Powertrain
The Taycan uses a new battery-electric all-wheel-drive drivetrain with a permanent-magnet synchronous motor on each axle. At the front, power is sent to the wheels through a single-speed gearbox (8.05:1 gear ratio); and at the rear, through a two-speed transmission and a limited slip differential. The gearbox has a short planetary first gear (16:1) providing maximum acceleration, and a long-ratio second gear (8.05:1) delivering top speed and efficiency.[15]
Power comes from a 93 kWh 1389 lbs lithium-ion battery pack that doubles as a structural chassis component and keeps the center of gravity low.[15] To increase rear-seat legroom, recesses called "foot garages" have been incorporated into the battery pack. The 723-volt pack (835 volt full, 610 volt empty) has 33 modules with 12 LG Chem pouch cells each, for 396 cells in total.[15][16] This battery is branded "Performance Battery Plus" (PB+). Porsche also offers a battery with a smaller capacity of 79.2 kWh (gross), branded "Performance Battery" (PB), for the Taycan and Taycan 4S, which reduces total weight by approximately 76 kg. PB uses 28 of the same 12-cell modules (336 cells total) as PB+, and operates with a voltage range of 520 to 720 V.[17]
At launch, the highest-output powertrains (Turbo and Turbo S) were available, distinguished by the larger inverter on the Turbo S. Later, the 4S powertrain was made available; output was reduced by switching to a less powerful rear motor, but the front motor was the same on all three (4S, Turbo, and Turbo S).[18] A base model, which dropped the front motor and was fitted with the smaller 79.2 kW-hr PB, was introduced in early 2021.[19][20] When the Cross Turismo body was introduced in March 2021, the base model was designated 4, which used the larger battery and two-motor all-wheel drive, but with outputs comparable to the rear-motor Taycan.[21] As an option, the regular Taycan was fitted with the larger 93 kW-hr PB+ in late 2021 and a single-motor variant of the 4 Cross Turismo powertrain.[22] The GTS powertrain was announced alongside the Sport Turismo body in November 2021; the GTS uses the larger battery and a more powerful set of motors to fill the gap between the 4S and the Turbo.[23][24]
A mid-cycle refresh was unveiled in February 2024, for the 2025 model year. Porsche introduced an improved battery chemistry, increasing power density and overall capacity to 89 kW-hr (PB) and 105 kW-hr (PB+). In addition, the rear traction motor from the Macan BEV was fitted, which is more powerful, more efficient, and weighs less than the prior unit. The maximum regenerative braking power has been increased from 290 to 400 kW, and the maximum charging rate using a DC charger has increased from 270 to 320 kW.[30] In March 2024, the Turbo GT powertrain was introduced, which uses the same front motor as the Turbo and Turbo S, with an upgraded rear motor which has a maximum current of 900 A (compared to 600 A for the Turbo/S) for a maximum combined peak output of 760 kW using Launch Control, 580 kW continuous.[31][32]
Range and charging
The EPA lists the Taycan 4S's range at 203 mi WLTP range: 566 – 645 km[40] with a consumption of 69 mpge.[41][42] However, the car's range depends on how it is driven and what driving mode is selected.[43] There are five driving modes: Sport, Sport Plus, Normal, Range, and Individual. The Range mode maximizes range with the lowest power consumption; and Individual lets the driver customise various settings. Regenerative braking provides up to 265 kW,[44] yielding an acceleration of 0.39 G/-3.83 m/s^2.[15]
Porsche has developed an 800-volt charging system specifically for the Taycan. According to manufacturer estimates, the battery pack can be charged from 5% to 80% in 22.5 minutes in ideal situations, using an 800-volt DC fast charger with 270 kW of power.
