Evaluating the Over-The-Air Update for Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra
The Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, practically twins in the EV industry, are set to receive a significant over-the-air (OTA) update designed to bring their real-world mileage closer to the advertised WLTP range.
The Toyota bZ4X is touted for its efficiency, managing to proportion a 291-mile WLTP range from a modest 71.4kWh battery on the 4WD variant. On paper, the 2WD model (exclusive to Toyota) offers a 317-mile range, all from the same battery pack. An impressive feat, yet real-world road tests have repeatedly fallen short of these numbers.
Understanding the Real-World Mileage Gap
WLTP testing involves driving to the point of exhaustion – the vehicle literally comes to a halt. Under regular driving conditions, however, the typical driver would never reach this point. It’s akin to driving your petrol vehicle past the ‘E’ marker on your fuel gauge. The norm is to recharge or refuel before hitting zero, hence the discrepancy between the specified and actual mileage.
In a surprising revelation, Toyota and Subaru engineers shared that they had built a safety margin into their EVs. Even when the car’s display indicated a ‘flat’ battery, drivers could squeeze out up to an additional 30 miles. The forthcoming software update will recalibrate the dashboard’s range-to-go and charge-percentage indicators, allowing drivers to make fuller use of the battery’s capacity without changing the actual mileage achievable.
Balancing Battery Health and User Experience
Despite their ambition to provide greater mileage, Toyota must ensure this does not inflict undue stress on the battery, which has an impressive warranty of 620,000 miles (or one million km) over ten years, maintaining at least 70% capacity.
Ultimately, the new OTA software update aims to enhance the user experience. It will address issues around the range-to-go readout fluctuating widely with the use of climate control, promising a lesser impact on the indicated range. It also plans to adjust the m/kWh readout on the trip computer, ensuring it aligns with the European norms of displaying the battery-to-wheels figure rather than the U.S. standard of grid-to-wheels.
The Future of Toyota Electric
Toyota is not just stopping at improving the current model; they’re also exploring fun-filled enhancements. A GR Sport version concept has been showcased at the Tokyo Auto Salon, hinting at a firmer suspension and body kit.
In an electric era where efficiency and performance walk hand-in-hand, the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra are pushing boundaries. It seems Toyota is staying true to its word of building a better future with its commitment to continuous improvement and its appetite for innovation. It’s exciting times for EV enthusiasts, and we eagerly await more groundbreaking updates from the electric automotive world.
