Porsche EV development slowed by weight

Tuesday, 10 March 2020

Porsche is pushing on with developing electric variants of the Cayman and Boxster but battery weight is hindering progress, the German carmaker confirmed to Car Magazine during a virtual press conference.

Head of Porsche research and development, Dr. Michael Steiner, said: 'We are running several electrified Boxsters to gain expertise and knowledge to see how an electric car performs as a two-door. But there is no final decision yet.'

He added that heavier cars aimed at touring, like the Taycan, can deal with the extra weight. However, sports cars like the Boxster or Cayman can't afford to gain any extra kilograms, which is why the next fully electric car from Porsche will be the Macan.

The Cayman and Boxster will get electric or partially electric variants sooner or later. It to be later, as Porsche thinks battery technology is currently too heavy.

Mention which, the next generation of Macan is set to debut without a pure-combustion option, although the current model will remain on sale during a transitional period.

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Several electrified Boxsters are already runnning around as test mules so Porsche is serious about electrifying the mid-engined platform.

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After Taycan, the next electric Porsche will be the new Macan. It will only come with an electric powertrain while the current model will stay on as the combustion-powered option.

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We could see the electric Macan as early as next year, riding on the bones of the Taycan. The top-tier model will bear the Turbo S badge and, according to Autocar UK, come with two motors, all-wheel drive and a total system output of 522kW/1016Nm.

Solid-state batteries will provide the weight relief Porsche needs but they won't be ready for another few years yet. 'In principle, if there was a breakthrough in battery technology with something like solid-state batteries - this direction would trigger a fully electrified two-door sports car.

'But I do not see a good chance of a breakthrough in battery technology happening in the first half of this decade.'

Car Magazine reckons Porsche will eventually offer Cayman and Boxster twins with full battery-electric powertrains.

According to the publication, they could come with rear- and all-wheel drive variants, offering a maximum output of 300kW. Based on Steiner's comments, we'd expect to see them after 2025.

If you're hankering for an electrified Porsche sports car, the manufacturer is already road testing hybrid versions of the 911. Apparently, packaging a hybrid system into the 911 is a nightmare and there are a lot of problems to figure out (like battery weight) but progress is being made.

Last we heard, the electrified 911 could debut with the 992's facelift, which should be around the middle of the decade.