Toyota gives a glimpse of the next generation electric car

VEHICLE

The late arrival of the Japanese car giant to the electric car party has met with sharp criticism, on several levels. But the company is now increasing its investment.

Toyota’s entry into the electric car market has been far from a success. But the company is investing further and has now presented a glimpse of the second generation electric car. A concept version will be shown at the Japan Mobility Show (formerly the Tokyo Motor Show) this fall. However, the launch will not be until 2026, reports Automotive News.

Judging from the picture, it seems to be a sporty and streamlined creation, with the vague promise of “higher efficiency” that should “make hearts race”.

New CEO Koji Sato also announced that Toyota is investing another trillion yen (equivalent to 76 billion kroner) over the remainder of the decade in the development and production of electric cars. This brings the total investment to 5 trillion yen. Koji Sato succeeded Akio Toyoda on April 1 this year. Toyoda, who became CEO in 2009, took the job of chairman instead.

BZ4X beset by problems

Japanese Toyota had a skeptical attitude towards electric cars for a long time, but finally jumped on the bandwagon. First up was the premium brand Lexus with the UX 300e, followed by the Toyota BZ4X.

The launch of the BZ4X has been beset by problems. First it was discovered that the wheels were at risk of coming off when driving. The reason was that the wheel screws could not handle the weight of the car in combination with the torque of the electric motor. 2,500 recalled cars received new washers for the screws, which solved the problem, reports Jalopnik.

Range and fast charging capabilities have also faced criticism, by, among others, the Norwegian Elbil24. The all-wheel-drive BZ4X only achieved a range of 307 km, 35 percent less than what the driving cycle (WLTP) promised: 470 km. The reason was, among other things, higher energy consumption than indicated and a well-sized battery buffer, in comparison with other manufacturers. Toyota admitted that they had been too conservative. When the charge status showed 0 percent, it was in fact 8 percent, which the company adjusted via a wireless update (Over-the-air update, OTA), reports the Omev newsletter.