A new electric SUV from Toyota’s joint venture, GAC-Toyota, is arriving at dealerships in China. The Bozhi 4X is an upgraded bZ4X model with starting prices of around $25,000 (179,800 yuan).
GAC-Toyota launched the electric SUV on November 17 under its sub-brand Bozhi. The 4X is the brand’s first model.
The electric SUV features a hammer shark-style front face with multi-eye LED lights. At 4,690 mm (185 inches) long, 1,860 mm (73 inches) wide, and 1,650 mm (65 inches) tall, the 4X is the exact size of Toyota’s bZ4X model. It’s also based on the same e-TNGA platform.
It will feature a 66.7 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery pack, the same as the bZ4X, offering up to 615 km (382 mi) CLTC range.
Inside, you will find a 12.3-inch navigation (depending on the trim) with included faction recognition. The 4X supports the three major platforms for connectivity in China, including Apple CarPlay, Baidu CarLife+, and HUAWEI HiCar. It’s available in three interior colors: black, gray, and red.
The electric SUV includes wireless charging (Pro version), a flexible interior for storage, and plenty of physical buttons.
Toyota Bozhi 4X features and trims
Toyota and Subaru teamed up to introduce “X-MODE,” a new four-wheel drive off-road model for EVs. It helps improve grip in bad weather with smart creep mode.
Toyota’s new Bozhi 4X includes its latest safety tech, like intelligent lane tracking, predictive driving mode, and more.
The electric SUV is available in four trims with up to 615 km (382 mi) range. Starting at 179,800 yuan, the 615 Air model includes an 8-inch display screen, Toyota smart cockpit, driving assist features, and connectivity.
For 199,800 yuan ($28,000), the 615 Pro offers high-grade leather seats, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, a panoramic monitoring system, and more.
The highest “four-wheel drive 560Max” includes grip-controlled crawling mode, X-Mode four-wheel drive, smart wireless charging, and intelligent park assist.
Front-wheel drive versions feature a 150 kW electric motor with up to 615 km (382 mi) CLTC range, while the four-wheel drive model gets dual 80 kW motors with up to 560 km (348 mi) CLTC range.
Electrek’s Take
Toyota has struggled in China as EV sales continue rising in the region. The company has had multiple issues with its bz3 electric sedan, leading to recalls.
The automaker’s other joint venture with FAW said it was cutting production because of the “severe market environment” in China.
Market leaders like BYD and Tesla have cut prices all year, pressuring others to follow. With low-priced EVs like BYD’s Dolphin starting at $17,500, Toyota and others are having a hard time competing.
Toyota already cut prices of the bZ4X earlier this year. Maybe an “upgraded” model will help spark sales.
According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Toyota sold 1.26 million cars through September, down 8% YOY. BYD’s sales, on the other hand, were up 60%.
Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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