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“Will gasoline-powered cars be replaced by EVs? Possibilities and Challenges Discovered in a Long-Distance Test Drive of the bZ4X and Solterra

First, the “”Solterra”” surprised us with its straightforward handling.
Switching to the “”bZ4X””, we realized the difference in character.
BEVs and subs are a perfect match! What are the possibilities of “”GR”” and “”STI””?

About 30,000 fast-charging units to be installed by 2030

Monday, June 6, 2022 12:19 PM

drivingToyota bZ4XDaisuke Ido, Toyota ZEV Factory, chief development officer of Toyota bZ4X
Driving 250km in the bZ4X and Solterra
The shift to electric vehicles (BEVs) has finally begun in earnest. Although automakers are working frantically to develop BEVs in order to realize a shift away from fossil fuels, I suspect that many people are honestly concerned about whether they can actually be used in the same way as vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, which have been used up to now. I myself am one of them. Even though I have been thinking in my heart that electric cars will be next, when I see cars waiting to be recharged at service areas on weekends and holidays, it makes me think to myself, “”This is not realistic.

It was during this time that I had the opportunity to drive the “”bZ4X”” and “”Solterra,”” which were jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru. Personally, I was intrigued by these two cars, and although I cannot deny the impression that Nissan, in addition to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, and other German automakers, has beaten us to the punch, I have high expectations for Toyota because of the remarkable level of perfection it has achieved in recent years. I was looking forward to this test drive to see if I could dispel my concerns and doubts. And the fact that it would be a long drive made me even more eager for this test drive.

The bZ4X and Solterra have a range of just over 500 km per full charge, which is more than enough to meet the needs of the market, and of course they also meet the requirement to reach 80% in 30 minutes for quick recharging using CHAdeMO. However, the truth is that these are only claims to the contrary. We knew that, depending on the usage and environment, the battery would run out of juice in no time.

The course for this test ride was approximately 256 km from the Nagoya Station area to Kanazawa Station, with instructions to arrive at the vehicle transfer point with at least 200 km of driving distance remaining! The route includes some winding roads, so we had to start off on the right foot. There are some winding roads along the way, so I was anxious even before we started. However, if we were to be conservative and give priority to fuel economy, we would not be able to understand the true nature of the vehicle. Driving in a manner similar to the fuel efficiency tests often seen in the automotive media will not give you a good idea of the practical range of the car, so we decided to take the plunge and drive normally.

First, the “”Solterra”” surprised me with its straightforward handling.
The first car we drove was the Subaru Solterra AWD model. The gross vehicle weight is over 2 tons, so I was concerned about the weight right from the start. In fact, I was more concerned about the weight of the huge battery placed under the floor, which is peculiar to electric vehicles, than the actual weight of the car, which exceeds 2 tons, and I felt more resistance to driving with this mass of battery. However, it is true that the acceleration when starting from zero was more than sufficient, taking advantage of the uniqueness of an electric vehicle. My first impression was, “”It’s heavy, but I guess I can get used to it.

The body size, which belongs to the C-segment and is closer to the D-segment, is also very good in terms of visibility and handling, and the packaging is comparable to that of today’s crossover SUVs. I was surprised by the straightforwardness of the handling response. Although the weight under the floor was a concern, the car’s low center of gravity made for a surprisingly enjoyable, if not nimble, driving experience on the winding roads along the way.

The Subaru Solterra’s battery power was rapidly depleting, as one would expect. It is true that the car does not have a sport mode, but thanks to the excellent chassis, it encourages this kind of sporty driving, which I found rather troublesome. This may be something that should be praised, but in the case of BEVs, it was a profound reminder that if the driver enjoys driving, it will have the opposite effect. Hence, by the time we arrived at the transfer point, we were unable to keep our promise, and our remaining driving range was less than 200 km. ……

Oh no, I was going to be scolded! I thought to myself, but when I checked the battery level of the Toyota bZ4X, which I drove next, I found that it was almost the same situation, less than 200km, so it was not the fault of my driving. The fact that the former I had driven so far was also almost the same suggests that the conditions were just barely realistic. The fact that the former driver was also on the edge of the limit of the realistic conditions is a good indication that the conditions were almost the same as those of the former driver.

Switching to the “”bZ4X”” and feeling the difference in character

With this in mind, we drove the bZ4X toward Kanazawa and found it to be more comfortable than the earlier Soltera. We later asked the development team if our impression was different because this is a FWD model, and it turned out that Toyota and Subaru had intentionally changed the settings.

To put it simply, Toyota prioritized ride comfort and other amenities, while Subaru emphasized sportiness. It seems that each brand prioritizes its own characteristics, but in the case of the Toyota bZ4X, perhaps because it is FWD, the impression of “”excellent performance”” precedes the enjoyable driving experience of the Solterra, and it has the effect of making the driver drive in a relatively eco-friendly manner. This may have the effect of encouraging people to drive in a relatively eco-friendly manner.

In terms of electricity costs, the two cars differ slightly, partly due to differences in settings, but if you are serious about purchasing the bZ4X, it is the tire size that you should pay attention to. For example, in the case of the bZ4X, a comparison of the standard 18-inch tires and the optional 20-inch tires shows a difference of 47 km on a full charge in FWD, the most power-efficient mode, and a difference of 13 Wh/km in electricity consumption rate (both in WLTC mode, values published by the manufacturer). (Both in WLTC mode, values announced by the manufacturer).

Considering the essence of the vehicle, the choice between the two is obvious, but it is clear that the AWD model has its own charms that are hard to discard. The breakdown of these modes is “”SNOW/DIRT,”” “”DEEP SNOW/MAD,”” and “”Grip Control. Of course, some people may need AWD in certain areas. Also, the Solterra’s AWD is the only model with paddle shifters that can adjust the effect of regenerative braking, so if you want to enjoy driving more, the Solterra may be your choice.

Unfortunately, we were not able to drive the AWD version of the bZ4X this time, so we do not know the details of the differences between the two, but through this test drive, we could clearly see that both the bZ4X and Solterra have a high level of perfection. Toyota or Subaru, FWD or AWD, the choice is up to you, but on the other hand, there is actually a more important difference between the two companies. That is exactly what I mean by “”how to buy””.

BEVs and subs go hand in hand! The “”GR”” and “”STI”” possibilities are

While the Subaru Solterra catalog lists the vehicle price as usual, the Toyota bZ4X is KINTO or lease only. In other words, the biggest difference is that Toyota recommends subscriptions. In fact, this is the proof of the essence of BEVs. In addition to a maximum term of 10 years, with no mid-term cancellation fee required after the fifth year, the drive battery is guaranteed for 10 years, 200,000 km, and 70% of capacity during the contract period. In addition, vehicle inspections and statutory inspections are included, as well as tires and other consumable parts.

No matter how good a car is, it will eventually reach the end of its service life. In the case of electric vehicles, the disposal of used lithium-ion batteries is also an issue. If this is the case, it goes without saying that the best way to get a BEV is to purchase a SUV that is designed to be collected in advance for reuse or recycling later on. The fact that we are now in an era that suggests that there will never be a car that will be the favorite of the enthusiast who loves to choose “”a car to share his/her life with”” suggests that we must promote sustainable buying in consideration of the earth’s environment. I can say that KINTO and BEV are a perfect match.

If I asserted that, one might think that the era of “”hobbying cars”” is over, but perhaps we should expect this because there is another form of marginality left to be found in the future. After this test drive, I asked the development team if there was a possibility of a “”GR”” or “”STI”” based on the bZ4X or Solterra, and they replied that it was quite conceivable. Of course, this is only on the assumption that the demand can be anticipated, but at the very least, the key to accelerating the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electrification is to create attractive products, and since electrification will be promoted in the world of motorsports, a BEV sports grade is a necessity considering the influence of such a vehicle. It is inevitable.

About 30,000 fast-charging units to be installed by 2030

In order to meet that day, we strongly hope that the infrastructure will be expanded as soon as possible. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the reality is that charging facilities in Japan are still lacking. In urban areas where there are many apartment complexes, even if one wants to purchase a BEV, it is unrealistic to think about it unless the environment is ready for it. In rural areas, the charging environment is so lousy that it seems out of the question. In fact, during this test drive, there were only about a dozen charging stations along the way during the latter half of the approximately 130-km trip. Moreover, all of them were equipped with only one unit, and about half of them had an output of 20 kW.

Automakers are now desperate. The government’s support is also essential to accept them, and they are planning to install 150,000 units by 2030, of which only about 30,000 will be quick-charging units. Will this really be enough to make BEVs penetrate the market? This is the biggest challenge. Or should we expect the realization of wireless charging systems first?

Not only the author, but the wavering feelings toward BEVs are likely to continue. Even though it is claimed to go just over 500km on a full charge, this distance will not be reached without eco-friendly driving. ……

Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra in Kanazawa, Japan
Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra in Kanazawa, Japan
■5 star rating
Packaging: ★★★★
Interior/Comfort: ★★★★★
Power Source: ★★★★★
Footwork: ★★★★
Recommendation: ★★★★★

Masaru Noguchi｜Motor Journalist
Born in Tokyo in 1967, Noguchi began his career in 1993 as an editor of a certain import car magazine. He later moved to Sanei Shobo, where he worked in the GENROQ editorial department and became the magazine’s editor-in-chief in 2008. 2018 saw the launch of GENROQ Web. Later, in 2020, he became an independent motor journalist and producer, bringing over 25 years of experience to his work.”