Lexus has announced that its newly
developed lithium-ion battery will now come with a groundbreaking 10-year or
one million km service warranty, which covers all functional defects of the
fully electric UX 300e‘s main battery.
Also, if the battery capacity degrades
below 70% during the 10-year period, Lexus will replace a new one for free,
provided that the owner adheres to the regular health checkup as detailed in
the maintenance programme. This comes on top of the standard three-year car
warranty and five-year or 100,000 km coverage on drivetrain defects.
Lexus Europe boss, Pascal Ruch said: “Our
acknowledged leadership in electrification, coupled with this 10-year warranty
commitment, brings a new level of reassurance to customers opting for a BEV in
this segment.” The compact electric crossover will only be launched in Europe
later this year, and other markets in 2021.
To recap, the Lexus UX 300e is the
company’s first all-electric car, and every unit is made at its Kyushu plant in
Japan. It’s powered by an all-new 54.3 kWh high-capacity lithium-ion battery,
offering 400 km of range based on the NEDC cycle, or 300 km in the WLTP cycle.
The 288-cell battery is located under the
cabin floor and rear seat, which offers a low centre of gravity without
compromising cabin space and practicality. Multiple sensors monitor the voltage
and temperature of each battery cell and block, while a battery management
system maximises charge usage. A new air-cooling system is deployed as opposed
to the typical water-cooled system, which works in tandem with the air
conditioning system. Lexus says this enhances the car’s performance and
improves the battery life and charging performance.
For cold weather use, there are heating
elements under each battery module to ensure that full power is available on a
cold start. Finally, the battery pack is rubber sealed to protect it from water
and dust, while the maximum AC charging rate is at 6.6 kW. DC fast charging is
also available, but capped at 50 kW. The UX 300e is powered by a front-mounted
electric motor that produces 204 PS and 300 Nm of torque, putting this above
the 184 PS from the 2.0 litre Atkinson-cycle engine in the UX 250h hybrid and
the 169 hp/205 Nm of the petrol-powered UX 200. It sprints from 0-100 km/h in
7.5 seconds and has a top speed of 160 km/h.