Range

How far a Taycan will be able to go between charges will depend on how and where you drive it. Use the car’s performance to its full potential and the range meter will soon let you know. That might be fine if you are at a track or heading home safe in the knowledge that a charger awaits. 

Motorways will also take their toll on the range, as the car doesn’t have the chance to capture energy when braking. In a mixed bag of driving on fast roads and in towns, a Taycan should be capable of covering around 200 miles before needing a charge. Around 250 miles should be possible with careful use or around town. 

Battery

The cheapest Taycan – now simply badged 'Taycan' - and the 4S both come two battery size options; 71kWh and 84kWh (usable).  The two other, more expensive Taycans use the bigger 87kWh battery as standard which unlocks extra  performance. 

Whichever one you choose, it’s noticeably less range than the Tesla Model S, which has a slightly larger 100kW battery but squeezes about 100 miles more out of it. Where the Porsche fights back is with a clever 800-volt electrical system – that’s twice the usual amount for an electric car. Higher voltage means lower current, which means less heat in the batteries, making for faster charging possible. 

Charging

It’s possible to charge the Porsche Taycan at any public charging point (except the Telsa-exclusive Superchargers of course), but the real revolution will come when the very latest generation of 350kW chargers appear over the next few years. They are more than five times more powerful than the rapid chargers you’ll usually find at service stations and will take a Taycan battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 22.5 minutes. You’ll be able to get around 60 miles’ worth in the battery in the time it will take you to buy a coffee.

This is possible because it uses an 800-volt system which is twice as powerful as most electric cars, which allows it to run and charge at much lower temperatures. Heat is a big problem during rapid charging for most batteries, but the Porsche system means it can take on power much faster without getting too hot.