this is a developing story, meaning i will be adding to this thread as i learn more about the 2025 Taycan, but just like how Taycan was the best EV when it originally launched the refreshed Taycan is again the best EV as it launches now, and in that way it previews the future of EVs in the same way as Mercedes S-Class used to preview the future of cars in general …
Pictured: 2025 Porsche Taycan:
as i previously mentioned i almost ended up leasing Audi E-Tron GT which is based on the Taycan and one of the red flags that stopped me was 400 Volt charging performance … or lack thereof …
i discussed 400V vs 800V issues here:
but i will explain the issue here again. Tesla network is 400V while Electrify America ( built by Porsche parent VW ) is 800V which creates compatibility issues …
what Automotive Reviewers due to their low IQs can’t understand is that 400V and 800V are actually MAXIMUM values so a 800V station can step down to 400V but a 400V station can’t step up to 800V …
this means that once politics and protocol and payment systems are worked out a 400V tesla CAN charge at a 800V electrify america station but a 800V taycan COULD NOT charge at a 400V charger ( like all current Tesla chargers ) at a decent rate …
the old taycan has a 50KW voltage step up circuit to raise 400V to 800V but that meant the charging speed dropped from 270KW to 50KW which is a very drastic drop …
i understand why Porsche did it that way - it’s because they were in the process of building out their own 800V network and 400V was an afterthought to them …
but since the original Taycan launched Tesla, under pressure from Biden administration, started opening up their 400V network to other automakers which means ability to charge quickly from 400V is now something a new car MUST have, or it is effectively locked out of Tesla network for any real charging speeds …
so apparently the new Taycan DOES fix the issue and does it in the same way as the new Macan EV and Hummer EV before it - by splitting battery pack into two 400V modules … frankly it’s such an obvious solution that it is somewhat unbelievable they didn’t do it that way from the start … but ultimately it goes to show we are still in early days of EV adoption that we are facing such teething pains …
pictured: Hummer EV
i must add that VW group is one of the last holdouts that still haven’t announced the adoption of NACS ( North American Charging Standard ) previously known as Tesla Supercharger, so even if it can charge at 400V you currently still wouldn’t be able to plug a Porsche in to a Tesla charger … however at least it is now physically possible and all it would take at this point is political will from VW to bend the knee to Tesla, and a very simple and cheap plug adapter.
whereas if you have the older Taycan or E-Tron GT you would be limited to 50KW on a 400V source with the new one apparently it will do 150KW by splitting the battery into two 400V halves. if that information is correct this is the most important improvement of the new Taycan over the old one.
and if the information is not correct i will post an update when i know better.
the other improvements are overall charging performance improvement of about 30% or so, as well as improvements to power, acceleration, efficiency, range, thermal management, suspension etc.
so at the native 800V the new Taycan is now the fastest charging EV that isn’t a truck, SIGNIFICANTLY faster than old Taycan which was already faster charging than Tesla Plaid. the new Taycan beats both the old Taycan and the Plaid in both maximum charging rate AND how long it can be sustained. this is what everybody is reporting on because idiot car reviewers are obsessed about records …
Pictured: charging curve comparison of New and old Taycan and Tesla Plaid:
what these Low-IQ morons can’t understand is the chain is only as strong as the weakest link. and the weakest link was 400V charging performance. while these idiots obsess over already-class-leading 800V performance getting even faster - they completely neglect that previously ABYSMAL 400V performance is now finally perfectly adequate. WHICH IS ARGUABLY MORE IMPORTANT.
you have to understand Automotive reviewers are low-IQ subhuman animals and their audience is also low-IQ subhuman animals so in their reviews they will ALWAYS focus on what doesn’t matter and whether they even know about things that matter they will certainly not report on them because they never do and that’s just how it is.
that said the new Taycan is impressive all around and is the new benchmark for OVERALL PACKAGE of an EV.
yes Lucid still has better range and Tesla still has more power and more importantly better charging network, and Mercedes EQS still has more luxury but THE OVERALL BEST electric car is the new Taycan.
Tesla is still the better buy, however, because it is much cheaper and still has the better charging network … and it is unclear when if ever VW products like Taycan will gain access to NACS …