Overview
Lexus, renowned for the manufacture of luxury cars, is owned by the Japanese automotive behemoth, Toyota Motor Corporation. Lexus was created in 1989 to compete against Japanese rivals, Honda Motor Company and Nissan Motor Company, who had established their premium brands, Acura and Infiniti, respectively. However, work on the Lexus concept commenced as early as 1983.
The Lexus brand is now a well recognised global automotive brand in the premium segment, with its luxury cars sold in more than 90 countries. The United States continues to be its largest market. Though Lexus is relatively late to the global electrification (EV) race, the company has been involved with hybrid technology since 2005, the year the hybrid version of the RX crossover made its debut. The company has been a leader in ‘self-charging hybrid cars’. The company currently has 8 vehicles that use hybrid/ plug-in hybrid technology and has only one battery-electric vehicle (BEV). The company has the following plug-in electric vehicles (EVs):
- The all-electric Lexus UX 300e
- The Lexus NX plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
Lexus remains committed to leveraging its pioneering work in hybrid technology to push further with the development of electric vehicles (EVs). The company is in the process of completing the development of a new pure electric vehicle, the Lexus RZ. The EV will be built on a new dedicated platform called the e-TNGA. The pure electric Lexus RZ will incorporate cutting edge technology like steer-by-wire system and DIRECT4 (drive force control system). The Lexus RZ is expected to be unveiled later in 2022.
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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The All-Electric Lexus UX 300e SUV
The Lexus UX is a compact luxury SUV crossover. It was launched in March 2018 at the Geneva Motor Show. UE stands for ‘Urban Explorer’ and has been developed using the GA-C platform. The UX SUV is available as a mild hybrid and as a fully electric variant, the Lexus UX300e battery-electric SUV.
The EV has a comparatively small battery (54.3 kWh). The electric vehicle has a zero-emission claimed range up to 196 miles. However, depending on driving conditions, styles, services used, the real world electric range will be lower. The EV is capable of DC charging up to 50 kW, which is a lower charging speed compared to alternative e-SUVs at a similar price. The EV battery can be charged (0% to 80%) in 53 minutes. For home charging via a dedicated EV charger, the EV can be fully charged in just over 8 hours. The electric SUV has a 6.6 kW AC onboard charger.
The compact body is certainly advantageous for urban driving, in particular, given the excellent turning radius of 5.2m. However, the aggressive rear sloping roofline reduces the headroom available for the rear seats. The Lexus EV has a high quality interior, as one would expect from Lexus. The electric SUV incorporates the Lexus Safety System +, reversing camera, intelligent parking sensors, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The higher trims include wireless smartphone charger, smart keyless entry, sunroof, head-up-display (HUD), heating seats and heated steering wheel.
The e-SUV does not come cheap! Prices start at £41,745 and the EV does not qualify for the UK government plug-in car grant (PiCG). The e-SUV is offered in three variants to include Standard, Premium Plus Pack and the Takumi Pack. For those seeking a compact zero-tailpipe emission SUV which is better priced, the all-electric Mazda MX-30 priced at £26,045 is a better bet!
PROS | CONS |
---|---|
Lexus high quality interior and specifications | Cheaper electric SUV alternatives available |
Striking exterior styling and good build quality | Electric range not as good as alternatives. DC charging limited to 50 kW and onboard charger limited to 6.6 kW AC |
Easy to drive and park in congested urban environments | Limited headroom for rear seat passengers |
The All-Electric Lexus UX 300e SUV (credit: Lexus)
At A Glance | |
---|---|
EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
Body Type: | SUV (compact) |
Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG): | Not Available |
Engine: | Electric |
Available In UK: | Yes |
Variants (3 Options) |
---|
Standard (from £41,745) |
Premium Plus Pack (from £45,245) |
Takumi Pack (from £51,345) |
EV Battery & Emissions | |
---|---|
EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 54.3 kWh |
Charging: | 50 kW DC rapid charging (0%-80% SOC: 53 mins). On-board charger 6.6 kW AC |
Charge Port: | Type 2 |
EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
Warranty: | 8 years or 100,000 miles |
Dimensions | |
---|---|
Height (mm): | 1545 |
Width (mm): | 1840 |
Length (mm): | 4495 |
Wheelbase (mm): | 2640 |
Turning Circle (m): | 5.2 |
Boot Space (L): | 486 |
Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
---|---|
Battery net capacity : 16.7 kWh | £2.40 |
Battery net capacity : 30.0 kWh | £4.32 |
Battery net capacity : 39.2 kWh | £5.64 |
Battery net capacity : 45.0 kWh | £6.48 |
Battery net capacity : 50.0 kWh | £7.20 |
Battery net capacity : 64.0 kWh | £9.22 |
Battery net capacity : 71.0 kWh | £10.22 |
Battery net capacity : 77.0 kWh | £11.09 |
Battery net capacity : 90.0 kWh | £12.96 |
Battery net capacity : 100.0 kWh | £14.40 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in the UK varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for the UK is 14.40 p/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
UX 300e | |
---|---|
EV Battery Capacity: | 54.3 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 196 miles |
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 17.1 |
Charging: | 50 kW DC rapid charging (0%-80% SOC: 53 mins). On-board charger 6.6 kW AC |
Top Speed: | 100 mph |
0-62 mph: | 7.5 seconds |
Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
Max Power (hp): | 204 |
Torque (Nm): | 300 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 5 |
Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,785 – 1,840 |
Colours: | 10 |
NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |