Porsche’s updated Taycan electric sports car has undergone extensive testing totaling over 3.6 million kilometers ahead of its launch in the coming months. The testing has taken place in extreme conditions ranging from Death Valley’s 53°C heat to -41°C in the Finnish Arctic Circle, pushing the EV to its limits.
“Faster, higher, further – we have improved the new Taycan in practically every discipline compared to its predecessor,” said Model Line Vice President Kevin Giek. “And because the changes are so extensive, the grueling testing program is almost comparable to that for a new model.”
The testing has focused on the Taycan sports sedan along with the Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo variants in conditions from 300,000 km in cold climates to 200,000 km in hot climates. The extreme cold climate testing in northern Finland demonstrated the Taycan’s driving dynamics on snow and ice while showing almost 50% faster charging times at subzero temperatures.
“At Porsche, electric cars must undergo the same rigorous testing program as our combustion-engine sports cars,” said Head of Taycan Testing Florian Stahl. “The substantially upgraded Taycan will have completed tests in 17 countries with temperatures from -41 to +53°C.”
Our Thoughts
The extreme testing dispels myths about EVs struggling in cold weather. While efficiency does drop in cold temperatures, so does that of gasoline cars – by 15% in city driving at 20°F compared to 77°F according to fuel economy tests. The Taycan’s robust performance shows it can handle even the most extreme conditions.