Porsche had announced in February the development of three prototypes that would be based on the Boxster roadster but would be pure electric cars. However, the only details that the Stuttgart-based automaker has released till now about the cars are that the motor would be able to produce 180 kw or 241 hp. They have also released just one photo of the prototype till now.
At the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Berlin event held last week, the auto maker had displayed the Boxster E model. The company also used to occasion to come up with more details of the test cars which form part of the government backed “Model Region Electro-Mobility Stuttgart” program that has been conceived to study the practicability of all electric vehicles for everyday use. The Boxster E prototypes that form part of the test line-up comprises two rear wheel drive and one all wheel drive vehicle.
Power for the four wheel drive model comes from two independent electric motors that act on the front and rear axles. The combined power output of the car is 180 kw or 241 hp with a max torque rating of 540 Nm or 398 lb-ft which is available at about 12,000 rpm.
In case of the rear wheel drive vehicle, the motor and transmission system along with the power electronics is accommodated where the manual gearbox and exhaust system are located in the conventional Boxster. Also, the space that is freed up by removal of the 64 liter fuel tank is where the front electric motor is fitted in the test models. The two motors are synchronized with the help of an electronic unit which also controls the distribution of the torque to the front and rear axle.
The officially declared acceleration figures of the AWD Boxster E is 5.5 seconds for the 0 to 100 kmph or 62 mph sprint with top speeds being limited to 200 kmph or 124 mph.
In case of the two rear-wheel drive models the electric motor that is located in the front is discarded and there is only the rear unit which delivers 90 kW / 121HP and 270 Nm / 199 lb-ft of torque. The acceleration factor of the RWD Boxster E is 9.8 seconds for the 100 kmph or 62 mph dash with top speed the car is capable of being 150 kmph or 93 mph.
For power source the Boxster E prototypes are fitted with 29 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate based batteries that take up the space freed by the combustion engine. The drive range that the battery power pack allows is 107 kilometer or 107 miles. Weight of the battery is approximately 341 kg or 752 pounds with the total weight of the Boxster E being 1,600 kg or 3527 pounds. A conventional socket is good enough to charge the battery which takes approximately 9 hours to gain full charge. The battery re-charging time can can reduced with rapid charging function.
There is no dearth of space given the electronic components that abound the car. Luggage space remains for use in the front storage compartment while the rear luggage compartment remains akin to that of a conventional Boxster.
The rear and four wheel drive Boxster Es are also equipped with an Active Sound Design system that gives acoustic feedback to the driver as well as for alerting pedestrians and other road users of the cars presence.
Source: carscoop
