Porsche Cayenne Electric gets wireless charging and power-operated doors
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With the new model year, Porsche is adding two rather unusual convenience features to the electric Cayenne. The car will get wireless charging of up to 11 kW and power-operated doors that do more than merely pull themselves shut in the final position: they open and close automatically. Both features will be available for the Cayenne Electric and Cayenne Coupé Electric.
The door even closes when the brake pedal is pressed
All four doors have servo motors. A light pull on the handle is enough, and the electric drive does the rest. The doors can be operated from outside using the handle, with buttons in the cabin, via the PCM Flow Display screen or with the Porsche Digital Key.
The driver’s door has two more tricks. Fastening the seatbelt or pressing the brake pedal can automatically close the door.
At the same time, the system monitors the area around the door with sensors and stops movement when it detects a person or an obstacle. When connected to the exit warning system, the car also prevents the door from being opened into the path of an approaching vehicle. All doors can still be operated manually if necessary.
The idea of power-operated doors is familiar from luxury cars, but it is a first for Porsche. With this, the Cayenne moves another small step away from the sporty SUV and towards the comfort level of a luxury saloon.
Wireless charging delivers 11 kW
The more technically interesting news is Porsche Wireless Charging. The driver needs to park the Cayenne over a charging pad installed in the floor, after which the car starts charging automatically.
The system transfers energy inductively at up to 11 kW and, according to Porsche, with an efficiency of around 90%. That makes it comparable in output to a conventional 11 kW home AC charger, although charging via a cable remains slightly more efficient.
The floor pad can also be installed outdoors. Motion and foreign-object sensors interrupt charging if, for example, an animal gets underneath the vehicle or a metal object that heats up is left on the charging pad. The system can already be ordered in Germany and other European markets, and Porsche is gradually expanding its availability.
It should not, of course, be confused with the genuine fast charging enabled by the Cayenne’s 800 V architecture. The wireless system is intended for overnight charging at home. At a public DC charger, the Cayenne Electric can accept up to 390 kW, or even 400 kW in suitable conditions.
Massage function starts working in time with the music
With the new model year, Porsche is also adding 4D Audio massage. The front seats will feature 16 air cushions and six audio actuators, allowing the seat to respond to the rhythm of the music. Five massage programmes are available.
For exterior individualisation, the Cayenne Electric will join the Paint to Sample programme for the first time. This adds a further 92 shades to the standard selection.
These updates do not change the Cayenne Electric’s performance, but they clearly show where competition between expensive electric cars is heading. There is no longer any shortage of power in this class. Porsche must now stand out with solutions that make everyday use of an electric car as unobtrusive as possible.
The 11 kW inductive charging is the most substantial of these. If charging the car requires nothing more than parking in the right place, one of the everyday extra tasks associated with an electric car disappears entirely. The power-operated doors are more of a luxury statement by comparison, showing that the Cayenne wants to compete not only with the BMW iX and the electric successors to the Mercedes-Benz GLE, but also with considerably more expensive luxury cars in terms of comfort.
