Porsche Macan EV Range and Performance
It’s actually a little hard to believe that the Porsche Taycan is already four years old. In many ways – from its searing performance to its 800-volt architecture – the Taycan is still a technology leader. But for Porsche, the Taycan, a $100,000-plus luxury performance sedan and wagon, was just the first act. The main event is coming this year: the Macan EV, an all-electric version of the company’s best-selling SUV. It’s a product that the storied German company has to get right – but all indications are that it’s on track to deliver an impressive new entrant into the EV SUV fight. It’s been spending the last few months logging millions of development miles on dozens of prototypes. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the electric Macan, which you’ll see on American roads in late 2024.
Porsche Macan EV: Range and Efficiency
Instead of adapting the gasoline Macan, Porsche developed the Macan EV from the start as an electric vehicle – and therefore placed a priority on its aerodynamic efficiency to maximize its range. Doing so, while maintaining Porsche’s distinctive style, wasn’t easy. Close cooperation between designers and engineers, and Porsche’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel, helped find the perfect balance, optimizing every square inch to achieve the right look but maximum efficiency.
In the end, careful sculpting as well as the use of active aerodynamics helped Porsche achieve its targets. The electric Macan incorporates a flat floor with flexible surfaces, a first for a Porsche production vehicle: it keeps even moving parts underneath the car as smooth as possible. There is also an automatically extending rear spoiler, which stays flush when it’s not needed, as well as active cooling flaps on the front air intakes: when closed, they keep the Macan’s face smooth and efficient, and open only when the battery or electric motors need cooling. All told, the gasoline Macan’s drag coefficient, which was 0.35, was reduced substantially to 0.25, with a huge impact on efficiency. On the European WLTP testing cycle, the Macan EV achieves 310 miles of range EPA estimated – a big jump over the lower and much more expensive Taycan.
Porsche Macan EV Battery and Charging Performance
The Macan EV’s electric motors are powered by a brand-new lithium-ion battery, which measures 100 kWh – actually bigger than the battery in the larger, more expensive Taycan. In order to minimize the deterioration of the battery over time, Porsche allows the vehicle to use 95 percent of the battery’s capacity, shuffling around which individual cells are given a “rest” to maintain longevity. This means the Macan EV should keep its range for many years to come.
Like the Taycan, the Macan EV has an 800-volt charging architecture to permit high-performance, high-speed charging. Using 800 volts instead of the more common 400 volt systems means that the cables and associated hardware can be lighter, reducing the vehicle’s weight and therefore improving its range and performance. Porsche has worked particularly hard to make sure the charging works wherever and whenever. The company says that part of the task of those millions of miles logged was testing the Macan EV on hundreds of different charging networks around the world to ensure compatibility. As Porsche has already announced that it will adopt Tesla’s NACS (North American Charging System) standard in the U.S. and Canada, Macan EV drivers should have access to the well-regarded Tesla Supercharger network starting in 2025.
As for charging speed, the new electric Macan can charge at speeds of up to 270 kW on a compatible charger – the same as the Taycan, and among the fastest in the business. Only some Hyundai/Genesis/Kia and Lucid models will charge faster. On a Level 3 fast charger, Porsche says that the Macan EV can be boosted from 10 to 80 percent in less than 22 minutes. At 400-volt charging stations, the Macan uses a built in high-voltage switch to split the battery into two modules, which charge in parallel at up to 150 kW. This operating logic allows Porsche to keep the price point of the Macan lower than the Taycan – which has a high-voltage booster – while maintaining impressive charging performance. At home, on a Level 2 charger, the Macan EV will charge at up to 11 kW – better than most EVs on the market.
How Will the Macan EV Drive in Winter?
As a family SUV, it’s vitally important that the Macan EV perform well in winter. Porsche says it has tested its new electric baby in a variety of climates in very extreme operating conditions – far exceeding what most customers will put it through in daily life. Over 2.2 million miles have been logged on test tracks and public roads around the world.
Winter testing for the new Porsche Macan EV was completed in Scandinavia at temperatures of 40 below zero, on frozen lakes and snow-covered roads. The core focus was on ensuring the Macan EV behaved like a Porsche, with steering response and chassis dynamics recognizable to drivers of the brand. Electric motors provide even more precise throttle control than Porsche’s excellent gasoline drivetrains, which should make the new Macan EV even more fun to drive than before.
At the other end of the spectrum, Porsche took its Macan EV prototypes to Death Valley, California, to subject them to extreme heat as well as gravel and off-road conditions. The dual motors and electronically-controlled all-wheel drive system provide the same level of traction and confidence in both extreme circumstances. Top models will offer over 600 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque – more power and torque than many of the brand’s top sports cars, in its smallest and best-selling SUV.
Porsche Macan EV Pricing and Availability
Porsche has yet to announce complete trim, pricing, and on-sale dates for the Macan EV, but we expect to see the first vehicles on North American soil this summer. At least initially, we would also expect a starting MSRP similar to the gasoline Macan GTS, at around $88,000.
That’s a lot of money for what is ostensibly an entry-level EV, but you won’t have to spend a dollar on premium gasoline ever again – and will enjoy performance and responsiveness that are a cut above anything in the class. Expect Porsche to introduce different trim levels, with different power outputs, and different price points, over time.
