Porsche Taycan EV Owners Promised 3 Years Of Free Charging, Unmatched 350 kW Charge Performance
However, there's one metric where the Taycan won't be able to compete with its established competition: acceleration. The Tesla Model S P100D can rip off sub-3-second 0-60 runs in Ludicrous Mode, while the Taycan should do the deed in a still mind-numbing 3.5 seconds. But Porsche is looking to take the crown in a more important and practical way: charging speeds.
Speaking to Bloomberg in a new interview, Porsche North America chief Klaus Zellmer said that thanks to the Taycan's 800-volt battery that can support 350 kW charging (450 kW chargers are also in the works), it will outpace Tesla Superchargers when it comes to topping off your battery. Whereas Tesla's current-generation 120 kW Superchargers can get you up to an 80 percent charge in about 30 minutes, Porsche says that you'll be able to get 60 miles of range added to your "tank" in roughly four minutes. That's still not comparable to the speed at which you can fill up your Porsche 911 or Cayman with dino juice, but it's still an improvement over that fastest charging solutions currently on the market
“Getting into a car and doing 0-to-60 mph in less than three seconds—can you really differentiate yourself if you do it in 2.8 seconds, and the other can do it in 2.7? There are other factors that will gain importance, such as charging time," said Zellmer.
When we think about it, it's hard to see fault with Zellmer's reasoning, Honestly, how many people are gonna be gunning it from 0-60 on a regular basis in a Taycan or a Model S? Maybe a few times when taking an onramp to get on the freeways for s**ts and giggles, but it's likely not something that is going to make or break a person's buying decision.
Porsche says that a network of 300 fast-charging stations will be in place by July 1st in the U.S. courtesy of the Volkswagen Group's Electrify America initiative -- each will have at least two 350 kW chargers on the premises. In addition, an estimated 120 Porsche dealerships will offer charging stations for customers by early next year. And perhaps the best news of all is that Taycan customers will receive three years of free charging with their purchase.
It's fun to watch various automakers jockeying for position in this brave new world of EVs. Tesla most definitely got the ball rolling, but a number of more established automakers are making it clear that they have the resources, technology, and dealer network support to put up a strong fight in the EV sector.
