Porsche Boxster 987 E electric test car (2011)

Technical specification

Boxster E version	Powered by	Power	Torque	62 mph/100 km/h	Top speed
Rear-wheel-drive	1 motor	90 kW	199 lb-ft / 270 Nm	9.8 sec.	93 mph / 150 km/h
4-wheel-drive	2 motors	180 kW	397 lb-ft / 540 Nm	5.5 sec.	124 mph / 200 km/h

In July 2010 Porsche announced that it will be building three electric-powered Boxster test cars. “We will definitely be offering electric sports cars in the future,” said Michael Macht, the President and CEO of Porsche AG. “But such a concept only makes sense if it offers performance and a cruising range comparable to that of a sports car today.”

In February 2011 it was announced that road tests with the Boxster E test cars are starting. Two cars were equipped with electric motor on the rear axle, and one car with motors on both axles making it the first 4WD Boxster. Using Porsche's language, we could say it was a Boxster 4E. Power was provided from a 29 kWh battery pack and the NEDC range was 107 miles / 170 km. The 2-motor Boxster E accelerated to 62 mph/100 km/h in 5.5 seconds despite its ~1600 kg/3500 lb weight. As the car had no geabox (just fixed ratio gear), the top speed was limited to 124 mph/200 km/h. The maximum engine speed was ~12,000 rpm. Considering the electric motor provides maximum torque virtually from first crank and you can go to top speed thanks to high-rpm motors without changing the gear - the emotion is rather amazing. With two motors the efficiency is increased as more energy is recuperated during braking. As electric cars are quiet, Porsche engineers designed an Active Sound Design system.

Porsche Boxster E at Challenge Bibendum — © Porsche

Porsche Boxster E front axle motor/drive — The front axle motor of the 4WD Boxster © Porsche

Porsche Boxster E battery pack — Each of the 440 cells has a nominal voltage of 3.3 V and an individual capacity of 20 Ah© Porsche

Porsche Boxster E battery — The weight of the battery pack is 341 kg/752 lb © Porsche

Porsche Boxster E layout — The battery's maximum power output is 240 kW, or 60 kilowatts more than the all-wheel Boxster E draws under full load© Porsche

Porsche Boxster E rear motor/drive — The battery’s energy content is 29 kWh of which for inherent physical reasons approximately 26 kWh are available for use © Porsche

Porsche Boxster E rear bumper — No exhaust pipe here! © Porsche

Porsche Boxster E at 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show — At the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show © Porsche

Porsche Boxster E power socket — With the simple 3.3 kW charger it took 9 hours to charge the battery - this shows how difficult were the first days with electric cars. The charging time could be reduced using rapid charging.© Porsche

Porsche Boxster E dashboard — The push buttons in the steering wheel had an effect of a sort of an on-demand engine brake. The electrically powered air conditioning compressor was accommodated in the front luggage compartment.© Porsche

Porsche Boxster E instruments — In the place of the rev counter was a special E-Power meter. A swing to the right showed how much you pressed the accelerator pedal and a swing to the left showed the power recovery (when the accelerator pedal was released the electric motors started to act as generators).© Porsche

Porsche Boxster E display — Among its other functions, the instrument cluster’s right-hand TFT display acted as a range management system, displaying for example how much range could be gained by switching off the air conditioning system. With the first Porsche electric prototypes that was needed.photos © Porsche, Stuttcars compilation

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Anniversaries: Oct, 29 – 81st birthday of Hans-Peter Porsche (1940); Nov, 15 – 46th birthday of the 924 (1975); Nov, 19 – 13th birthday of the Boxster 987.2 (2008); Nov, 19 – 13th birthday of the Cayman 987.2 (2008); Nov, 26 – 58th birthday of the 904 (1963)