Porsche leads the way in wireless charging with new Cayenne Electric
Porsche is set to become the first manufacturer to use an inductive charging system as the sports car manufacturer debuts the technology in the upcoming Cayenne Electric, which is scheduled to make its world premiere before the year ends.
Like with mobile phones, inductive charging works by simply parking the vehicle over a floor-mounted base plate — no need to plug a cable from a wallbox charger. This makes charging significantly more convenient for Cayenne Electric owners.
For owners of Porsche’s all-electric models, around 75% of charging is done at home. This underscores the added convenience inductive charging solutions can provide owners.
Called Porsche Wireless Charging, the plate can be installed on the floors of garages, carports, or open parking spaces, and requires no other equipment. It incorporates safety features, such as motion detection and foreign object recognition, automatically interrupting charging if a living creature or metallic object interferes.
The inductive charging system comes with LTE and WLAN modules to allow for future remote software updates. Its 11-kW charging power is the same as the home charging units currently in use.
To use it, the new Cayenne Electric needs to be parked above the floor plate, which contains a transmitter that transfers energy to the vehicle’s receiver without using a cable.
Helping drivers to align the SUV over the charging plate is the new Cayenne Electric’s Surround View function. Once positioned correctly with its parking brake applied, it will automatically lower itself and charging starts immediately.
Adding more convenience is the timer function that is currently available in cable charging systems.
Porsche presented its groundbreaking inductive charging technology at IAA Mobility in Munich. The brand used a Cayenne Electric prototype with fluorescent electroluminescent paint that lights up under current to demonstrate the system.
