Porsche claims that its upcoming first electric vehicle, the Mission E, will be equipped with a new 800-volt charging technology capable of charging a significant battery pack to 80% in just 15 minutes. The Mission E is expected to hit the market by the end of the decade.
If successful, it would be an important step forward for electric vehicles, but the technology could also enable new applications in other segments than passenger cars. For example, it would be very useful to the all-electric championship Formula E and now the German automaker is reportedly seeking to supply the competition with its new battery technology.
The Motorsport magazine is out this week with a new report claiming that Porsche submitted an application with the FIA to be the sole battery supplier of the Formula E by 2018.
The publication reports that the tender application is “currently being evaluated by a team of independent consultants brought in by the FIA to choose the battery supplier”, but that an announcement could come as soon as next month’s Hong Kong ePrix or the World Motorsport Council next week.
While the teams have been allowed to modify the electric motors, inverter and transmission of their respective vehicles in recent seasons, the battery packs are still all supplied by Williams Advanced Engineering.
Unlike other automakers have done recently, like Jaguar for example, it doesn’t look like Porsche is seeking to get its own team, but to replace Williams Advanced Engineering as the battery supplier for the championship. Redbull is also reportedly seeking to get the supply agreement. Of course, Williams is also trying to get a new deal.
It would be an interesting opportunity for them to showcase their battery pack technology ahead of the market introduction of their first all-electric car. It would demonstrate to longtime Porsche buyers that electric vehicles can perform in race conditions.
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