Fully electric Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron range declare electromobility is happening now — not a concept for the future
PGA Cars, the partner of Porsche and Audi in the Philippines (as well as Lamborghini and Bentley), is leading the domestic automotive sector’s transition to sustainable, premium electric-powered mobility through its “FutureNow” program.
FutureNow involves an initial investment of more than P300 million for the construction of facilities specifically designed and equipped to address the unique requirements and safety standards of electric vehicles. Other expenditures were allotted for manufacturer-approved equipment, tools and software, and specialized training of personnel dedicated to electric vehicles.
Through FutureNow, PGA Cars is helping build the ecosystem that supports the use of fully electric vehicles in the country. A key component of this is establishing the processes and solutions for residential and destination charging systems through collaborations with relevant stakeholders — like mall owners, property developers and fuel companies which have set up (or have plans to set up) public charging stations. Plus, all PGA Cars showrooms and service centers are equipped with charging facilities, which Porsche and Audi owners use for free.
PGA Cars further commits to sustainable mobility by adopting carbon-neutral processes for its operations. Among these is the creation of a micro carbon sink — basically defined as a natural or man-made reservoir that can accumulate carbon emissions from the atmosphere — that can help the company absorb an amount of carbon dioxide nearly equal to that emitted during its operations.
In the first phase of the carbon sink program, PGA Cars transplanted full-grown trees in the vicinity of its main showrooms and service facilities on EDSA, Greenhills. The move seeks to help in curbing pollution, as well as to significantly improve aesthetics, in the area.
Leading the luxury sector toward the future
Currently headlining FutureNow are the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron SUV and Audi e-tron GT. All zero-emissions, fully electric models which have significantly more advanced features than the stop-gap technologies found in hybrid vehicles, these cars lead the way for electromobility in the luxury car sector.
PGA Cars has been offering the Porsche Taycan since 2020, with demand for the four-door sports car consistently increasing since then. Leveraging on this momentum, PGA Cars in February introduced the Audi e-tron SUV, e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT. To date, Porsche and Audi are the only global brands to have sold in any relevant number fully electric-powered vehicles in the Philippines.
Both the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron range come with portable charging systems that can be plugged into either a household or a three-phase industrial outlet. The models also have available alternating current (AC) charging units that can be installed at homes — which are as simple to install as air-conditioners. These allow owners to fully charge their cars overnight, or “top-up” the battery charge level whenever it is convenient to do so. Operating the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron range is just like using a mobile device.
Another innovative charging system for Porsche and Audi is a high-powered direct current (DC) charger — the first of such type in the country — located at PGA Cars showrooms on EDSA Greenhills. With both DC and AC options available, owners are guaranteed access to charging solutions at home and on the road.
Driving sustainable mobility
Global deliveries of electrified Porsche and Audi models continue to surge in 2022, registering phenomenal growth rates and consistently increasing their share in the total number of vehicles sold by the two leading brands in electric vehicle technology. Reflecting this sustained and accelerated adoption of electromobility is the brisk uptake in the Philippines of the fully electric Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron range.
In the first quarter of 2022, the Taycan once again emerged as the most popular Porsche passenger car as sales of the fully electric model worldwide reached 9,470 units from January to March — 4 percent more than the previous year. The increase in Taycan sales bucks Porsche’s performance for the same period.
During the same quarter, worldwide deliveries of the Audi e-tron range leaped by 66.2 percent, representing 24,236 vehicles sold. The result follows the e-tron models’ stellar full-year performance in 2021, which saw sales increase by more than double during the period.
The solid performance of the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron range significantly contributed to the 65-percent spike in combined sales of battery electric vehicles (BEV) produced by the Volkswagen Group — in which Porsche and Audi belong — during the first quarter of 2022. The robust demand for BEV models of the auto group has caused an order backlog of 300,000 units in Western Europe alone. Customers in Europe and the US are not expected to get their newly ordered BEVs until 2023.
Future of electromobility happens now
Porsche plans to have electrified models make up half of its global deliveries in 2025. To achieve this, the company is now investing more than €15 billion in electric mobility, digital transformation and sustainable production. Currently underpinning this strategy is the Porsche Taycan.
The Porsche Taycan highlights the extent to which the company’s product strategy is geared toward electric mobility. With global deliveries doubling annually since the fully electric model’s release in late 2019, the Taycan puts Porsche on track to attain its goals for 2025.
Beyond 2025, the Taycan also spearheads Porsche’s initiatives to increase the share of the brand’s electrified models to 80 percent by 2030, as well as to become completely carbon-neutral throughout its supply and manufacturing processes in the same year.
At present, Porsche’s production in Zuffenhausen and Leipzig is already carbon-neutral through the use of renewable energy and biogas. The company plans to expand this practice to its suppliers.
Over the next 10 years, Porsche will invest more than €1 billion globally on wind turbines, solar energy and other climate protection measures. The move addresses Porsche customers’ demand for vehicles that can be driven and produced as sustainably as possible.
Audi, through its corporate “Vorsprung 2030” strategy, has set a clear roadmap to lead the way in the premium segment sustainably, socially, and technologically by 2030.
The brand has set its investment planning for the next five years, accelerating its transition toward becoming a provider of networked and sustainable premium mobility. Advance payments for future vehicle projects are being increased, with a sum total of about €37 billion. Audi is also earmarking about €18 billion for electrification and hybridization, further emphasizing its clear commitment to electromobility.
Audi doubled the number of fully electric models in its range in 2021, launching more electric cars than combustion engines last year. By 2025, the company aims to have more than 20 fully electric models in its lineup.
Starting in 2026, Audi will only launch new models that are fully electric. The brand will gradually phase out production of its internal combustion engines by 2033. From that point onwards, the future of the Audi brand will be fully electric.
Soul, electrified: Porsche Taycan
The latest Taycan pays homage to the Porsche 911’s classic rear-engine/rear-drive layout by having its Permanent magnet Synchronous Motor (PSM) on the rear axle. The PSM is coupled to a two-speed transmission and Porsche’s Performance Battery. Combined, the system produces up to 408 PS, allowing the car to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, and to reach a top speed of 230 km/h.
Some of the features of the latest Porsche Taycan are 20-inch Taycan Turbo Aero wheels; black front apron, side sills and rear diffuser; LED headlights with PDLS; a 4+1 seating layout; a central 10.9-inch infotainment display; an 8.4-inch center console touchscreen; and another display for the front passenger — an optional equipment which Porsche Philippines specified for new Taycan models. Also integrated into the car is the Porsche 4D Chassis Control that analyzes and synchronizes all chassis systems in real time. The latest model is equipped with adaptive air suspension with three-chamber technology, and the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) electronic damper control system.
Charging into the future, now: Audi e-tron SUV, e-tron GT
The Audi e-tron SUV turns electric mobility into a premium experience with its spacious, airy interior that emphasizes advanced in-car digitization. It has two MMI touch response displays to replace nearly every conventional switch and control, and the standard Audi virtual cockpit presents information in high-resolution graphics. Paired with these are high-quality materials boasting of fine workmanship.
Powering the Audi e-tron SUV are two electric motors outputting 408 hp and 664 Nm, letting the vehicle sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds, and to a top speed of 200 km/h. A new generation electric quattro all-wheel drive provides superlative traction and handling on any terrain and condition. The Audi drive select can vary the characteristics of the Audi e-tron SUV depending on the driving situation, road condition or personal preference. The system also controls the air suspension with adaptive dampers, which can also alter the vehicle’s ride height by as much as 76 millimeters.
The Audi e-tron SUV boasts of a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Euro NCAP, and is also named a Top Safety Pick+ by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Demonstrating how exciting electric mobility can be is Audi e-tron GT four-door coupe. Connected extensively, its displays and controls are operated via the digital Audi virtual cockpit plus, which in turn is controlled through the multifunction steering wheel and the central MMI touch display, as well as by natural language recognition.
The Audi e-tron GT provides ample power and performance. Its two electric motors combined output 530 hp and 630 Nm, allowing the car to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in only 4.1 seconds. Paired to the electric motors is the electric quattro all-wheel drive system, which ensures maximum dynamism, stability and traction in any condition, thanks to its ability to constantly vary power distribution between the axles.
