The proposed maximum charging speed for Porsche’s first fully electric vehicle could represent a breakthrough for charging technology, Edmunds manager of industry analysis Jeremy Acevedo told Business Insider.
“This would be really a quantum leap forward for the technology,” he said.
Porsche said on Monday that the Taycan, its first fully electric production vehicle, will be able to receive over 60 miles of range from a 4-minute charge. That charging time would be the fastest available today, the automaker said, exceeding Tesla’s supercharging stations, which can charge a vehicle’s battery to about 80% of its capacity in around 30 minutes.
The Taycan’s proposed maximum charging speed would be possible when using DC fast-chargers that support charging rates of up to 350 kilowatts, which will be available at 120 of the 191 Porsche dealers in the US, as well as charging stations operated by Electrify America.
Tesla’s supercharging stations can charge at up to 145 kilowatts, but the automaker restricts its vehicles from receiving more than 120 kilowatts when charging. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in November that the automaker would introduce new chargers in early 2019 that will charge “much faster” than those available at its current supercharging stations, but did not specify the amount by which charging speeds will improve.
Porsche’s announcement signals that mainstream automakers are making significant progress into areas of electric vehicle technology once dominated by Tesla, Acevedo said. Increasing charging speed is a priority for automakers and charging companies, and the ability to charge quickly is important to potential electric vehicle customers, Acevedo said.
“This is kind of a difference-maker when it comes to people that are looking into the EV technology. It reduces range anxiety, and that’s one of the paramount concerns that I think a lot of people making this jump are facing.”
Today’s electric vehicle chargers “refuel” vehicles at a much slower rate than gas stations. A Level 1 charger can add around four to five miles of range per hour, while a Level 2 charger can add around 15-25 miles of range per hour. DC fast-chargers can add around 50-170 miles of range in 30 minutes, depending on the vehicle and the charging station.
Porsche plans to release the Taycan by the end of 2019. The automaker has said the vehicle will have a range of over 300 miles, produce over 600 horsepower, and accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 3.5 seconds. The Taycan is expected to start around $90,000, according to The Drive.
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