Porsche’s Portable DC Fast Charger Charges the Macan Electric

Watch Porsche’s Portable DCFC Charger Juice Up The Macan Electric

Recently, Kyle from the Out of Spec YouTube channel had the opportunity to visit the French Riviera where he got to experience driving the new Porsche Macan Electric. However, as an electric car enthusiast, Kyle was equally intrigued by Porsche’s portable EV charging technology.

Porsche’s Turbo Charging portable DC fast chargers have been in use since 2019, with seven units deployed across Europe. These charging trailers have proven to be a versatile solution for various charging needs, including prototype testing, marketing events, and track days.

The specifications of Porsche’s charge system are quite impressive compared to other similar technologies. The trailer weighs 70,000 lbs, has a 2.1 MWh battery capacity, and can support a 3.2 MW load. It features ten plugs capable of dispensing 320 kW each, with the battery packs supporting ~400 amp peak discharging.

The trailer can be connected to the grid to replenish the battery pack, but it also has an “Island Mode” that allows it to function solely on battery power. To connect to power, heavy-duty cords are used with a specialty-designed plug and converter to obtain a 5-pin, 3-phase red plug with a neutral and ground.

Each trailer’s massive battery pack can be recharged from the grid in approximately four hours. When the pack is full while connected to power, the AC to DC converter can directly charge the car, bypassing the battery pack.

In island mode, the trailer can balance the charge levels across all battery packs, although this process is inefficient due to the need for multiple AC to DC conversions. However, they try to avoid this when possible.

For more technical details and insights on battery and EV charging technologies, be sure to watch the full video on the Out of Spec YouTube channel.