Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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EV Charging Cables: A Guide For Ireland
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How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car At Home: The Complete Guide For Ireland
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The Toyota bZ4X Electric SUV
Toyota Motor Corporation, known simply as Toyota, is a leading global automotive company. The company is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world and is headquartered in Aichi, Japan. The company has already established an enviable track record for the development and marketing of environment friendly hybrid vehicles. Toyota has one of the largest portfolios of mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs), currently 11 hybrid models. It is also a world leader in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The company currently has a portfolio of the following fully electric and plug-in electric vehicles:
- Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
- The All-Electric Toyota bZ4X
- Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid
The Toyota bZ4X electric SUV was debuted in April 2021 as the ‘bZ4X Concept’. The is the first electric vehicle (EV) to be based on the e-TNGA platform co-developed by Toyota and Subaru. It is the first pure electric SUV from the Japanese manufacturer and sales commenced in mid-2022.
Despite Toyota’s leadership in hybrid technology, the automotive manufacturer has been rather late it terms of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Nevertheless, despite the increased competition in the compact e-SUV/ crossover segment, the bZ4X EV has much to offer, for both families and company-car drivers. The EV is available, both, as a front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD).
Both variants are available in the same EV battery size: 71.4 kWh. For the FWD variant, Toyota claims a WLTP certified zero-emission electric range up to 510 km. The AWD variant has a pure electric range up to 460 km. Of course, we need to adjust for the real-world driving conditions. For the FWD bZ4X expect an electric range closer to 430 km and for the AWD bZ4X an e-range up to 400 km is more realistic.
The bZ4X offers DC charging up to 150 kW. Given the price tag of the EV, we would have expected a faster DC charging capability. Nevertheless, the EV can be charged 10%-80% in 30 minutes i.e. just enough time for a short coffee break and bite.
Surprisingly (and disappointingly), the bZ4X electric SUV is limited to a 6.6 kW onboard AC charger. Again, given the price tag, we would have expected a higher AC charging capability. Nevertheless, as most homes in Ireland are powered by single-phase power supply, the 6.6 kW is adequate. The EV can be fully charged via a dedicated single-phase residential EV charger, like myenergi zappi in 9 hours and 30 minutes.
Yes, the EV can be charged via a 3-PIN domestic socket. However, we at e-zoomed discourage using a domestic socket for charging an electric car. We also recommend a topping up approach to EV charging. This way charging times are shorter! Moreover, regular charging is good for the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Toyota offers a class-leading 10 years or 160,000 km warranty.
In terms of performance, the front-wheel drive (FWD) Toyota bZ4X 150 kW can achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds (max power: 221 hp/ 266 Nm torque). While the bZ4X 160 kW all-wheel drive (AWD) can achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds (max power: 231 hp/ 168 Nm torque). The top speed of the EV is 160 km/h.
In terms of equipment and technology, depending on the grade chosen, the following are on offer: pre-collision system, lane trace assist, road sign assist, emergency driving stop system, intelligent adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor, reversing Camera, pre-collision system with pedestrian (day & night), cyclist & motorbike (day) detection, 12.3″ HD Toyota Smart Connect, Toyota Skyview fixed panoramic roof and more.
In terms of practicality, the pure electric Toyota bZ4X family SUV offers ample headroom and legroom for all passengers (front and rear). Rather surprisingly, the EV does not have a glove box! The electric car offers a decent boot size up to 452 L.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Good electric range | Onboard charger limited to 6.6 kW AC |
| Available as front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) | DC charging limited to 150 kW |
| Practical interior space | Available in only one EV battery size |
Gallery
The All-Electric Toyota bZ4X SUV (credit: Toyota)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (5 Options) |
|---|
| Toyota bZ4X Pure 150 kW (from € N/A) |
| Toyota bZ4X Motion 150 kW (from € N/A) |
| Toyota bZ4X Vision 150 kW (from € N/A) |
| Toyota bZ4X Motion 160 kW (from € N/A) |
| Toyota bZ4X Vision 160 kW (from € N/A) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 71.4 kWh |
| Charging: | 150 kW DC Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard Charger: 6.6 kW AC (0% – 100%: 9.5 hours) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 10 years or 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1650 |
| Width (mm): | 1860 |
| Length (mm): | 4690 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2850 |
| Turning Radius (m): | 5.6 |
| Boot Space (L): | 452 |
| bZ4X (150 kW) | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 71.4 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 510 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km): | 14.5 |
| Charging: | 150 kW DC Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard Charger: 6.6 kW AC (0% – 100%: 9.5 hours) |
| Top Speed: | 160 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 7.5 seconds |
| Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Max Power (hp): | 221 |
| Torque (Nm): | 266.3 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,900-1,920 |
| Colours: | 6 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
| bZ4X (160 kW) | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 71.4 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 460 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km): | 16.2 |
| Charging: | 150 kW DC Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard Charger: 6.6 kW AC (0% – 100%: 9.5 hours) |
| Top Speed: | 160 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 6.9 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Max Power (hp): | 231 |
| Torque (Nm): | 168.5 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 2,000-2,060 |
| Colours: | 6 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
History Of Electric Cars: Quick Facts
| An electric vehicle (EV), also referred to as a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is not a new invention or even an invention of modern times. Indeed, EVs were first developed more than a 100 years ago in the 19th century. Inventors from various countries, to include European countries and the United States, were the first to invest in electric motors and batteries. The first practical electric cars were built in the second half of the nineteenth century, with the first US electric car introduced in 1890. |
| Electric vehicles came into prominence in the early 1900’s, a time when horse-drawn carriages were the primary mode of transportation. Archived black and white photographs from that period show famous avenues like Madison Avenue in New York city filled with horse-drawn carriages. In stark contrast, a similar photograph taken a decade later of Madison Avenue showed not a single horse-drawn carriage. Instead the avenue was filled with motor vehicles, a new invention. It was the beginning of man’s love affair with cars that has lasted more than a century and still going strong. |
| However, the uptake of electric vehicles in the early 20th century was short-lived, as gasoline powered vehicles propelled by internal combustion engines (ICE) become the preferred mode of transportation. Bottom-line, manufactures chose internal combustion engines over electric cars in the early 1900s for various reasons, to include, the costs and production volumes. |
| It is not definitive as to where EVs were invented or to credit a single inventor. However, one known electric motor (small-scale) was created in 1828 by Anyos Jedlik, a Hungarian inventor, engineer, physicist and Benedictine priest. Hungarians and Slovaks still consider him to be the unsung hero of the electric motor. |
| Shortly after, between 1832 and 1839, a Scottish inventor Robert Anderson created a large electric motor to drive a carriage, powered by non-rechargeable primary power cells. Through the 19th century a number of inventors were inspired to develop electric motors to include, Thomas Davenport, an American from Vermont credited with building the first DC electric motor in America (1834). Unlike many of his contemporaries and other trying to build electric motors, Davenport did not have a background in either engineering or physics. In fact, he was a blacksmith. |
| Move forward a few decades and at the end of the 19th century, William Morrison created what is believed to be the first practical electric vehicle. Morrison, another American from Des Moines, Iowa, was a chemist who became interested in electricity. He build the first electric vehicle in 1887 in a carriage built by the Des Moines Buggy Co. His first attempt was not a great success. In 1890, he attempted again, with more success. 12 EVs were built using a carriage built by the Shaver Carriage Company. |
| The batteries were designed and developed by William Morrison. The vehicle had 24 batteries with an output of 112 amperes at 58 volts that took 10 hours to recharge. Available horsepower just under 4 horsepower. The vehicle could accommodate 6 individuals and had a top speed of 14 mph (22.50 km/h). |
| Morrison’s success led to others also developing large-scale practical electric cars. At the turn of the century cities like New York had 60 electric taxis. The first decade witnessed strong popularity for electric vehicles. However the popularity was short-lived as internal combustion engine (ICE) gasoline powered vehicles replaced the early electric vehicles. Henry Fords success with the then ubiquitous Ford Model T was the ‘beginning of the end’ for electric vehicles. The Model T was cheaper than the prevailing electric cars (US$ 650 Vs US$ 1,750) and could be manufactured at scale. As they say — the rest is history. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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