Porsche Touts Fast-Charging System, Unveils Electric Cayman Concept

Porsche AG says its “Turbo Charging” system can recharge an electric vehicle’s battery to 80% capacity in 15 minutes, which is twice as fast as current 50-kW fast-charging stations in Europe.

The carmaker developed the technology, its first accumulator-based fast-charging system, with German battery specialist ADS-TEC GmbH. Porsche envisions the system’s medium-voltage connection supplementing future fast-charging networks in areas with power distribution limitations.

In August Porsche installed a prototype 800-volt, 350-kW charger at its office in Berlin. The carmaker also is partnering with Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford and Volkswagen to launch a network of 350-kW stations across Europe beginning later this decade.

Porsche is showcasing the technology at this week’s Electric Vehicle Symposium in Stuttgart. The carmaker used the event to unveil the Cayman e-volution concept car.

The all-electric Cayman concept can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds and has a driving range of 125 miles, according to the company. Porsche says it has no plans to build a production version of the vehicle, which is meant to demonstrate how sporty future EVs could be.

Porsche first EV, the stylish Mission E sedan, is due to launch in 2019. The carmaker expects EVs to capture a “significant double-digit” share of its sales by 2025.