It’s no secret that Porsche has been eyeing a transition to all-electric models, but the timeline for this shift has remained uncertain. Last year, the automaker revealed the Mission R electric car racer concept with an attention to detail that rivalled a production-bound model, and later it was clarified that the Mission R was, in fact, not merely a concept.
After the reveal, Porsche hinted that it could preview a production-bound model and, now, the automaker has made headlines after investing €500 million at its factory in Zuffenhausen, Germany to accommodate production of the electric 718. This marks the automaker’s second major investment towards EVs, with the first being the Taycan electric sedan.
Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory
Of course, these investments should come as no surprise — Porsche has revealed plans to transition one-third of its sales to fully electric vehicles by 2025, and two-thirds by 2030. Production of the electric 718 lineup, which will be “technologically based on the Mission R concept”, will reportedly begin in 2023.
According to Porsche, the electric 718 will have a range of approximately 250 miles on a single charge and, if the Mission R concept is any indication, the 718 should boast impressive horsepower from dual electric motors. Previous reports have also hinted that the 718 EV “will feel like a mid-engine ICE sports car thanks to a special battery layout with a low centre of gravity.”
Porsche Boxster 718
While the 718 lineup faces an all-electric makeover in the near future, the automaker’s 911 lineup will not receive the same battery-powered treatment — at least, not anytime soon. Presumably, Porsche production efforts will focus on electric 718s and gas-powered 911s simultaneously.
