Lexus and Toyota aren't known for their EV leadership. Both brands offer only one all-electric vehicle, and neither model offers particularly compelling range or charging specs. But when Lexus published efficiency data for the RZ 300e, our audience was shocked at how well it did. We asked Lexus for details on how the base model RZ quietly became one of the most efficient EVs on sale.
In the RZ 450e, the inverter semiconductor is made out of silicon . In the RZ 300e, Lexus uses a silicon carbide semiconductor, which is more efficient. I'd guess this change improves efficiency by a few percent. It'll be interesting to see whether Lexus brings the SiC-type semiconductor to the AWD version in the next update. For now, the SiC is unique for the RZ 300e. It's not used in the FWD version of the Toyota bZ4X, which may explain that model's lower efficiency rating.