TOYOTA MAKES ITS MOVE INTO FULL ELECTRIFICATION

By ALISTAIR KENNEDY

The name might sound like a robot from Star Wars, but bZ4X is actually the name Toyota has picked for its frst fully-electric vehicle, due to arrive in Australia late this year.

In fact, the ‘bZ’ stands for Beyond Zero, as in zero-emissions, while the ‘4X’ identifes that the vehicle is a compact crossover SUV.

Under the Toyota/Subaru model sharing arrangement, which brought us the 86 and BRZ sports cars, the bZ4X will also be sold here as the Subaru Solterra.

Available in two and allwheel drive form, power comes from a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, together with a 150kW electric motor for the front wheels and 80kW unit for the rear in all-wheel drive models.

In the all-wheel drive, total output is 160kW.

Maximum range meanwhile is understood to be 460km (WLTP) for the all-wheel drive version.

Toyota was one of the pioneers of petrol/electric vehicles when it launched the Prius back in 2001 and has had an on-going commitment to expanding and improving the technology.

Indeed, such has been its success that in 2022 almost one-third of Toyota’s 231,000 vehicles had hybrid-electric powertrains.

Rather than join the early rush into full and plug-in EVs, Toyota has held off in anticipation of improvements in battery technology, vehicle range and the expansion of charging infrastructure.

The lack of battery charging stations continues to be a signifcant deterrent to EV sales but Toyota has signalled its commitment to EVs with the unveiling of a $20 million investment by its dealers in charging facilities.

Installation of the frst stage of the dealership charging network, involving 232 sites, is underway and will be completed well ahead of the arrival of bZ4X.

Toyota’s Sean Hanley said the move by dealers to invest in charging was recognition that facilities – and not just