Porsche Taycan Update Halves Level 2 Charging Times

Porsche released a fairly impressive update for the Taycan EV this month, one that effectively halves the sport sedan’s charging time whilst using a Level 2 charger. 

Now that a meaningful number of people have purchased all-electric vehicles, we’re learning that diminished range and long charging times are the biggest obstacles EVs have to overcome. Based on numerous studies, including a very recent one conducted by J.D. Power, early adopters seem to enjoy that battery-driven vehicles can offer a more placid driving experience. At-home charging is also something that’s getting a lot of praise. But it’s being undermined by the lackluster charging infrastructure outside the home. 

In fact, the issue has become a serious problem in terms of U.S. adoption – with the J.D. Power study suggesting that consumer interest in EVs hasn’t improved over the last twelve months. While the outlet noted that other issues were certainly at play, namely elevated EV pricing and a sense among some that alternative energy vehicles are being foisted upon the public through government intervention, it cited charging/range as being the biggest hurdle for EVs. 

This is especially true for the Taycan, which has a maximum range of just 215 miles under the most idyllic of circumstances. While the vehicle’s initial draw was that it was the first dedicated electric vehicle offered by Porsche, its meager range has become a common criticism. Porsche has sought to counter this by reminding everyone that the Taycan is quite the performance machine (something made possible by its all-electric powertrain) and trying to draw focus on how quickly it can charge. 

This update seeks to literally drive that point home. 

Porsche’s Taycan has an onboard battery charger situated behind the frunk and there’s a new unit designed to replace the port that can just about halve Level 2 charging times when combined with Porsche’s latest AC home charger unit.

While the standard charger takes up to 9.5 hours to fully charge a Taycan equipped with the Performance Battery, the updated unit is alleged to bring that time down to just 4.8 hours. Vehicles equipped with the larger Performance Battery Plus can expect to see a full state of charge (using a Level 2 port) in 5.3 hours – down from 10.5 hours,

New owners can specify the new charging system in the build process by selecting the KB4 option in the configurator. But Porsche says the unit can also be retrofitted to older models (price TBD). It likewise suggested that it could become more efficient in the future thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity embedded in Porsche’s proprietary wall charger. Of course, that’s ultimately going to be determined based on the limitations of the hardware. Though automakers will always promise you the moon when it comes to forward-looking statements. 

If you want the whole shebang, expect to shell out a healthy amount of dough to have your vehicle retrofitted for the new charger. But those buying a brand-new Taycan only need to drop another $1,850 (plus taxes) and an additional $1,500 for the wall-mounted charger. However, Porsche noted that the latter item needs to be “hard wired directly to a 100-amp circuit by a professional electrician for best performance,” meaning you’ll have to pay a little more if your home’s not already set up for higher loads.

[Image: Porsche]

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