- These Chargers Aren’t Cheap
- Who Is Using These Plugs?
- Huge Opportunity
- Zero Hassle Charging
- Further Efforts From Porsche
Many dealers already have no-cost 350 kW chargers for Taycan drivers.
Trying to find the fastest electric vehicle chargers can be tedious or even impossible, but what if you could just visit your local car dealership? Many dealers are woefully underprepared for the incoming surge of EVs, and some are actively fighting back against installing chargers. But Porsche is leading the charge with its own branded DC fast chargers and setting an example the rest of the industry would do well to follow. Porsche dealers have quietly started to install chargers, some of which can juice up an EV at speeds of up to 350 kW, and made them free to use – sort of.
CarBuzz noticed that the dealer down the street recently opened two 350 kW plugs, so obviously we were curious about how Porsche plans to deploy them across its 199-dealer network in the US. Porsche Product Spokesperson Calvin Kim gave us the scoop on what to expect from Porsche in terms of EV charging.
These Chargers Aren’t Cheap
An average Level 2 home charger costs around $1,300 in the US (including installation), so it's hard for the average EV owner to understand how much more expensive it is to install a DC fast charger. Kim told CarBuzz that “prices vary wildly based on a number of variables,” including installations costs, but the average cost for a single charging pedestal (not including any other fees) is as follows:
- $20,000 to $30,000 for a 25 kW charger
- $50,000 to $100,000 for a 50 kW charger
- $300,000 to $700,000 for a 320-350 kW charger
Our local dealer said the total installation cost for two 350 kW plugs plus an L2 charger was over $2 million. That's a considerable investment, especially considering that the 2023 Porsche Taycan, the company's lone electric model for the time being, can only charge at a 270 kW peak. “Due to costs and timing, dealers are opting to install the lower output units as a stop-gap until they remodel to maximize efficiencies,” Kim said.
Who Is Using These Plugs?
Our local dealership opted to install its chargers in the parking lot where all of the new and used vehicles sit. Outside of normal operating hours, this area is inaccessible to the public. These chargers are not intended to act as a public charging station since they are not available 24/7, but more as a perk for Taycan owners and a useful tool for the dealer. “Most of the charging sessions are done by the dealer for service calls,” Kim explained. “Customers are not just showing up to use them on a road trip. A vast majority of Taycan owners have access to charging at home or the office.”
That being said, these chargers will show up on the Taycan's Navigation and Charging Planner, meaning they could be exploited by owners. Kim says these chargers are currently available at no cost, meaning Taycan owners can take advantage of quick, complimentary charging sessions if they live near a dealer. Of course, they can also have access to the dealer's lounge with any food/amenities that might be available. This is an outstanding benefit not just for Taycan owners but a huge opportunity for Porsche dealers to capitalize on their investment.
Huge Opportunity
Porsche doesn't seem to have a long-term plan for these chargers. “The idea is to see what happens,” said Kim. “The big cost is the infrastructure,” so giving away the electricity is a drop in the bucket. These chargers are not technically open to the public, but unlike Tesla's walled garden of Superchargers, the Porsche-branded units (built by BTC Power) can charge any EV that stops by. Tesla is soon opening a portion of its network to the general public, though, so Porsche may want to consider a similar approach.
Since we know many of the salespeople at our local dealership, they are happy to let us get a quick charge in any of our electric test vehicles. They see it as an opportunity to view competitors up close and learn about other EVs on the market, including their strengths and weaknesses. The chargers we use are completely unlocked, meaning we need only plug in and begin charging.
Some dealers require a card that they keep inside to activate a charging session, but Taycan owners on forums report that most locations will be happy to come outside and scan it for you if you call ahead. Our local dealer has even allowed a few non-Porsche owners to charge while they look around. We see this as a massive opportunity for dealers (not just Porsche) to conquest when EV owners come in for a charge. After all, a 25-minute charge session is the perfect length for a Taycan test drive.
Zero Hassle Charging
Not only are the Porsche-branded EV chargers free to use, but they're far more reliable and easier to use than any public DC fast-charging station we've ever tested. A big part of the equation is not being 100% public facing (no payment issues, no broken connectors, less risk of being in use), but Porsche has proven that EV charging doesn't need to be a huge hassle. Just take out the connector, stick it in the car, and charging commences.
Every once in a while, it fails to initialize because we didn't quite secure the connector properly, but unplugging it, waiting a few seconds, then trying again seems to solve the problem.
We've tested the Porsche chargers on various EVs, including the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, GMC Hummer EV Pickup, Mercedes-AMG EQE, and Volvo C40 Recharge. These all have wildly different peak charge rates ranging from 55 to 350 kW, but the Porsche-branded chargers excel no matter which car we tested. They reach near-peak speeds almost immediately, even without battery preconditioning, and stay there for most of the session. Even after crossing the dreaded 85% mark, we noted the Hummer was still pulling down 87 kW. At 97%, it was still juicing at 22 kW.
Further Efforts From Porsche
In addition to the DC fast chargers and L2 chargers at dealers, Porsche will add more L2 destination chargers around the US. The Porsche Destination Chargers (also known as Porsche Wall Chargers) are placed at fancy hotels and restaurants that Porsche owners would likely frequent, like the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco.
These L2 chargers may not be capable of replenishing a Taycan's battery in under 30 minutes, but they are strategically placed where drivers might spend a few hours, so they don't need to be that quick. It's also worth noting that these are not those outdated 7 kW plugs scattered around collecting dust. Porsche Wall Chargers can charge at up to 19.2 kW, which is at the top of what's considered L2. Theoretically, this charger could get a Taycan from 0% to 100% in under five hours.
If every automaker shows similar dedication towards EV charging infrastructure, it might speed up adoption and make the ownership process easier.
Keyword: Porsche Is Leading The Charge On Dealership EV Charging