Porsche have given the go-ahead for putting the all-electric Mission-E into production.
The all-new all-electric concept was showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September this past year and was seen as an important milestone in the evolution of fast electric cars primarily because of the 800-volt charging system it boasted of. Twice as quick as most electric-car charging systems today, the Mission-E can be recharged to 80 per cent of its capacity in just 15 minutes. That’s a lot of range considering it will do 500 km on a full charge.
The four-door, four-seater sports car houses an all-electric drive system capable of producing up to 440 kW (600 PS equivalent) which allows it to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. In comparison, the Mercedes-AMG SLS Electric Drive had four 138-kW electric motors delivering to the tune of 750 PS equivalent, but the car’s weight meant it managed the 100 km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds. It also used a 400-volt charging system, taking three hours for a full charge, and had a maximum range of 250 km.
Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, said “With Mission E, we are making a clear statement about the future of the brand. Even in a greatly changing motoring world, Porsche will maintain its front-row position with this fascinating sports car.”
Dr. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board, Porsche AG described it as “beginning a new chapter in the history of the sports car.”
Given current time-frames and priorities, the production version of the Mission-E should be launched by the end of this decade. Porsche presently offer ‘S e-hybrid’ variants of the Cayenne and Panamera, with their hybrid hypercar, the 918 Spyder, rounding off their electric-assisted offerings.
Story: Jim Gorde
