Porsche Electric Car

Introduction

The name Porsche is a symbol of style, prestige, uniqueness, luxury and good quality cars that keeps getting better as years goes by. This German automotive manufacturer is known for their luxurious car that for some having a Porsche is a status symbol. These high performance luxury cars are majority-owned by the Piëch and Porsche families. There are two main subsidiaries of Porsche that carries two different lines of automobile; the Porsche AG and Volkswagen AG. The Porsche AG is behind the actual production as well as manufacturing of all Porsche product line. While the Volkswagen AG is behind the big names of luxury vehicles; the Volkswagen Group, Lamborghini, Bentley Motors, Audi and Bugatti Automobiles.

Awarded as the most prestigious automobile brand by the Luxury Institute in May 2006, Porsche manage to stay at the top of their game. With the present state of our environment many car companies used their resources and well as their technology to create eco-friendly alternative cars. Long before it is compulsory for manufacturers to have an emission test Porsche already carried out on a Porsche 911 in 1966. For more than 15 years Porsche has accomplished to reduce average fuel consumption and C02 emission by 17% every year. The company is already on the right track as the status of our environment is getting worst every minute. So to answer the challenge Porsche never stop recreating and testing new vehicles for environmental protection. Independently tested and certified Porsche environmental management systems are one of the best in the automotive industry.

Protecting the environment is one of Porsche objectives and what makes a Porsche vehicle unique is the optimized tyre rolling resistance that increases the car’s performance and reduce fuel consumption as the same time. Another reason why customers go back is the ability of the car to live long enough that the next generation can still enjoy it. Porsche hallmark is their innovative technology and superb driving performance was also used in making their eco-friendly concept. This concept features a less fuel consumptions and emission of pollutants as well as C02 and integrating more recyclable materials.

Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 luxury car series has long history that can be trace back in 1959. Its design was straight from Ferdinand Porsche’s sketchpad. The classic 911 was developed to replace the Porsche 356; this model was way comfortable and powerful than the company’s first model. Unveiled in the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show, the first edition of 911 had a 1600 cc unit, had a “boxer” like configuration, flat-6 engine and displaced 1991 cc. Although the 911 comes with many models they were and still are sold as a 911. Just like The Porsche 911 Carrera, Porsche 911 GT3 and the Porsche 911 Turbo. The A, B, C are used by Porsche to indicate each time the car was revised and the year defines the model year where the car was revised or recreated.

By 2005 the 911 luxury car series was heavily revised and gave birth to the 997 series. Keeping the profile of 996, the Porsche 997 series features a 0.28 drag coefficient and copied the 993 details. This all-wheel drive is the current production of the Carrera and Carrers S coupes that began shipping in November 2005. It also comes with GT3 and Turbo derivatives to meet the demands of its consumers. By 2009 the 997 line got pimped out as Porsche made a complete over-haul. These changes include an addition of Gasoline direct injection, across the board engine displacement increase, styling changes, mechanical changes and introduced the company’s new Dual Clutch Transmission (PDK).

These state of the art changes made the Porsche 997 luxury car series lighter, faster and more fuel efficient. And it made the series way better than its outgoing versions. Although it looks the same to its predecessor, the 997 only shares one thing in its body panel – the roof. Inside the 997, huge changes have been made like eschewing the curves of the 996 and make it more upright and boxy shape, and incorporating an all-new dashboard. The more recent 997 is set to be out in the market 2009. This model will feature new bumpers, direct injected powerplants, Porsche’s very own twin-clutch semi-automatic transmission and headlights as the part of its facelift.  

The 997 series is yet to unveil its newest addition to its family by 2010. This is the limited edition 911 SC (Sports Classic) that features a standard engine with 23 more horsepower for a total of 403 hp. This is the first 911 model that features the iconic “ducktail spoiler” from the famous Carrera RS 2.7. The 2010 997 series also sports the Fuchs-style 19-inch wheels , an interior finished in Espresso Nature natural leather and woven leather/yarn seat panels. Bringing the 911 electric concepts into the 21^st century is the 997 series primary goal, and so far the 997series is the most commercially successful of all 911’s combined.

With all the changes in 911 throughout the years, finally came the world’s first professionally built electric 911. Thanks to Porsche tuner Ruf, the 911 eRUF was made and it comes with a flat six engine powered by lithium-ion batteries in a brushless three-phase motor. Good as a sports car, the 911 electric cars can go from 0-100km/h (60mph) time of under 7.0sec with a top speed of 255km/h (160mph). This eRUF prototype claims to have a maximum range of nearly 320km (200 miles), an amazing speed of an electric car. By using a 150kw (204hp) brushless three-phase BLDC motor, the Panamera has a torque capacity of 650 Nm (480 lb-ft).

Its state of the art battery pack is armed with 317-volts and 480-amps which consist of 96x 160Ah Axeon lithium-ion iron-phosphate cells. Each cell weighs 5.6 kg (12.3 pounds) with a total weight of 550 kg (1,213 lbs) and regularly monitored by Axeon battery management system. Coupled with a sensor, each cell of the 2010 Panamera electric car will send information straight to its central control system that stabilizes cell temperature and voltage. Each cell has a life span of 3,000 charging cycles and a nominal voltage of 3.3 V. The Panamera’s battery pack has a weight capacity of 50.72 kWh, a similar battery pack can be found in the Tesla Roadster. The only difference is that, Tesla’s battery pack is lighter than eRUF battery pack by 232 kg (513 lbs).

By keeping the standard 6 speed manual gearbox, the 2010 Panamera electric car is kinda overweight. So Porsche team are still looking for some more option to make it lighter and more energy efficient single speed transmission. Eventually the car’s range and performance will improve, all these is just a matter of time. Though the 911 eRUF electric car has yet to improve its battery technology, this car offers a lot more that it can definitely compete with its mainstream rivals. Through the years the 911 series are proving that they are here to stay and still a lot room to grow when it comes to their electric car technology.

 2010 Porsche Panamera

It’s not just the 911 that comes with fuel-efficient technology but other models are soon to have an electric model. Just like the highly anticipated Porsche Panamera that boost fuel efficiency and features brake energy regeneration and optional lower rolling resistance tires. This eight-cylinder 2010 Panamera EV is sporting a higher standard that comes with optional 19-inch all-season tyres that offers improvement in fuel consumption by 0.9 litres/100 km and reduced roll resistance. So instead of consuming 12.2 litres/100 km, now it consumes an amazing 11.3 litres which is equals 25.0 mpg imp in the New European Driving Cycle. Also, 2010 Panamera has a huge reduction of C02 emission by 21 grams per kilometer. The 2010 Panamera also comes with two bases, the base S and base 4S are both half a liter more efficient per kilometers.