Porsche’s third EV model and first electric two-seater will be the next 718, the company has confirmed. While the 911 isn’t expected to adopt EV technology until the end of the decade, the next-generation Boxster and Cayman will be exclusively battery-powered when they arrive as 2025 models in late 2024, a year after the Macan EV.
And Porsche claims it is developing its own charging infrastructure so customers won’t have to mix it with the rest of us ordinary EV drivers slumming it in Hyundai Ioniq 5s and Kia EV6s when its cars’ batteries run low on juice.
“We are stepping up our electric offensive with another model,” Porsche boss Oliver Blume said this week. “By the middle of the decade, we want to offer our mid-engine 718 sports car exclusively in an all-electric form.”
Porsche went on to say that it is currently developing high-performance battery cells with the Cellforce Group that are expected to be ready for series production in 2024, presumably just in time to appear in the new 718 Boxster and Cayman twins.
Porsche had already dropped a huge hint about the future of the 718 when it released the Mission R concept last year. Though allegedly a study looking into a possible future racing car, the concept showcased the styling of the next generation production car and primed us for the shock that it would come only as an EV.
The all-wheel-drive concept promised 1,073 hp (1,088 PS) in qualifying trim and 626 hp in race tune thanks to a 429 hp front motor and a 626 hp rear motor setup, but expect a less powerful, single-motor, rear-wheel-drive version to be offered alongside the first-ever all-wheel-drive 718 when production starts in late 2024.
Although Porsche is investing in clean fuel technology that could extend the life of the combustion engine, almost 40 percent of Porsche’s 2021 output was electrified in some way, and it wants fully electric cars and PHEVs to account for 50 percent of its global sales by 2025, raising to 80 percent by 2030.
Porsche To Build Its Own Supercharger Network
To help owners charge this massive influx of electric Porsches, the company is investing in “premium” charging stations with unnamed partners, but also claims it is developing its own Tesla-style charging infrastructure. Porsche’s proprietary premium charging stations will begin popping out in high-demand locations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland first. The German carmaker will focus on establishing a charging network in Europe, before expanding in other key regions like China and North America.
However, the Porsche-branded charging stations aim to be something more than just a car park with futuristic-looking chargers; the carmaker is planning to offer its EV customers lounge-style amenities. “It’s not just about charging, it’s also to get more convenience in the direction of our customers,” Lutz Meschke, Porsche’s deputy chairman and member of the executive board said to TechCrunch. “And that’s very important for us that we not only focus on the electrification of our cars, but also about the customer journey beyond the car.”
Porsche also confirmed that its partnership with Europe’s Ionity and the Electrify America charging networks will remain intact. “We are jointly investing in premium charging stations alongside partners and in our own charging infrastructure,” CEO Oliver Blume said.
Are you looking forward to the 718 EV in 2025, or would you buy one of the last 2024 gas versions instead? Leave a comment and let us know.
Keyword: Porsche Confirms Electric 718 Boxster And Cayman For 2025, Will Develop Own Charging Infrastructure