Porsche to decide on electric Boxster by Summer 2021
Porsche has not yet decided whether the next generation of the 718 series (Cayman and Boxster) will have a fully-electric drive. Actually, the decision should have been made in 2020. However, it is clear that there will be a new generation of smaller sports cars.
After it was said in autumn 2019 that a final decision would be made within the next twelve months, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume now told AutoExpress that the decision would still take a few months. However, it should be made by this summer.
“There is an opportunity that we will do the 718 electric but we are still in a concept period, where we haven’t decided yet,” Blume said. “We will wait a couple of months more before we decide which concept we will use. But I think there is a positive potential to do this, and when we do the 718 electric it should be driven like a 911 and all the other sports cars.”
One factor here will be the available battery technology, the Porsche CEO indicated. In March 2020, development board member Michael Steiner had still stated that while “several electrified Boxsters are being tested to gain know-how and knowledge and to see how an electric car behaves as a two-door.” But the batteries are too heavy, Steiner said.
A decision has already been made, however: There will be a successor. “We will continue with the model range of the 718,” he said. “That is clear. If it’s combustion engine or electric isn’t decided yet.”
But he added that there is also a future for petrol engines in the short to medium term, for example in plug-in hybrids or in the 911. “But coming from a sustainability perspective, the long-term future will be electromobility and I think drivers who have already driven electric cars are very convinced,” Blume continued. “I think we can convince the community as well, especially as we did it with the Taycan. We have much more ideas for our future electric cars. Our future electric cars are 100 per cent Porsche.”
At Volkswagen’s ‘Power Day’ last week, Blume had announced that Porsche was researching high-performance batteries with silicon instead of graphite anodes to achieve even higher energy density and better fast-charging capabilities. New electrolytes and additives should make it possible to operate the battery at temperatures above 75 degrees – important for fast charging, but also in applications such as motorsport, where the cells will also be used. In addition, Porsche plans to build its own fast-charging stations along major trunk roads in Europe to complement the Ionity network – with six to twelve covered 350-kW charging points and a lounge to stay in while charging.
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