It’s never too late? It may be late joining this electric-vehicle sales race, but Porsche has a long history of electrified cars. In fact, company founder Ferdinand Porsche partnered with Ludwig Lohner to introduce the world’s first hybrid vehicle in 1900. And it has a long track record of producing hybrids in modern times, from the Cayenne S E-Hybrid to the 918 Spyder supercar. Now the company is going full speed with electric cars. “Our new electric sports car is powerful and reliable. It is a car that can consistently cover long distances and is the epitome of freedom,” explains Oliver Blume, Chairman of Porsche AG. “We don’t need and don’t want to be the first,” adds Detlev von Platen, Porsche’s executive board member.
The charging times also will be super-fast. Porsche said that in 4 minutes, the Taycan could take on enough electricity to travel more than 60 miles. And in 15 minutes, it could add 250 miles of range. The range is said to be greater than 300 miles, another direct shot at Tesla.
Porsche has said that Volkswagen, its parent company, will lead efforts to develop charging infrastructure in the U.S. This makes sense because VW has committed to invest $2 billion in manufacturing, promoting, and building infrastructure for electric vehicles in the wake of its diesel emissions scandal through its Electrify America subsidiary.
Porsche plans to build its charging network starting at its 189 U.S. dealership locations and then spread to popular travel corridors. The company expects to have at least 500 fast chargers available at dealership and highway locations across the U.S. by the end of 2019. Of course, there are thousands of lower-voltage (mostly 240-volt, but some DC Fast) charging stations already in place across the country.
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