Daily Slideshow: Porsche Engine Expert Discusses Secrets of the Hybrid
The Intrigues of Porsche Hybrid Engine Development!
Porsche's Innovative Hybrid Engine Technology
The automobile world is always in a constant state of advancement. New technologies replace old ones and the ultimate benefactors are us, the consumers. But little do people know that devising and formulating new technologies takes time and costs money. Such is Porsche’s story of making a hybrid engine. The German marque wanted to win the race for the most superior hybrid technology. Porsche didn’t win it per se, but with the creation of the Cayenne e-Hybrid, I’d say they were pretty close. The hybrid technology in the Cayenne is Porsche’s best effort but it came through to the world after many trials and tests were conducted. The technology was perfected after quite a few engines were obliterated, pistons were broken and rods were bent. However, the final product speaks its own excellence with some awesome figures. Friedmann Heller, Porsche’s SUV Powertrain Manager told us more about it.
The Impeccable Cayenne e-Hybrid
These trials and tribulations resulted in Porsche getting an almost perfect hybrid system. We say almost because other automobile brands are killing it in terms of hybrid technology, but for Porsche, these are still baby steps. The technology ‘s brilliance can be determined from the fact that it helps you save fuel in so many ways. When the Cayenne e-Hybrid is at full charge, it can be driven for up to 25 miles without waking its powerful gasoline engine. Furthermore, Porsche has gone so far as to make the crossover SUV capable of accelerating to speeds up to 83 mph in all-electric mode. In reality, most of us don’t even reach that speed in regular, everyday driving.
Hard Work Pays Off
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was Porsche’s hybrid technology. The company had to improve on their mistakes and get better each time. One problem the development team faced was to find a way to stop cold engines from blowing up when presented with immediate high-revs. In the process, Friedmann Heller says Porsche literally destroyed many V6 engines before they achieved success with the first Panamera hybrid. He further added that they broke many pistons and bent many rods because the V6 engines that they were trying to use weren’t developed for hybrid vehicles. However, they soon realized this and now all engines in the new Cayenne and Panamera vehicles are developed for hybrid use. They changed the bores, the oil system, the ECU, everything. Thanks to these developments, he said that now they are even able to limit the revs to only 4,000rpm when the engine is cold, which helps to protect it from damage. As a result, models like the Cayenne e-Hybrid can now start up and run in temperatures that are well below zero degrees Celsius.
The Future Could Be…Faster
The Cayenne e-Hybrid with its powerful V6 should have enough juice for all kinds of needs. But there is always this thing with marques, they always look to build better and faster vehicles and Porsche is no exception. With the Panamera e-Hybrid came the much faster version called the Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid. This speed demon had a V8 instead of a V6 and produced 542 horsepower with the help of dual turbochargers and the hybrid system. It would be no surprise if the German automaker does the same for the Cayenne e-Hybrid, especially judging from the fact that all top performing vehicles such as the 918 Spyder from Porsche are hybrids. When asked about it, Mr. Heller didn't confirm anything but said: “Yeah, we’ll see”.
Diesel Makes a Comeback
After the Volkswagen diesel-related emissions scandal came through, most of us thought that diesel engines are going to make their exit soon. Even European governments have vied to ban diesel vehicles from their countries in the near future. However, Porsche has a different opinion. Quite a large number of people still demand diesel-powered vehicles because they are more durable, their powertrains work well on long distance trips, and they have high torque properties. Still, Mr. Heller believes that if demand goes down they might just abandon the idea altogether. In any case, it is good to see someone still interested in keeping diesel alive in the automotive world.
Race Technology Imports
It is even interesting that the Cayenne e-Hybrid borrows a few pointers from the race technology used in the 918 Spyder and 919 Le Mans racer. Believe it or not, that’s not a joke but a fact. Mr. Heller was quick to say “The strategy of when to use electrical energy comes straight from the 918 and the race guys”.Using the ideas implemented in these race cars, the Cayenne hybrid is able to move faster and better, probably even have enough torque to tow larger loads. Wherever the crossover lacks power, its hybrid tech kicks in with support from the overtly powerful V6 engine, and it does that intelligently too. Making use of GPS and Sat-nav data, the hybrid system in the Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid is able to judge and save electric output for challenging times. For example, if it senses traffic coming up or an empty stretch of road, it will intelligently shift between using the V6 and the electric motor, saving you a ton of fuel.
Power to Impress
We talk so much about hybrids nowadays that we forget the heart of a vehicle, the engine. No doubt, the hybrid technology implemented in the Cayenne e-Hybrid is world class but its V6 engine is nothing short of being highly impressive. The Cayenne has the largest engine among its rivals. The 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine is way ahead of anything Volvo, Range Rover or BMW offer in their hybrid flagships. However, Friedmann Heller pointed out that some markets that are conscious of high taxes, like the Chinese market, will get a tamer a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in their Cayenne e-Hybrid models.
Smart Yet Complicated
Mr. Heller believes their hybrids are the most complex in terms of design and technology. A Porsche hybrid like a Cayenne e-Hybrid can manage and process situations better than a modern day hypercar. While that might seem complicated, you shouldn’t worry your mind with it, since Porsche engineers are doing a great job of leaving out all the complexity for themselves and giving you the best driving experience. One thing is true, that with a Porsche hybrid you will be future proof and probably won’t need to buy a better hybrid for at least a decade.
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