Porsche Taycan chews through double power of Tesla Model 3

The Porsche Taycan Turbo is a power-hungry electricity guzzler that uses double that of the Tesla Model 3, new figures from the US-based EPA has found.

On Thursday (US time) electric vehicle and Porsche fans were stunned when official driving range and power consumption figures were released for the Taycan Turbo, the mid-range variant of Porsche’s first foray into electric mobility.

With just 201 miles (323km) of “real world range” (the EPA rating is known as the more accurate of three ratings standards globally), the Taycan Turbo was originally billed by the German luxury carmaker to offer 280 miles (450km) of range.

In the lead up to the Taycan launch in September, Porsche spent a considerable amount of marketing energy, pardon the pun, extolling the sustainable and repeatable power and endurance made possible by the Taycan’s 800 volt electrical architecture.

But now, the EPA figures show that this also means with an average power consumption of 49kWh per 100 miles (30.5kWh/100km), the Taycan Turbo gobbles through nearly twice the power of the Tesla Model 3 Long Range which uses an average 26kWh per 100 miles (16kWh/100km).

When questioned about the disappointing range figure by The Verge, a spokesperson for Porsche said it was “lower than what we were anticipating, but it is what it is.”

Is it? Most interestingly, it turns out that Porsche may have anticipated the low range figures from the EPA and went out an ordered its own independent testing from a firm called AMCI, as pointed out by Jalopnik.

These tests state a range much closer to Porsche’s original estimate, achieving 275 miles (442km) in normal mode and 288 miles (463km) in the power-saving range mode.

AMCI notes on its website the methodology used:

• The Taycan Turbo was driven over two specific routes: AMCI Testing’s Certified City/Highway Route (commute simulation in Normal Mode) and AMCI Testing’s Real-World City Route (city-driving simulation in Range Mode)
• All driving was done during weekdays at the same time of day
• The vehicle began each test cycle with its state-of-charge (SOC) indicator at 100%
• It was operated on course until it entered its restricted-power “limp home” mode—which was considered the vehicle’s terminal mileage for battery depletion
• All accessory loads were held consistent during each testing cycle and  headlights were set to “Auto”

But back to the Tesla comparison. Holding the Taycan Turbo up to the Model 3 Long Range is just not fair – after all, the Model 3 is aimed at the mass-market and the $US48,490 ($A70,126 converted) Long Range configuration is designed for distance.

Better to hold it up against the Tesla Model S Performance, which sells from $US99,990 ($A144,475 converted) compared to the Taycan Turbo’s starting price of $US150,900 ($A218,232 converted).

Even here however it proves heavier on consumption, and still woefully short on driving range compared to the Model S Performance’s 32kWh/100 mile (19kWh/100km) average consumption and 322 miles (600km) range.

It can’t be forgotten however that in terms of battery energy density and improving on efficiency, Tesla has been pegged by experts as being way out in front – and despite its advanced 800V architecture Porsche likely has some catching up to do.

Plus, the arrival of the tri-motor “Plaid” Model S (which Tesla tested recently at the infamous Nordschleife sparking a quest to beat the Taycan’s own official lap time at the track) may see new EPA figures from Tesla that are closer to the Taycan.