Porsche Taycan
Stuttgart to Levi
This time, Porsche traveled from Stuttgart, Germany, to Levi, a town in the Arctic Circle in Finland that serves as a base for observing the aurora borealis. Even in harsh conditions for an EV, the Taycan continued to operate without any problems.
We head north from Stuttgart, Germany, to Levi, Finland, 2,842 km away. Located in the Arctic Circle, Levi is known as a base for aurora observation, with an average temperature of minus 10°C. Daylight hours are around four hours between 10am and 2pm, and after sunset the temperature plummets, and the night sky overhead turns an unfathomable black. If you want to see the celestial phenomenon known as the “Aurora Borealis,” Levi is the perfect place.
This time, our driver for the drive to a remote part of Finland, 150km from the Arctic Circle, was none other than the Porsche Taycan. This fully electric sports sedan, with zero CO2 emissions and no exhaust or induction noise, drove silently through deep snow.
Many people may be hesitant to bring an EV to such an environment – there are still many questions about battery performance in sub-zero temperatures, charging speeds and the impact of cold on range – but Porsche’s 800V architecture and advanced thermal management system have proven themselves in northern Finland.
Preheating function via “MyPorsche”
The Taycan can warm up the cabin before driving by using the “preheat function” introduced in “MyPorsche.”
The Taycan proved extremely popular with the crew on this Arctic Circle driving tour. One of the reasons for this was the “MyPorsche” app. The “preheat function” allows the cabin to be heated remotely via MyPorsche, which is convenient. Of course, the full-time 4WD system, which is standard on Taycan 4 and above grades, also provided excellent traction on snowy roads, supporting the driver on slippery surfaces.
The only preparation for the harsh conditions of Levi, with its snow and ice, is the crew’s winter gear. Even in sub-zero temperatures, the Taycan can be charged without issue, fast-charging to 80% state of charge (SOC) in under 20 minutes. This is made possible by an advanced thermal management system that uses data from the Turbo Charge Planner to pre-condition the battery for charging.
A battery that performs well even in extreme cold
The Taycan’s thermal management system ensures the battery performs as needed while you wait for the aurora to shine, and a heat pump also allows excess heat to be used to warm the interior.
The deterioration of battery system performance in low temperature environments, which is also evident in smartphones and cameras, is caused by a decrease in the mobility of ions in the electrolyte inside the battery. When the internal resistance of the battery increases, it is no longer possible to achieve the expected performance.
However, the Taycan’s thermal management system reduces internal resistance within the high-voltage battery, enabling it to maximize its performance. Furthermore, in combination with the standard heat pump, the Taycan also efficiently heats the interior by utilizing excess heat from the powertrain.
The only sound I can barely hear through the glass is the sound of winter tires crunching on freshly fallen snow. When I park the Taycan in a clearing surrounded by dense pine trees, my gaze is naturally drawn to the sky. Through the panoramic glass roof, a never-ending stream of stars unfolds. The first faint flashes of green gently illuminate the surrounding darkness. Then, the gentle light of the Northern Lights, known as “Revontulet” by Finnish locals, spreads across the pitch-black darkness, shimmering.
