One of the most celebrated brands in luxury cars is about to make a serious leap into the future of automobile technology. This year, Porsche is marking its 70th anniversary with plans to offer a pure electric vehicle in 2019. As EV adoption increases and the harmful effects of petroleum fuels are thrust into the spotlight, now is the time to make a bold change.
Soul, electrified
Although Porsche’s foray into the EVs market is new, the company has been planning this for some time. Formerly known as the <Mission E electric concept car, the Taycan is now set to be the first pure EV sports car that Porsche has ever produced commercially.
“The Taycan drives like a Porsche, looks like a Porsche, and feels like a Porsche; it just happens to have a different type of drive.”
Stefan Weckbach, Head of the BEV Model Series at Porsche
The Taycan is based on the sports car look of the Porsche 911. Some of the key features include 4-door, all-wheel drive, zero-emissions, electric drive motor, smart cooling system, eye-tracking system and gesture control. Here you can get a full 360-degree view from inside the Taycan.
“Mission E” to become the Porsche Taycan – Infographic (PRNewsfoto/Porsche Cars North America, Inc.)
Technical specs
Perhaps most impressive is the way that the Taycan is built. On the surface, it looks like a Porsche sports car in design, but under the hood is where you will find a technological revolution. The under-floor battery gives the Taycan a low center of gravity for optimum handling. The even weight distribution finds the right balance. This means the Taycan can handle tight corners and curves in the road, making it ideal for driving on a racetrack or the Autobahn.
The speed is achieved by utilizing two permanent magnet synchronous motors (PSMs) in the front and rear axles with a combined output of 600 hp (440 kW). The PSMs can both propel the car while accelerating and recover energy while braking. Looking for quickness? The Taycan is capable of reaching 100 km/h in under 3.5 seconds. Also, multiple jump starts are possible in succession without loss of performance.
For those concerned with range anxiety, the vehicle’s maximum range is over 500 km. Porsche is breaking new ground with ‘turbo-charging’ by doubling the standard 800-volt charger and requiring only 15 minutes to recharge for another 250 miles of range. Combined with the large size lithium-ion battery enables the Taycan to drive more than 300 miles on a single charge.
Economic outlook
Reports are estimating that the initial price for the Taycan will be in the range of $75,000 (USD). This is fairly modest considering Porsche’s other offerings. Porsche also estimates building 20,000-25,000 EVs per year. The new Taycan production facilities at the Porsche headquarters in Zuffenhausen will create 1,200 new jobs.
Most impressive is Porsche investment of more than €6 billion in EVs over the next 5 years. This includes €500 million for the development of Taycan variants and derivatives, around €1 billion for electrification and hybridization of the existing product range, several hundred million for the expansion of production sites, and around €700 million for new technologies, charging infrastructure and smart mobility.
Spark of the future
It is nice to see that Porsche is moving towards the forefront of electrical vehicles. As more international brands embrace the change we need then things will only get better for global sustainability. Although the initial release of the Taycan will be limited, there is potential to convince some high-end drivers to go electric. A real positive step towards much needed change.
Although the release of the Taycan may still be a year away, the good news for early adopters is that Porsche is now taking deposits for pre-sales. You can register for the Taycan Deposit Option Program to receive all the latest updates direct from the manufacturer.
For all the latest news on EVs and the future technologies stay tuned to The Electric Blog!