Porsche gives green light for race against Tesla
The design of the series vehicle be will closely based on the Mission E concept study, showcased at the IAA motor show past September. This technology carrier was already designed to combine sporty driving performance with excellent day-to-day practicality. The four-door sedan with four individual seats has a system power output of over 440 kW (600 horsepower). The vehicle will achieve both acceleration of 0 to 100 kmph (60 mph) in less than 3.5 seconds; with fully charged batteries it will be able to bridge distances of 500 kilometres and more. This equals about the distance from Munich to the Lake Garda in Northern Italy – according to an earlier dictum from former Porsche CEO (and now Volkswagen CEO) Matthias Müller who once, with the wealthy Bavarian clientele in mind, ironically specified this very distance as the minimum condition for en electric car to be successful.
The E-Porsche will be charged via an 800-volt charger unit specially developed for the car. The charger will be able to refuel the lithium-ion batteries integrated within the vehicle floor to 80 percent of their capacity within 15 minutes – twice as fast as conventional charging stations. Another technology highlight is its ability to optionally charge the batteries wirelessly by induction via a coil set integrated into the garage floor.
Porsche aired plans to invest more than a billion euros (about $1.09 billion) into the manufacturing infrastructure for the vehicle, in the first place for the final assembly and the paint shop. Both facilities will be located at Porsche’s corporate headquarters in Zuffenhausen, a suburb of Stuttgart (Germany). In addition, Porsche plans to expand its existing manufacturing line for conventional engines by one for electric motors. Development and production of the vehicle will create more than 1000 additional jobs, the company announced. Despite the high demand of manpower, the manufacturing site will be highly digitised according to the principles of the Industrie 4.0 concept of intelligent, interconnected production. Start of production is scheduled for 2019.
The Mission E – or however it will be called once it will be available – however won’t be a car for the masses. Experts estimate a sales price in the region north of €100.000. Porsche declined to comment or specify.
Related articles:
Porsche reveals prototype battery-driven sports car
Daimler to step into the ring against Tesla with own e-car design
Tesla promises 1000 km range for e-cars soon
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