Stuttgart - Porsche is set to spend a billion euros (R15.6bn) to bring its first all electric car to market by “the end of the decade”, as sportscar maker guns for a slice of the green car market.
The new car, which will be a production version of the recent Mission E concept , will remain true to Porsche's performance heritage, with a 0-100km/h acceleration time of under 3.5 seconds. Under more efficient driving conditions, the new Porsche is expected to manage more than 500km on a single charge.
As a cure for the usually-slow recharging blues, a specially developed charger will replenish the car's lithium-ion batteries with sufficient power for 80 percent of the range after just 15 minutes, the company said.
“With Mission E, we are making a clear statement about the future of the brand. Even in a greatly changing motoring world, Porsche will maintain its front-row position with this fascinating sports car,” said supervisory board chairman Wolfgang Porsche.
Germany's mighty motor industry is racing to catch up with US green car star Tesla, which currently has no rival at the high end of the electric car segment.
Electric cars are still very much a niche market, both in the United States and Europe, where they accounted for barely one percent of sales in the first six months of 2015.
But with double- and even triple-digit growth seen in some countries, German carmakers are looking at getting a slice of the market.
Besides Porsche, Audi is also building an electric urban 4x4 that could go into production in 2018 under the name Q6.
Despite a massive pollution cheating scandal engulfing Volkswagen, the parent company of both Porsche and Audi, the group has said it would not compromise on investments for its future.
AFP & IOL