I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2024 Lexus RZ300e related to battery range performance and charging requirements in cold weather. In real-world winter conditions in Massachusetts, the vehicle experiences severe range loss, requiring excessive and repeated public charging to remain operable. On a representative day, I was required to use multiple public charging networks (ChargePoint, FLO, and Tesla Superchargers), spending over 4 hours physically charging, consuming approximately 105 kWh of electricity, and paying nearly $50 in public charging costs, with additional home charging still required for the next day. Many charging stations are outdoors and poorly sheltered, requiring prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, wind, and precipitation. This creates a significant safety risk due to driver fatigue. To earn a modest daily income, I must drive for extended hours. When combined with approximately 4 hours per day spent charging, this results in up to 16 hours in a single day spent driving or waiting in the vehicle. Charging time is not rest, as I must remain alert, manage charging sessions, and relocate the vehicle. This extended time causes physical exhaustion and reduced alertness, increasing risk on public highways. These conditions are particularly concerning because my wife is pregnant, and the vehicle was leased as a family vehicle. Prolonged winter charging exposure and fatigue pose risks not only to the driver but to passengers and other road users. The vehicle has been inspected by a Lexus dealer. Dealer documentation states that battery degradation cannot be directly measured, usable battery capacity data is unavailable, and cold-weather range loss is considered “normal.” No corrective repair or adjustment has been offered. The issue is reproducible in winter conditions and remains unresolved. I believe the vehicle’s real-world charging burden and resulting fatigue create an unreasonable safety risk and warrant review.
NHTSA ODI 11707267