Porsche enters the electric era with the new Taycan

With an investment of €6-billion and 1200 new employees, Porsche will enter the electric era with the new Taycan. The launch of the Taycan will see ongoing development of Porsche Production 4.0 and an unparalleled knowledge campaign rolled out throughout the entire company. Through this initiative, Porsche is firmly committing to electric mobility, as the sports car manufacturer undergoes a process of major change, reaffirming and safeguarding its future.
“We predict that over 50 percent of Porsche models delivered from 2025 will be electrified,” stated Lutz Meschke, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Board responsible for Finance and IT at Porsche. This will involve substantial investments in fields such as development and production, as well as staff training. “In addition to efficient processes, the revenue from digital products and services should also increasingly contribute to our economic success,” said Meschke.

One example of an efficient approach, is the new Taycan production and assembly facilities currently being built as a ‘factory within a factory’ at the main plant in Zuffenhausen. This development signals Porsche’s move away from the traditional principle of an assembly line. Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Production and Logistics, explained, “By applying flexi-line production, Porsche will become the first vehicle manufacturer to use driverless transport systems in a continuous series production process.” This will enable the manufacturer to combine the advantages of the traditional principle of continuous production with the flexibility of versatile assembly. It will also allow the number of work cycles to be increased using the same amount of space. Following the concept of ‘smart, green, lean’, Porsche is also pursuing resource-friendly production. The Taycan production process is carbon neutral, with the future goal in production being to establish a complete zero-impact factory, a factory with no environmental impact.
“The Taycan is one of biggest creators of jobs in the history of Porsche,” emphasised Andreas Haffner, Member of the Executive Board responsible for HR and Social Affairs. Porsche’s aim for the Taycan is to create a team with a healthy mix of experienced sports car manufacturers and new staff. This development will also see a large-scale training initiative take place in a specially created production hall built on the training centre premises in Zuffenhausen.

The close relationship between motorsport and series production highlights just how important it is to share knowledge. Just as with the Porsche 919 Hybrid, the Taycan is powered by innovative 800 V technology. This was one of the most essential decisions for the 919, as the voltage level effectively sets the course for the entire electric drivetrain, from the battery to the layout of the electronics and the e-machines to the capacity of the charging process. In adopting a pioneering approach and specifically developing suitable 800 V components, Porsche pushed the limits of what is technically feasible with regard to the liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery. Within the highly competitive environment of motorsport, Porsche has continued to develop these technologies achieving a power density, the likes of which have never been seen before. For the Taycan this means the 800 V architecture in the vehicle guarantees that the lithium-ion battery can be recharged in just four minutes, providing enough energy to drive 100 kilometres (according to NEDC).

Quick charging processes call for powerful charging systems. That is why Porsche E-Performance covers all areas of infrastructure with solutions for on the go, and at home. With a capacity of up to 22 kW, Porsche Mobile Charger Connect is a quick, convenient way to charge the Taycan at home overnight. As part of the joint venture Ionity – which also involves BMW, Daimler and Ford – Porsche will build 400 high-power charging stations with a capacity of 350 kW per charging point across Europe by the end of 2019. Customers will be able to gain access to the Porsche charging network via the Porsche charging service. This is a Europe-wide solution with access to a huge array of charging stations managed by different service providers, while Porsche will take care of all billing centrally.

Concept study Mission E Cross Turismo goes into series production

At its meeting on 18 October, the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG gave the green light for series production of the concept study Mission E Cross Turismo to commence. The sports car manufacturer will create 300 additional jobs at its headquarters in Zuffenhausen for production of the vehicle, which was presented at the Geneva Motor Show 2018.

The road-ready concept study Mission E Cross Turismo was a highlight in Geneva earlier this year, and was well received by both visitors to the show and the media. The four-door Cross Turismo has an 800-volt architecture and is prepared for connection to the fast charging network. It has a system output of 600 hp and a range of 500 km (NEDC). The vehicle is a derivative of the Taycan. The first purely electric Porsche will be launched on the market in 2019.

Great importance is attached to sustainability in the production process, which will be carbon-neutral. This development is part of Porsche’s plans to invest more than six billion euros in electromobility by 2022.
Edited by: Glen Smale
Images by: Porsche Werkfoto