Cayenne E-Hybrid

Our Cayenne, delivered last month, is the Cayenne E-Hybrid, which means it can be charged externally. Today, I’d like to share a bit about the charging environment and my actual experience owning it.

There are two types of charging: normal charging (using 100V or 200V AC power sources) and rapid charging from dedicated charging stations.

By the way, the outlet voltage in our home parking space is 100V, so when charging the Cayenne from nearly empty, it shows it takes about 15 to 18 hours to reach full charge.

On the other hand, rapid charging can fill the battery in just a few tens of minutes, but the Cayenne E-Hybrid’s charging plug does not support rapid charging. (Fully electric vehicles like the Taycan can use rapid charging.)

So, before our Cayenne was delivered, I mistakenly thought, “Since it’s a hybrid, I can charge it at those rapid charging stations often seen on highways! That sounds exciting!” but that’s not actually the case.

In other words, our Cayenne E-Hybrid cannot be charged using the commonly heard CHAdeMO rapid charging standard (the plug shape is different), and it only supports the J1772 standard.

CHAdeMO rapid charging station

Regarding this, an owner wrote in detail about charging in a previous article in the Porsche Owners File about the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid.

Meanwhile, the fully electric Taycan is equipped with different plugs on the left and right charging ports, allowing it to support both rapid and normal charging.

Taycan charging ports

Once, when we visited a park on Awaji Island, we happened upon a normal charging station, so I tried charging while parked, and it worked without any issues. (Some stations require membership in the “Japan Charge Network (JCN)” to charge, while others are open to anyone.)

About charging on the go, I said,

“So, I guess we have to look for normal charging stations at highway service areas and charge there, huh?”

My husband replied,

“Well, you can if you want, but normal charging takes over ten hours to fill up, so charging for just 30 minutes or so doesn’t really help much.
Besides, even if the battery runs out, you can still drive normally on gasoline. Also, since we mostly use it for nearby shopping and driving the kids around, even if we use up the battery on a rare long trip, we can just charge it overnight in our home parking space and have a decent charge by morning. So, I think ‘charging at home when the battery runs low’ is enough.”

That makes sense.

By the way, yesterday we drove about 150 km round-trip on the highway in the Cayenne. On the way there, I drove in HYBRID AUTO mode and got about 11 km/L fuel efficiency, and on the way back, I mostly drove in Sport mode (I completely forgot to switch back to Hybrid Auto mode midway), and the fuel efficiency was about 8 km/L.

My husband has driven on the highway many times in Hybrid Auto mode, and the fuel efficiency is usually around 11 km/L.

Honestly, compared to typical hybrid cars, the fuel efficiency isn’t great, but for an SUV carrying a heavy motor, this fuel economy isn’t too bad.

As I mentioned before, “Porsche’s hybrid is amazing not so much for fuel efficiency but because the motor’s assist delivers a powerful driving experience you can’t get from a gasoline car.” So if you prioritize fuel economy, you might be more satisfied with a general hybrid car that emphasizes fuel efficiency.

Thoughts on the Cayenne E-Hybrid

So, what kind of usage is the Cayenne E-Hybrid best suited for? At this stage, I’ve come to the following conclusions.

① Driving a few kilometers around the neighborhood daily

If you drive around the neighborhood at normal speeds without rushing, the motor alone can handle it. When I go shopping nearby, I can always drive without using any gasoline. Even on moderate hills, the motor alone can get me up.

② Commuting 20-30 km one way using the highway, with charging available at the parking lot

My husband’s workplace is about 25 km one way, and apparently, if he drives in Hybrid Auto mode, the battery charge lasts.

Also, the Times parking lot where he parks has a normal charging station available for cars parked there. If it’s free, he can charge for about 8-9 hours during work, so he can drive back in Hybrid Auto mode without any problem.

It’s only been a month since delivery, so my impressions might change or I might discover new things as I keep driving, but for now, this is how it feels.

That said, our Cayenne has already driven about 2,500 km. I’m a bit nervous to see how much the mileage will increase after a year, haha.