How Toyota Protects bZ4X's Battery Safety Through Monitoring Systems

Yesterday, Toyota debuted their all-new 2023 Toyota bZ4X full-electric SUV. With the market for affordable EV SUVs starting to see a rise, I think Toyota’s introduction was a late yet on-time arrival for this market. However, questions arise over 2023 bZ4X’s battery which Toyota swiftly addressed in their press release.

The 2023 bZ4X will either come in a 71.4 kWh or a 72.8 kWh battery depending on which trim level you chose. Both will have a range of anywhere from 228-242 miles, again depending on which trim level you chose.

However, Toyota also released some safety features for the bZ4X’s battery which is really an important topic. We have seen a lot of certain electric vehicles catch fire on the highway and for prospective EV buyers, battery safety should be a priority concern.

Toyota introduced four new features that they are going to implement in the production of the 2023 bZ4X which will improve battery safety and ensure longer battery life. Let’s look at what Toyota said in their press release.

So according to Toyota’s press release, Toyota is going to implement “A meticulous production process that helps reduce contamination of battery components to help bolster battery durability.” This is important because one of the biggest issues when it comes to assembling these batteries is making sure that there is little to no contamination. A battery is basically a big chemical reaction and one of the biggest no-no’s in chemistry is having contaminants in your reaction. This is a major improvement in battery production.

The next safety feature that Toyota is going to implement in production to improve battery safety is making sure that there is a “Redundant monitoring of battery voltage, current, and temperature designed to detect signs of abnormal heating to maintain optimal battery temperature and help prevent cell damage.” This is a very essential safety feature that should be mandatory on all EVs. Overheating in a battery is probably doomsday scenario type bad. Batteries contain a lot of toxic material which if caught on fire, would be catastrophic. Regulating heat and battery voltage is a very crucial safety feature.

One of the most important things a battery needs to have in order to maintain a good temperature and long life is cooling. That is why Toyota is implementing the utilization of, “a high-resistance coolant circulation system is designed to help prevent fire from short circuits even in high battery load conditions due to repeatedly switching between high-speed driving and rapid charging.” This is very important because batteries don’t really like a swift temperature change. Remember these things are very flammable so if anything is mixed with heat from the battery, it won’t be safe. Say you want to take your 2023 bZ4X to the track for some reason, you now can sleep easy because charging it after a track day won’t burn your garage down.

A structural pack of batteries ensures that a car has a low center of gravity and a stronger base which is not likely to crumble in a collision. Toyotas are known for their safety and reliability, but Toyota also said that they are going to have a structural layout of the batteries as a chassis thus giving more integrity and rigidity to the car. This will help keep the bZ4X as lengthy as possible if in a front-on collision. We have seen this success with the Tesla Model X receiving a very high safety rating because of the battery layout and the gullwing doors.

All in all, the battery safety features for the 2023 Toyota bZ4X are looking very good. As a science major, I can tell you firsthand how dangerous these lithium-ion batteries are. Remember the Samsung Note 7? Yes, that type of dangerous. Luckily with strict regulations and protocols, automakers will continue to improve battery safety and make the future of electric cars safe and reliable.

What do you think? After reading these safety features, do you feel more inclined to buy the 2023 bZ4x? Let us know in the comments section below.

Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun for daily Toyota news.