Now’s the time to start saving, because Porsche’s all-electric, luxury four-seater due by 2020 is on a fast track to production. Porsche confirmed it is bumping up plans to get to market and will be hiring about 1,400 people for the assembly line, 40 percent more than previously estimated, according to Electrek.
Porsche is part of the Volkswagen Group, along with VW and Audi. Volkswagen recently announced plans for more than 30 new models brand-wide by 2025, including 2 million to 3 million all-electric vehicles. The Mission E, Porsche’s first all-electric car, is one of the first of VW Group’s long-range e-cars.
Porsche has stated that the Mission E will have a range greater than 310 miles. Electrek assumes that, since Porsche is a German company, the range statement is likely based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) rating, not the more realistic EPA rating. For comparison, a Tesla Model S P90D has a 346 mile NEDC-rated range but a 294 mile EPA range.
The Mission E’s all-electric powertrain will consist of two electric motors, one each for the front and rear wheels. The 800-volt motor combination is expected to accelerate to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Porsche says the system will be capable of getting an 80 percent charge in just 15 minutes. That’s assuming there are 800-volt charging stations available, which isn’t a given.
The gorgeous vehicle with four doors that open from the center of each side will have four separate seats. This design won Concept Car Design of the Year at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show in March.
Also in March, Porsche said Mission E production would create 1,000 new assembly line and paint shop jobs, but now that number has been raised to 1,400. It will be built at Porsche’s Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen factory, where Porsche has said preparations for the assembly line have already started.
No price has been announced for the Mission E, but you can bet it will be hefty.
