Toyota bZ4X Battery-Heater (cold weather DC charging)

This video provides detail about DC fast-charging with Toyota bZ4X AWD prior to getting the software update for cold weather. The expectation is that update will enable the ability to pre-condition the battery, heating it to deliver faster charge rates.

[@marcelrochon]

Thanks so much for this video John! I learned so much about battery warming when charging… my own bZ behaved much like your test within the limits of getting the BAT-MIN temperature up while not overshooting the BAT-MAX temperature… I had not thought of recording my screen as you have been doing… I was just taking screenshots every two minutes. THANK YOU

[@andrewcockcroft4683]

I'm a new owner in the past 2 weeks and was shocked when I went to go fast charge the other day. Temp was about 35F and it throttled the Charge at 20kW. I called Toyota and they wouldn't give me any specific numbers and no mention of any software update. Hope that happens.

[@Rampage1979]

Hopefully i get this update soon.

[@magnuss2916]

There is no update for this.

[@magnuss2916]

Battery pre-conditioning is not an update, its a new part installed in the 2024 models. All 2022 and 2023 models will not be able to pre-heat the battery

[@john1701a]

2024 brought about an improved heater, one that will warm the battery faster and more effectively than the prior model.

[@magnuss2916]

Wish they added pre-heating in the bz4x models. Guess we wont see that is this car

[@john1701a]

Pre-Heating (warming the battery for operation) is already available. Pre-Conditioning (warming the battery prior to DC fast-charging) is not.

[@christopherhodge6096]

Hey, thanks for this. What app are you using for your OBD II reader?

[@john1701a]

Car Scanner ELM ODB2 play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ovz.carscanner

[@saveyorsephiroth]

What app are you using to monitor the battery? That was cool.

[@john1701a]

Car Scanner play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ovz.carscanner

[@saveyorsephiroth]

@@john1701a thank you for the response, I appreciate it.

[@CAINtheBULL]

Charge time was 1 hour and half?

[@john1701a]

The point was to show what took place with a cold battery using the original battery-heater. The upgraded one on the 2024 will significantly reduce charging time.

[@sidorovmn]

pre-conditioning - it will heat battery ta winter time and cool in summer ?

[@john1701a]

The battery is kept above freezing when plugged in during the winter. Keeping cool during the summer happens automatically while you charge & drive.

[@sidorovmn]

@@john1701a and is this option available now ?

[@john1701a]

@sidorovmn I haven't seen any notification yet, but supposedly some Solterra owners are scheduled for an update now.

[@Norwegianization]

@@john1701a so now they can preheat the battery manually?

[@john1701a]

@Norwegianization That option has not been made available yet.

[@Losttouchjs]

-40 Fahrenheit?? Where do you live? Sheeeeeeesh!

[@john1701a]

That's what is displayed when the system is off (not providing temperature data).