Harnessing 1.21 gigawatts: less time charging, more time travelling

Between the Electrify America and the European Ionity charging network, 1.21 gigawatts of combined power has been exceeded for the first time. The rapid expansion of both networks means they now represent the largest DC fast charger networks in the US and Europe. An additional range of third party publicly available charging networks complements the total. There are currently 670 Electrify America and 372 Ionity locations and counting – which equates to more than 4,800 individual chargers. With the network containing more power than ever before, charging a Taycan is quicker and easier.

In just 22 minutes, the Porsche Taycan can charge from five to 80 per cent, thanks to its 800-volt battery architecture and 270 kW charge speed – meaning less time spent charging and more time travelling. Additionally, with Plug-and-Charge – which must only rank second in convenience to Mr Fusion, the power source of the DeLorean time machine in the blockbuster film Back to the Future – the user simply plugs-in and charging starts automatically, just as the name suggests.

In the US and Canada, Taycan owners benefit from the first 30 minutes of each charge being free for the first three years of ownership. The all-electric sports car’s built-in Charging Planner also makes locating stations less onerous than trying to coincide a charge with a bolt of lightning, as in the film.

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A light-hearted 60-second film accompanies this release, intended to make fans of the Back to the Future movies smile. Created with the kind permission of Universal Studios LLC and Amblin Entertainment, by filmmaker J.F. Musial, it marks the charging network exceeding 1.21 gigawatts of electricity – a threshold that coincided, by chance, with Back to the Future Day (21 October being the date that the character Marty jumps forward in time in the film). Among several 'easter eggs', the clip features Donald Fullilove. In 1985, the actor and EV enthusiast played the determined and progress-focused character of Goldie Wilson, who – inspired by Marty McFly – went from café cleaner to become mayor of Hill Valley in Back to the Future.