[worldgarages]

One of the perks of owning a Tesla is access to the Supercharger network of fast chargers, and especially the early offer of free charging there with certain models. So it's not entirely surprising that Porsche will provide a similar program to buyers of the Porsche Taycan electric sports sedan. For the first three years of ownership, Taycan customers will be able to charge for free at Electrify America charging stations. This also isn't a surprise since Porsche's parent company Volkswagen owns and operates Electrify America. But Porsche isn't the only one providing free access to the network, Lucid Motors is, too.

According to Porsche, Electrify America will have 484 nationwide locations for charging this summer, which comes ahead of the Taycan's late 2019 launch. Stations, on average, will be 70 miles apart on highways, and never more than 120 miles from each other. This is a smaller number of stations than Tesla's Supercharger network, which has 1,422 stations, but Electrify America has only been around since the end of 2016. All of Porsche's 191 dealerships will also be adding chargers, too. Plus, the Taycan will use the SAE type of plug, so other public stations with that connection will be accessible, just not for free.

Each Electrify America station will feature at least two 350-kW chargers for fast charging. Of the 191 Porsche dealers, 120 will have 320-kW chargers. If any of these chargers are 800-volt units, owners should be able to obtain at least 60 miles of range in 4 minutes, and potentially recharge to 80 percent capacity in 20 minutes.

 

[Highvoltage]

This was a really smart incentive package from Porsche to give them a leg up over other performance EV's coming to market in the next year or two. Should mean essentially no running costs whatsoever for the first few years of ownership.

 

[Sysko]

Have Porsche provided any kind of interactive map where we can see what coverage is like for the Electrify America network? At least you'll be able to use any charging station should you find yourself in a grey area.

 

[TEV31]

Have Porsche provided any kind of interactive map where we can see what coverage is like for the Electrify America network? At least you'll be able to use any charging station should you find yourself in a grey area.

I know Google maps already gives us that option but its very generic and doesn't get into details.

 

[Brennen07]

If you head to this site map you can look at all the current stations in place. It also details the plans for ones that are not yet built. Good coverage across most of the country, with a few exceptions.

 

[TEV31]

If you head to this site map you can look at all the current stations in place. It also details the plans for ones that are not yet built. Good coverage across most of the country, with a few exceptions.

Biggest takeaway for me on that list is the "coming soon" section because for most people I know the lack of chargers is holding them back from buying.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Highvoltage]

I know that there are also some big gas companies that plan on rolling out charging stations to already existing locations such as Shell and Petro Canada. Even if they only placed a charger or two that would increase coverage twofold across NA. Do we think that branding has anything to do with whether or not EV owners go to a given charging station?

 

[dennis]

Here is what I gleaned from looking at the EA press release and map:

- as of 6/30/19 all of the 484 sites will at least be under construction. Some of those that are completed will be waiting for the utility to run power, which can take several months.
- there will be two cross country routes: I-80 in the north and I-10 in the south
- some regional long distance routes will have gaps. For example in CA I-5 from SF<->LA should be complete but US 101 will still need chargers funded and installed in Investment Period 2 (7/19-12/21) to enable SF<->LA travel.

 

[TEV31]

the great thing about these numbers is it creates a more sellable proposal on paper for investors to look at especially with automakers ramping up EV production. in audi's case its at least 5 more models till 2020 rolls around!

 

[Highvoltage]

The number of premium electrics on the market is going to increase twofold over the next few years. My hope is that all the additional competition will mean more competitive pricing and perhaps even a higher average electric range. With the huge ramp up in super charging stations we could very well be seeing charge times that encroach upon 20 minutes.

 

[TEV31]

The number of premium electrics on the market is going to increase twofold over the next few years. My hope is that all the additional competition will mean more competitive pricing and perhaps even a higher average electric range. With the huge ramp up in super charging stations we could very well be seeing charge times that encroach upon 20 minutes.

All of that is great but my biggest concern is if all these brands going full electric can maintain the vehicle characteristics they're known for.
That will be the biggest challenge and brands that can't deliver will quickly lose to the next one that does and even fills in certain voids.
Porsche made big promises so far, lets hope they actually deliver.

 

[cometguy]

I doubt I'd be using public charging stations much... don't want to go out of my way (there won't be that many stations anytime soon); don't want to wait to charge. I have a new-gen Panamera E-Hybrid, which I really like (I go up to 1000-1200 miles on a tank of gas most of the time, driving to/from work and around home, charging overnight in my garage every night), and it's going to take a lot of technology change for me to go to all-electric from PHEV. If Porsche would extend their 3 years of free charging to covering home electric bills for charging the car, I might be "all ears"; otherwise, it's not going to be something to entice me one way or the other. I'd rather that they just reduce the Taycan price more; or, better yet, introduce Macan E-Hybrid and Cross Turismo E-Hybrid models at much lower cost than the Taycan will be.