There’ve been rumors for quite some time regarding a fully electric Porsche 911. Let’s put things to rest right here, right now: it’s not happening. Automotive News Europe was on hand at Porsche’s annual results conference in Stuttgart earlier this month where CEO Oliver Blume clarified plans for a plug-in hybrid 911, but not a fully electric version. "We are waiting for the further evolution in battery technology so you should not expect a plug-in version in the coming years. It’s currently planned when the 992 (set to debut this fall in Paris-ED) is refreshed,” he said.
The production-spec Mission E, due in 2019, will serve as the German automaker’s first ever EV. However, Blume will not rule out the possibility of fully electrifying the brand’s two other sports cars, the 718 Boxster and Cayman. “We launched the 718 Boxster and Cayman in 2016,” he said. “We are not yet at the point where we have to decide how things will progress,” Blume said. Considering the pair are already mid-engined, this setup would make things easier, as opposed to the 911, for engineers who would need to stick the large and heavy battery pack in the vehicles’ center. If there ever will be a 911 EV, it’s still a long ways off. How come? Basically because it’s not necessary at the moment, or in the near future.
A plug-in hybrid 911, promised to be the most powerful 911 to date with a potential of up to 700 hp, will fill the need for an efficient Porsche sports car. However, Porsche’s parent company, Volkswagen Group, has tasked it to develop a new electric-vehicle architecture specifically for the purpose of underpinning sports cars and supercars. Eventually, this platform could be used by Audi and Lamborghini, as well as Porsche. For the next several years though, no 911 EV will happen. We also previously heard the 992’s platform was not designed for pure electric power only. So that ought to settle things (for the next decade or so).
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