Porsche's Turbo Charger Will Change The Way We View EV Charging

Jul. 10, 2022 1:02 PM ET byJarryd Neves Electric Vehicles /8 Comments

Stuttgart is quietly working on the best charging experience out there.

For Porsche, theTaycanis merely the start of a full-on electric assault. It will soon be joined by thelong-awaited Macan EVand the next-generation 718 lineup, which Zuffenhausen has saidwill adopt battery power. While fans of the brand may see this as automotive heresy, the company's figures speak for themselves - electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids made up 40% of European sales in 2021.

In anticipation of increased EV popularity, Porsche has been hard at work developing what it calls Destination Charging. The idea is simple; charging stations are found at points of interest - hotels, museums, airports - and allow electrified Porsche drivers to top up their batteries free of charge. With 2,700 locations littered across Europe, it's a good start for Zuffenhausen. But, if the premium carmaker wants to truly rival Tesla's Supercharger network, it will have to step up its game.

2020-2022 Porsche Taycan 4S Charging Point

Porsche has already said it plans todevelop a bespoke charging systemthat will cater to the whims of upper-class customers. These so-called "premium stations" will offer unique amenities like working environments and refreshments, which would bring an air of refinement to an otherwise mundane task. Audi has started doing something similar and, so far, it'sgone down well with customers.

But the company's goals stretch further than making charging a more luxurious experience. As Romanian publicationAutoExpertreports, Romanian Porsche dealers have started to install new fast chargers. Designed by Porsche engineering, the "Turbo Charger" allows customers to recharge their vehicles swiftly, thanks to 800-volt charging capabilities. It's quite an innovative idea and includes solar panels which provide shelter for parked EVs.

As the Romanian news agency reports, there are just six stations at a Bucharest-based retailer, but plans are afoot to introduce more in the coming months.

For now, the dealership has a pair of 320 kW DC points and another two 22 kW AC points. It should prove very popular with Porsche customers, as the service is available 24-7. If Porsche manages to install more of these chargers and incorporate them with the aforementioned bespoke charging experience, the automaker will be on to a winning recipe.

"We expect 50% of cars delivered worldwide by 2025 to be partially or completely electric - more than 80% by the end of the decade. Having an adequate loading infrastructure is an essential component of our strategy," said Porsche's Adrian Pascu.

While Tesla's sheer charging presence is still unrivaled, a truly convenient and plush charging experience is just the thing to sway monied EV owners. We hope to see a similar setup in the United States shortly; there's no denying consumers will pay for the privilege of a service that's not only exclusive but practical too.