Great Scott! 1.21 Gigawatts of Charging Power for Porsche Taycan Drivers

Porsche drivers’ available charging network capacity has reached the critical Back to the Future power threshold.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

October 22, 2021

1 Min Read
Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash2.jpg
Jason Leung via Unsplash

The Volkswagen Group-backed Electrify America and Ionity (in Europe) charging networks that support the Porsche Taycan’s 800-volt, 270-kilowatt charging capability have now reached a total charging capacity of 1.21 gigawatts.

Sci-fi movie fans will recall that this was the crucial threshold power level required for Doc Brown’s time-traveling DeLorean in Back to the Future.

The networks include 670 Electrify America and 370 Ionity locations containing more than 4,800 chargers to reach this mind-boggling power level without the necessity of foreknowledge of when lightning will strike to provide such power.

Instead of rigging a lightning rod on the clock tower, Porsche Taycan drivers can boost their cars’ battery packs from 5 percent to 80 percent in 22 minutes using a 270 kW DC fast charger on either of these networks.

Taycan owners get free 30-minute charges on these networks for the first three years of ownership, leaving open the possibility that future cheapskate owners may still opt to try for a free lightning strike recharge.

In commemoration of this milestone charging capacity, Porsche commissioned a short video demonstrating the connection between Marty McFly’s DeLorean and the refined Taycan, now piloted by Hill Valley mayor Goldie Wilson, portrayed by actor Donald Fullilove.

Related:Bill Nye Explains the Porsche Taycan’s Electric Tech in 5 Fun Videos


 

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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