Porsche is picking up speed in the electric race. By 2025 more than half of all new Porsche cars sold are expected to be electrified, either fully or as plug-in hybrids. By 2030, the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer’s target is for more than eighty per cent of its new car deliveries to be fully electric models. A new basis for the cars, the ‘Premium Platform Electric’ (PPE) is just one of the tools the company is utilising to fulfil this ambition.
With PPE (perhaps an unfortunate acronym after what the world has just been through), Porsche and Audi have together developed an architecture for all-electric cars with which the benefits of a purely electric platform can be enjoyed in many ways; aiding packaging and interior space. At the same time, this new vehicle architecture offers, we learn, so much room for manoeuvre in the wheelbase, track width and ground clearance that it can be used to realise a variety of models, including those in different model segments.
Electric Macan
Well, it had to happen didn’t it? The first Porsche based on the EV platform will be the all-electric Macan. Readers can see the images of the prototype on test: Expect this car to be officially released in 2024 so start saving your money now if an EV Porsche fits the bill.
With its 800-volt architecture, the powerful electric motor of the latest generation and state-of-the-art battery and charge management, this model offers the ‘E-Performance’ that is characteristic of Porsche; only without the noise we have learned to love. Nevertheless, Porsche say that this successor to their very successful compact SUV will be the sportiest model in its sector. Along with reproducible best-in-class performance values, the development targets include long-range capability and high-performance fast charging.
For the top variants, those skilled engineers at the German factory are, they say, creating a dynamic, sporty driving experience with a fully variable electronically controlled rear differential and what is known as a Performance rear axle. Added to this is a powerful electric motor positioned behind the rear axle. This enables a rear-dominant all-wheel-drive application. In combination with the dynamic torque distribution in the all-wheel-drive, it also supports high agility when accelerating out of corners. Just as we would expect from this brand.
Power!
As with the well established Taycan, Porsche is deploying the 800-volt technology for the next Macan generation. This ensures consistent high performance and significantly reduces the charging time whilst it also lowers the weight of the high-voltage cables and the space required for them. A further common feature are the permanently excited synchronous electric motors (PSM). In this design, the rotor of the AC motor is fitted with permanent magnets that generate a permanent magnetic field within said motor. In comparison to asynchronous motors (ASM), PSMs offer higher power and torque densities, greater efficiency and better reproducibility of the power output.
The Latest Technology
All electric Macan models will have a lithium-ion battery in the underbody with a total capacity of about 100 kWh. This sizing is based on the Porsche plan. When looking at how to balance range, performance and sustainability, the company focuses on travel time. High-performance battery and charging technology is key to this.
Development of the power electronics has also taken a big step forward: To optimise the effectiveness, silicon carbide is used instead of silicon as the semiconductor material in the pulse inverter on the rear axle. We understand that this significantly reduces switching losses and enables higher switching frequencies. More power in other words.
The Drive
Porsche will always be Porsche and we believe this to be a true statement as the brand are unlikely to want to relinquish their status in the field of sporting cars. This goes for the performance of the future PPE models and their expected driving dynamics.
Two-valve shock absorbers will be a new feature on the future Macan. On the one hand, they offer improved performance due to a significantly greater damper characteristic spread. On the other, two-valve shock absorbers can be adjusted independently of each other, providing an appreciable increase in comfort without affecting the handling. This versatility makes the differences between the driving programmes even more tangible, putting each individual driving programme in the future Macan on its own distinct level. Additionally, depending on the speed, the body can be lowered in combination with the air suspension, and this improves the aerodynamics for increased range.
The wheel and tyre scenario in the future all-electric Macan is also typical of Porsche, especially when it comes to the mixed tyres, which will be even more pronounced than in the current model. The wheel widths on the front and rear axles will differ even more significantly to accommodate the rear-focused weight distribution – for more grip and driving dynamics. The wheel sizes of up to 22 inches will provide further performance potential. It is expected that the performance and handling of this car will be everything buyers will expect from it in 2024.
In The Meantime...
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