Porsche reveals wireless charging tech for Cayenne
Words NZ Autocar | Images Porsche
A new system will allow the upcoming electric SUV to charge without have to plug in. Just run the car over the charging pad and it’s good to go. Only this is a cost option and it won’t come cheap.
Porsche claims that its manufacturer-supported inductive charging solution is a world first.
Known as the Porsche Wireless Charger (PWC), it offers speeds up to 11kW and works in temperatures ranging from -40 to 50deg C. Even debris like leaves or snow won’t interfere with its functionality. The pad evidently operates at circa 90 per cent efficiency.
As the upcoming Cayenne drives over the pad, a forward facing camera relays images to the car’s digital display. It then shows gridlines that help the driver line up with the pad, drive over it and park in exactly the right place.
The Cayenne’s air suspension then lowers the body a few centimetres, and a magnetic field initiates beneath it. Then the invisible transfer of electrons into the battery begins.
The 60mm tall, 50kg pad rests on the floor of a driveway or garage. It cannot be integrated into a concrete floor, however, as that obscures the sensors which guide the car onto the pad. It is otherwise self-sufficient, however, and no wallbox is required.
All Cayenne EVs will be prepared with the necessary wiring and hoses to accept the 15kg, water-cooled charge receptor. That bolts behind the protective underbody cladding at the front of the car. The unit itself will be a $NZ4600 option, while the pad will add another $NZ7000-odd.
If a quicker-charging system becomes available in the future, new hardware would be required.
Should an animal like a house cat sit on the pad, the system will cut the magnetic charge field until it leaves.
The PWC cis controlled by the My Porsche app. Charging my start or stop manually or you can set it for off-peak times. Preconditioning is also possible.
The PWC goes on sale next year when the Cayenne Electric debuts. Expect 400kW cabled charging speeds and, in Turbo form, around 1000bhp (746kW).
