetrain that can be configured as either a single motor or a twin motor. In the single-motor configuration, it produces 204 hp, and in the twin-motor configuration, 218 hp, both supplied by a 71,4 kWh lithium-ion battery. However, achieving a range of 411 kilometers is very difficult because the bZ4X is highly sensitive to usage , and its charging process can be slow.
The improvements focus on loading speed and security…
It's not that the Toyota bZ4X offers slow charging power, as it can reach up to 150 kW DC. The problem is that charging from 80% to 100% takes longer, making its use feel "slower." The reason for this is to preserve battery life, but combined with a higher-than-expected average consumption, approaching 20 kWh, it makes the bZ4X less than ideal for long journeys.
To address the problem, Toyota has announced technical adjustments to the battery heating system to reduce charging times, particularly in cold climates when using a DC fast-charging power supply. These adjustments include a new water-to-water heat exchanger and a heating adjustment valve in the heating circuit to help raise the main battery's temperature.
According to the manufacturer, this improvement is expected to reduce the charging speed from 10% to 80%, especially in cold and sub-zero weather. They also indicate that they have included a new radiant heating system located beneath the steering column and instrument panel. This makes it easier to heat the interior without increasing energy consumption, thus maintaining the main battery's range.
Secondly, we must mention an improvement in safety. The bZ4X now prevents rear-end collisions by using the blind spot monitoring system's radar to detect when there is a risk of collision with a vehicle approaching from behind, automatically activating the rear hazard lights to alert the other driver. Finally, a digital key compatible with iOS and Android is included, which can be shared with up to five drivers.
Source – Toyota
