Range Toyota bZ4X: Toyota’s new bestseller: Crisis result in range test

After long delays, Toyota’s first electric car bZ4X is finally on its way to Norwegian customers. It was originally supposed to be here this summer – but problems with wheel bolts led to major delays.

Last autumn, everything was finally in order – and now deliveries are in full swing. Nearly 430 of the new electric cars have been registered in Norway so far. Several thousand have ordered – and from the new year the delivery rate will increase considerably.

Broom has not yet had the opportunity to test the car on Norwegian roads. However, it is just around the corner.

In the meantime, our colleagues at Elbil24 have got their hands on a copy. It did not go so well. They were simply shocked by the results of the range test.

Big variations

Toyota says the bZ4X has a battery pack of 71.4 kWh gross capacity.

The stated range is up to 512 kilometers. It has front-wheel drive. In Norway, four-wheel drive applies. Then the bZ4X manages up to 470 kilometers.

Depending on the equipment, the range can still be significantly lower. For example, the top model, with 20″ rims and glass roof, is stated at 411 kilometres.

The car that Elbil24 tested is, on the other hand, stated at 459 kilometres.

We’ve tested the bZ4X abroad – see how it went here

– Dramatically

Naturally, the surprise is big, when you only manage 307 and 318 kilometers respectively, before the car tells you that there are zero kilometers left on the battery. Both times the car was driven from a full charge until it had zero kilometers left. The test was carried out in around eight plus degrees and on a wet road.

– I have never experienced such large deviations. Here there is a dramatically large difference between stated and actual range, says Fred Magne Skillebæk.

He is subject editor and test manager at Elbil24 – and Norway’s representative in the Car of the Year jury.

You can read the whole case for elbil24 here – to see more about the details of the test.

High consumption

Consumption was measured at 19.4 kWh per mile. Far above the stated consumption – which is 15.8 kWt.

– By way of comparison, I can mention that the Nissan Aryia that we were to test it against was “only” 60 kilometers away from the stated range in exactly the same conditions. It managed 473 kilometres, continues Skillebæk.

Among other things, he wonders how much the range was reduced by switching on the air conditioning.

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Customers react

We have spoken with information manager at Toyota Norway, Espen Olsen. He says that Toyota takes the test result very seriously. They will now try to look at what could be the cause of the high consumption – and the low range.

Olsen also confirms what Broom himself has seen on the Facebook group of Norwegian bZ4X owners, namely that they too have wondered about high consumption and a lower range than stated.

Testing bZ4X: Here’s the verdict

“Unusual” buffer

– But one thing is important to include here. Because Toyota is extremely keen to preserve the battery’s properties for as long as possible, a “buffer” has been added. This means that when the car says there is zero kilometer range, the battery still has just over eight percent capacity left. As usual, how much it amounts to in kilometers depends on many factors. But it should be possible to manage a lot if you drive carefully and switch off the air conditioning, says Olsen.

If this is true, it should be possible to travel 368 kilometers on one charge. But with little use of the air conditioning.

Takes criticism

– We have to accept criticism that we have not been able to communicate exactly this with the buffer on the battery well enough. Neither to car journalists nor buyers. We have to get started on that now, says Olsen to Broom.

He further states that the concerns related to the range and consumption have been given the highest priority.

They will also take part in the winter’s large range and consumption tests. Both NAF and the Electric Vehicle Association each have their own.

It has everything it needs to be a success in Norway

Heat pump

bZ4X has an air to water heat pump. The hot water goes into the heater register and the heat from it is blown into the car like on all other cars.

In addition, the car has an electric heating flask which helps in very cold temperatures, this also heats the water.

Now that winter and cold are coming, both customers and Toyota themselves are probably excited about what the range will be like.

– We recognize the importance of balancing the electric car’s performance, durability and reliability in order to deliver the best security to our customers. We will continue to provide the necessary information and updates on this topic in the future, emphasizes Toyota Norge in an email.

Toyota has a unique battery guarantee – which promises at least 70 percent capacity after 10 years and 1 million kilometres.

Reason for the delay?

Against the background of the large delays this summer, it is perhaps tempting to speculate whether this with consumption and range could be a contributing factor. We ask Skillebæk about exactly that. He answers like this:

– It may well be that there are several reasons why the car is delayed. But of course we can’t say anything for sure about that.

For its part, Toyota emphasizes that the delays this summer are linked to problems with the wheel bolts on the car.

Video: Here we tested the Toyota bZ4X: – Impressive on the terrain:

The Toyota has a bulletproof reputation – but there is one thing that “all” the owners react to