In recent years, Porsche has been a trend in the automotive, having as their main flagship their new Taycan model to face a present and a future that increasingly promise not to leave carbon footprints.
The German car manufacturer is well aware that sustainable mobility is here to stay, and in response to this reality they have increased their efforts to improve the charging systems of their electric cars.
In 2020 alone, and despite the circumstances arising because of the global pandemic, Porsche managed to sell more than 20,000 electric cars. In addition, in Latin America they expanded their “Charging Services” system, which was created in order to guide the users optimally to the closest charging points, thus enhancing its commitment to electrification.
Through an interview, prior to its participation in the “Latam Mobility Virtual Summit 2021”, Porsche has told through their communications department for Latin America some of its fundamental challenges to promote electromobility.
1.- What strategies do you have designed to continue improving the user experience with Porsche’s electric vehicle charging systems?
Among the strategies to be implemented during 2021, it is important to mention the expansion of our regional collaboration agreements to place charging points in hotel chains and restaurants frequently used by our clients.
We also plan to launch a web page that will allow our users to view the availability and location of Destination Charging chargers by country. In addition to our own clients, to propose possible places where they would like a charger to develop their daily life.
2.- How many charging points do you expect to enable through your “Porsche Charging Service” service during 2021 and in which new countries will you be present?
Porsche Charging Services is being developed simultaneously in several countries to be active in 2021. In the region encompassed by Porsche Latinamerica, we estimate to have around 300 chargers by the end of 2021.
As an example, we can mention that there are already 135 charging points enabled thanks to the commercial alliance between Porsche in the Dominican Republic and EverGO, which have 32 direct current (DC) and 103 alternating current (AC) charging points.
3.- What are the challenges to promote electromobility in the region in the context of 2021?
We are very satisfied because in general we already have customer acceptance. The challenges lie in having institutional support, connectivity and charging points. Institutional and government support is key. These clean technologies should be part of the agenda of all our countries.
The more benefits offered to incentivize them, the faster they will be adopted. As examples to follow of this strategy, we find countries such as Colombia, which allows electric vehicles to be exempt from the restrictions of the “Pico y Placa” (a vehicle restriction measure implemented in cities. It is a transport demand management measure to ration the use of a scarce supply of transport in the face of excessive demand) program, or Panama, which offers tax benefits for the purchase of electric cars.
4.- What do you consider to have been Porsche’s greatest achievement during such a tough year as 2020?
First, having remained a strong profitable global company that was able to continue with sustainable projects. In 2020 we delivered more than 272,000 vehicles, only 3% less than the previous year. Among those vehicles were more than 20,000 Porsche Taycan, the brand’s first 100 percent electric car.
In the Latin American region we were also able to successfully launch the new Porsche Taycan; we established Porsche Charging Services in order to guide our customers to the closest and most convenient points to charge their vehicle.
5.- What themes will Porsche highlight during the Latam Mobility Virtual Summit 2021?
We will share the achievements of 2020 and projects ahead in 2021. The most important advances are those of charging stations at destination points and Porsche Centers and Charging Services. We have installed hundreds of charging points so that the customer can move more freely if they want to make longer trips.
