Although Porsche typically doesn’t worry about what anyone else is doing, their entry into the increasingly crowded world of electric vehicles is demanding a change of course. Their all-electric Taycan is set to hit the market in 2019, and in addition to the traditional style, speed, and handling synonymous with Porsche, the company hopes to provide another key differentiator.
Their electric pit stop charging station could add 250 miles worth of charge to an electric car battery in about 15 minutes. In comparison, the next fastest charger from Tesla requires just under 30 minutes to hit the same mark. Other companies like ChargePoint and EVgo use 50 kW chargers that provide about 150 miles of charge in an hour, and a typical public connection provides about 15 miles of charge in an hour.
Porsche’s charging station design includes a 10” touchscreen, a power generator, and a 70 or 160 kWh battery located up to 300 feet from the user. Battery sizes will depend on grid connections and the level of usage.
Although this technology would put Porsche in a leading position in the current market, that might not be the case by the time the Taycan hits the street. Many charging stations are looking to upgrade their units by providing as much as 400kW of power. This would allow for topping off the battery in about the same time it currently takes to fill a gas tank.
The bigger question, even for Porsche owners, is how much it will cost to use these superchargers. Porsche hopes to provide up to 200 U.S. dealers with the new chargers but has not yet released pricing information.
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