Porsche recently announced the new four passenger Mission E electric sports sedan concept car at last month’s Frankfurt Auto Show. Mission E, one of the show’s top attractions, is expected to hit the market in 2020. Mission E will compete directly with Elon Musk’s Tesla electric cars. By 2020, Tesla is expected to have introduced its Model 3, the company’s mid-market electric auto intended for a wider market.
Mission E has a lithium-ion battery pack extending between the front and rear axles, an 800 volt EV powertrain, 590 horsepower (hp), a 310 mile range, and a 0-60 mph acceleration of 3.5 seconds. The most impressive spec for the Mission E is its ability to charge to 80% in just 15 minutes, which no other EV can do at this time.
Analysts are taking a wait and see attitude as to the nature of the competition between Porsche and Tesla. Five years is a long time in the automobile industry, and Tesla’s software and technology are expected to improve significantly by then. In addition, Tesla’s gigafactory will come online in 2017 and likely significantly improve its battery charging times.
Porsche is the latest and most significant OEM to throw its hat into the electric car arena. The challenge for Porsche will be to build an electric car that still has the speed and maneuverability of its long line of automobiles.
Gaining Market Share vs. Gas Powered Vehicles
The world has seen the Chevy Bolt and the Nissan Leaf, which currently sell in relatively low volumes. Soon the world’s luxury car makers, including Porsche, will add their twist to the electric car industry. On more than one occasion, Elon Musk has indicated he welcomes competition because as EVs become mainstream, Tesla’s market will expand.
The following video show the Porsche Mission E up close:
