EVsmart blog Toyota's electric car "bZ4X" that makes you feel comfortable with electric cars and quick chargers / No% display of battery level [Editorial department] Popular articles Recent posts Category

[Articles related to the intensive test drive report] Toyota "bZ4X" test drive report PART.1 / EV has a weak impression [Naotsugu Mihori] Toyota "bZ4X" test drive report PART.2 / Toyota-like electric vehicle [Yoichi Moroboshi]

The SOC (%) of the remaining battery level cannot be displayed on a meter, etc.

I participated in the test drive event of Toyota "bZ4X" held at Sodegaura Forest Raceway in Chiba Prefecture on February 22, 2021. However, the test drive with Mr. Mihori and Mr. Moroboshi who requested the test drive report in another article. I only grabbed the steering wheel by myself when shooting in the paddock. The overall impression was "Toyota's new model" as the two reports show.

Although there is an "Electric" emblem on the lid of the power supply port, even if a family member or acquaintance rides on it, I think that you may not notice that this car is an electric car unless you tell it again. The battery capacity is 71.4kWh and the daily cruising range is more than enough. CHAdeMO standard fast charging supports up to 150kW, so you can take advantage of the increasing power of 90kW devices on the highway SAPA. Considering the practicality of long drive, it can be said that it has appeared with performance that is not so uncomfortable or inconvenient as conventional engine cars. In many ways, I got the impression that it was an EV that didn't look like an EV.

As the editor-in-chief of the EVsmart blog, I personally want to find the usability and joy of an electric vehicle from the user's perspective when trying out a new EV. This time, it was a short test drive, but the most worrisome and surprising point was that the meter and LCD monitor could not display the SOC (%) of the remaining battery level.

The battery information displayed on the "top mount meter" that secures visibility while suppressing the movement of the line of sight while driving is only the same analog indicator (scale) as the gasoline fuel gauge and the remaining cruising distance. When I looked for the menu on the LCD monitor in the center, I couldn't find the function to display the battery level, temperature, etc., only with the timer charge setting. From the common sense of engine cars, some people may think, "I wish I could know the cruising range." However, the cruising range is only a relative measure that fluctuates depending on the slope of the route and the way of running. In order for the driver to know the remaining battery level as a reliable number, the SOC% display is required.

I feel that not showing the battery information to the driver is a symbolic point that Toyota created the bZ4X as a "new Toyota car" instead of a "new EV".

Personally, I feel that one of the pleasures of driving an EV is to control the energy consumption of the remaining battery power. It's not just fun to plan and execute a plan to reach a quick charging spot with a small EV with a small battery. Even with a large-capacity EV, the long drive that extends the distance while checking the remaining battery level while charging smoothly has a kind of gameplay that was not felt in engine cars.

Run well with electricity. I think this game is fun because EV teaches us the importance of energy. If you ride an EV that can accurately grasp the remaining battery level, you can realize how much power consumption will increase if you increase the cruising speed by 10km / h. On the contrary, if you run a long downhill, the battery level will increase due to the regenerative braking. No matter how fuel-efficient a car is with an engine, the amount of energy, that is, gasoline, does not increase as it runs.

It's just a personal feeling, but I support the EV shift because I feel that EV is more comfortable than engine cars, and when I ride an EV, I am aware of "the amount of energy consumed to run". This is because I feel that it makes me realize that I want to drive and live in a way that is kind to the earth. To be honest, the cruising speed on the highway has slowed since I replaced my car with an EV.

The test drive this time is still a prototype, so I can't refuse. However, it is quite disappointing that Toyota's new electric vehicle, which provides the majority of automobiles popular in Japan, cuts off communication between the battery and the driver, which gives awareness of energy, is a test drive venue. I also told the people of Toyota.

Only lease and KINTO in Japan

A few days before the test drive, it was reported that this bZ4X will be offered exclusively to "KINTO", a subscription service in Japan.

What is the truth? When I checked with the person in charge of public relations, he said, "All leasing is available in Japan. KINTO will also provide it for individuals." One reason is to eliminate user anxiety such as battery deterioration and low trade-in price. In addition, the explanation was to collect the sold BEV batteries firmly and promote reuse, etc., and to enhance the effect of achieving carbon neutrality in total.

If you make a contract with KINTO, the user of the vehicle verification is the contractor, but the owner is "KINTO Co., Ltd." (in the case of leasing, the leasing company). Since the CEV subsidy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is paid to the owned car, the user will contract with KINTO at the amount considering the subsidy.

The set price of the bZ4X in Japan has not been announced, but considering that the Nissan Ariya B6 (65kWh) starts at 5.39 million yen, it can be assumed that it will start at around 5.5 million yen. The amount of CEV subsidy for the 4th year of Reiwa should be 800,000 yen, so it is about 4.7 million yen. Looking at the KINTO lineup and vehicle price, the GR Yaris RZ “High performance” is 4.65 million yen, with a 5-year contract with an initial cost free plan of 46,200 yen per month and a bonus of 165,000 yen per month (tax included). In the 3-year contract cancellation fee free plan, the initial application fee is 396,000 yen and the monthly fee is 74,000 yen (tax included). By the way, the "Morizo ​​Selection", which is a GR Yaris RZ "High performance" with special specifications, is a KINTO exclusive car with a 3-year contract, a monthly fee of 54,340 yen and a bonus of 165,000 yen (tax included).

In principle, the CEV subsidy has a disposal limit that requires holding for 4 years, and the plan setting for bZ4X at KINTO has not been announced, but I think that the cost feeling will be about plus alpha in the example of GR Yaris. I will.

My car is said to be in the era of "ownership to use". As explained by the person in charge, considering the reuse of the battery, it can be said that using it for leasing or subscription is a method suitable for BEV.

OTA (Over the Air = updating software etc. by communication) is becoming common sense of EV by Tesla car. There is a risk that the basic functions of the car, which are directly linked to human life, will be updated wirelessly, so for users, taking advantage of the subscription mechanism packaged up to basic maintenance, including the addition of new functions and battery warranty. It would be nice if an attractive BEV subscription plan could be set.

Charging infrastructure-Partnership with "EVgo" in the United States

On February 24, EVgo, which operates a charging network in the United States, announced that it will provide owners who purchased the bZ4X with a one-year free charge. EVgo is a company like "e-Mobility Power" in Japan. With 100% renewable energy, we have more than 800 fast charging spots nationwide. There is also a major charging network company called "Electrify America" ​​in the United States, but no partnership with this company was announced.

Looking at the photos in the news release, it seems that the bZ4X also supports combo for quick charging in the United States. IONITY in Europe and Electrify America in the United States are promoting the installation of high output devices of up to 350kW according to the combo standard (CCS2 in Europe and CCS1 in North America), and EVgo is also installing multiple units of 100kW to 350kW class. We are. The performance of the bZ4X, which enables quick charging at a maximum of 150kW, can be used comfortably in Europe and the United States.

How about in Japan? Including the new model that can charge 6 units at the same time, which was opened in Daikoku PA, e-Mobility Power is trying to install multiple devices based on a maximum of 90kW. However, users who purchased the bZ4X, which is listed as "up to 150kW" in the catalog, cannot fully utilize the fast charging performance of 150kW in Japan today.

From my personal experience, I don't think there is a big inconvenience in practical use at 90kW, so it is a sufficient output for the public quick charging infrastructure for the time being. If Toyota launches a 150kW quick-charge BEV, I think it is also the responsibility of the manufacturer to prepare a charging infrastructure that can take advantage of its high performance. Toyota has already announced that it will proceed with the installation of quick chargers at dealers. However, high-power quick charging is really necessary mainly for long drives on the highway. Even if the number of 150kW equipment is increased in the dealer, the convenience of the user will not be improved so much, and I wonder how the dealer will bear the installation and maintenance cost, which is higher than the 50kW equipment.

By the way, there are almost no CHAdeMO devices with 150kW output in Japan yet, so when I checked how I tested it, the test method was "there is a performance that supports up to 150kW as vehicle hardware". As a result, it was unconfirmed whether or not the new Daikoku PA could be charged.

If Toyota moves, I think Japanese society will move as well. As I wrote in the request article at the beginning of the year, "Toyota's quick charging network with CHAdeMO standard maximum 150kW output, basic charging of apartment houses, expansion of destination charging infrastructure such as accommodation facilities, by all means Please show your strength. "

Anyway, the day when bZ4X can be obtained in Japan is approaching. We look forward to more details such as subscription prices.

(Interview / text / Yoshinori Yorimoto)