Lexus jumps on electric bandwagon with entry-level UX crossover - The Straits Times

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Lexus jumps on electric bandwagon with entry-level UX crossover

Lexus' battery-powered UX300e. PHOTO: LEXUS

 PUBLISHED NOV 22, 2019, 10:00 AM SGT Christopher Tan

Senior Transport Correspondent



(mailto:christan@sph.com.sg)

SUSONO, JAPAN- Auto firms are approaching electrification in two ways.

One, introduce a top model to woo luxury buyers and let the tech trickle down. Two, introduce an entrylevel model to cater to as many consumers as possible and cautiously move the tech up the model ladder.

Firms like Porsche and Audi clearly belong to the former group, with the Taycan and e-tron priced well above the means of ordinary buyers.

Nissan, Hyundai and Kia have taken a different route, with electric models which are fairly accessible to the mass market.

There are merits to both strategies. New tech is always costly, so a top-down approach ensures a less pricesensitive audience.

But the other approach is better for the earth, because it is likely to get more drivers of combustion cars to switch. And these cars are more eďŹƒcient than the powerful premium models.

Being a luxury brandname, you would expect Lexus to adopt the ďŹ rst approach. But the Japanese marque has chosen the UX crossover - its least expensive model here - to be its maiden electric venture.

The Straits Times recently got an exclusive test-drive of the battery-powered UX300e here at the Higashifuji Technical Centre, Toyota's research and development facility.

While limited to just two laps of the test-track because of time constraint and the post-typhoon wet weather, the drive provided a decent ďŹ rst taste of the electric Lexus.

Lexus has chosen the UX crossover - its least expensive model here - to be its maiden electric venture. PHOTO: LEXUS

First off, it is interesting to note that the UX300e does not offer one-pedal driving - a trademark of many electric models. Instead, it drives like a conventional car (except for its generous and instant torque) and requires that you use the brake pedal to shed speed.

This philosophy is akin to what Porsche has adopted for the Taycan.

Two, the UX300e comes with steering-mounted paddles with which you can actuate to modulate the amount of power recuperation. This is similar to what Hyundai pioneered with its Ioniq Electric.

You can use them like shift paddles to effect "engine braking" as you approach a corner. But even its highest degree of recuperation does not equate the force of one-pedal driving (where the brake pedal is practically unnecessary because lifting off the accelerator brings on a strong "engine braking" effect).

This makes switching over from a combustion engined car easy.

The UX300e drives like a conventional car (except for its generous and instant torque) and requires that you use the brake pedal to shed speed. PHOTO: LEXUS

The quietness of an electric drivetrain suits Lexus, a brand known for its two hallmarks: quietness and refinement.

Lexus says the UX300e has front-rear weight distribution of 54:46, versus 59:41 for its petrol siblings.

Together with its floor-mounted battery bank, it contributes to better stability.

But around the track, you still feel the weight of the tallish car shifting. At around 1,900kg, the UX300e is 300kg heavier than its combustion cousins.

The car, with a declared range of 400km, is targeted at the Chinese and European markets first. If it comes to Singapore, it will not be before 2021.

Meanwhile, Lexus engineers reveal that they are working on a number of new electric technologies, including in-wheel motors, electronic torque vectoring and solid state lithium batteries.

The batteries, made together with Panasonic, will be ready by the 2020 Olympics. They offer higher energy density and lower fire risk, but are costlier.

Unlike the UX300e, a Lexus with in-wheel motors powered by solid state batteries will most likely be a high-end model.

SPECS / LEXUS UX 300E Price: To be announced when car arrives in early 2021 Motor: Front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous powered by 54.3kWh lithium-ion battery Transmission: Single-speed Power: 150kW Torque: 300Nm 0-100kmh: 7.5 seconds (est) Top speed: 140kmh (est) Power consumption: Unavailable Agent: Borneo Motors

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