Autofun Philippines – Dominik Hartmann says we should all stop worrying about the size and range of batteries in battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Instead, says the Porsche engineer, think about travel time. The key to making EVs viable long distances is to charge faster on the go, not overcharging the battery size, which has become a costly and profitable volume increase proposition, which in turn reduces autonomy. .
While Hartmann shares this key element of Porsche cars Philippines‘ electric vehicle philosophy, he stands with his back to his “colleague”, Ludmilla. Cleverly disguised to conceal his true appearance, the Ludmilla is a test prototype of the next-generation Porsche Macan. Hartmann is Macan’s chassis engineer, but he’s taking part in this media conference in Franciacorta, Italy, to unveil Porsche’s new Premium Electric Platform (PPE) architecture. PPE will have Porsche’s first application in the next generation of the automaker’s compact SUV crossover. That’s right, the new Macan will only run on electricity when it arrives in 2024.
That said, the platform is co-developed with sister company Audi, so it’s possible its first application will be on the Q5. And, notably, we’ve learned that it can support a wider range of vehicles than SUVs.
As for the “Ludmilla”, Porsche explains that the first batch of black test prototypes of the next Macan has been produced, but not road-legal. This means they cannot be license plates, so the chassis development team named them to help identify them internally.
Ludmilla’s base form is covered with decals and moldings designed to make her look as much like the current generation Macan as possible. There are even fake exhaust pipes.
The electric Macan is an important part of Porsche’s plan to have 50% of its deliveries as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or (mostly) BEVs by 2025 and 80% of BEVs by 2030. We also know that, As part of this process, the next generation 718s (Boxster and Cayman) will be BEVs. Look for them in 2025. At the rear, quad lights and fake exhausts reinforce the illusion.
The Macan borrows and builds on the technology of the Taycan that debuted in 2019 as Porsche’s first BEV. Like the Taycan, the Macan leads the way in fast charging thanks to its 800-volt architecture, but this SUV, at the right charging stations, will be able to handle even more charging capacity than the 270 kilowatts of the Taycan. Taycan. The goal is to be able to charge from 5% to 80% in less than 25 minutes under ideal conditions.
Battery capacity will be around 100 kilowatt hours, still a good size despite Hartmann’s emphasis on travel time (the largest battery in the Taycan is 93.4 kilowatt hours). Porsche says that by using nickel, cobalt and manganese in an 8-to-1 ratio, the battery achieves a higher energy density.
Curiously, Porsche claims that the PPE architecture can support both rear- and all-wheel drive. The rear engine is positioned slightly behind the rear axle (similar to the 911), ensuring that even all-wheel drive models will have a slightly rearward weight distribution to aid agility and traction when exiting bends.
The platform’s rear-wheel drive suggests it will also handle sports cars rather than a compact crossover. Indeed, Porsche says, “the architecture offers so much space in terms of wheelbase, track width and ground clearance that it can be used to realize a wide variety of vehicle models – including in different segments.”
That said, Porsche claims the Macan will be the sportiest player in its own segment.
Porsche says the engine(s) will be derived from the engine in the Taycan and will be of the permanent magnet synchronous type, offering higher power and torque density as well as greater efficiency than the alternative. out of sync, Porsche said. More powerful models will “originally” deliver up to about 450 kilowatts (about 600 hp) and 738 lb-ft of torque.
Porsche has filed a patent on how to package certain control electronics:
The space-saving integrated power supply box combines a built-in AC charger, high voltage heater and DC/DC converter in a single box.
The Macan will offer mostly convertible, adjustable, and automatic chassis options that address the traditional trade-off between comfort and sportiness. These include Porsche active suspension with variable damping control (now with two-valve dampers), electronically controlled variable rear differential locking, fully variable torque split front/ rear, air springs and for the first time on the Macan, rear wheel drive. .
Hartmann also highlights the newly developed in-house power steering system, which transmits all important information, such as road surface characteristics and tire traction, to the driver through an unfiltered feel. , while annoying vibrations and shocks are eliminated before they reach the steering wheel.
Porsche has driven better than most, and this level of dedication to continuous improvement promises to confirm that, as the company puts it, “Porsche will always be Porsche. That depends on the performance of the car. future PPE models and their expected driving dynamics.
If the current Taycan is any indication, it’s not hard to believe.
