Update: Toyota reached out to say the original disclaimer on their press site was incorrect. It’s been updated to say “DC charging times are estimated based on ideal charging conditions. As temperatures decrease below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, charging time will increase significantly. For the bZ4X AWD model, charging may slow down more than other models in weather conditions below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and may not be possible when the temperature drops to around -4 degrees Fahrenheit and below. Drive battery conditions, charger specifications and DC charging fully more than twice per day also can negatively affect charging time.”
A lightly edited version of the original article follows below:
The all-new Toyota bZ4X is available with all-wheel drive, but owners might be left out in the cold for quite some time. That’s because Toyota is now confirming that when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, DC fast charging may not work on AWD models.
In a news release from Toyota itself, noticed by a user at Reddit/Cars, the brand touts the bZ4X as a trailblazing electrified vehicle. One of its most important features is DC fast charging, which can take front-wheel drive bZ4Xs from a 10 to 80% charge within half an hour.
On AWD versions of the crossover, that time nearly doubles in even the best conditions. Now, Toyota says that “DC charging may not work on AWD bZ4X when the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.” Without DC fast charging, it could take nearly 10 hours for the vehicle to top up its battery.
Review: The 2023 Toyota bZ4X Is A Quirky, But Comfortable EV With Up To 252 Miles Of Range
If you happen to be one of the individuals who was excited about using this vehicle in areas that get that cold, this might chill that enthusiasm. Unfortunately for those interested, it sounds like low temperatures, in general, will be an issue for the bZ4X.
According to the same document, “As temperatures decrease below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, charging time will increase significantly.” Many areas of the country are still regularly experiencing temperatures that low even now in the month of May. This news is yet another blow to a vehicle that’s already having to fight for its space in the market.
AWD versions of the Toyota bZ4X have a maximum range of 228 miles (367 km) according to the EPA. That’s not exactly groundbreaking and, in fact, falls behind a number of other all-wheel drive EVs.
In addition, those hoping to take advantage of the $7,500 federal tax credit for buying an electric vehicle might be out of luck since the Prius and RAV4 Prime are selling so well. With a base price of $45,295 for the AWD version, this isn’t an inexpensive vehicle and Toyota is asking buyers to be comfortable out in the cold if they want to live with it.
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