The future is here, or at least Porsche wants us to know they’ve got our electric recharging needs covered when it comes time for us to invest in a new EV. The German performance marque has been doing…

Porsche creates cute “Back to the Future” promo to highlight 1.21 gigawatts of fast-charging infrastructure

Porsche Taycan and a DeLorean go "Back to the Future"
Together with a highly modified DeLorean sports car, Porsche reminds us that we can also go back to the future thanks to 1.21 gigawatts of fast-charging Electrify America stations.

The future is here, or at least Porsche wants us to know they’ve got our electric recharging needs covered when it comes time for us to invest in a new EV.

The German performance marque has been doing well with their new Taycan four-door coupe and Taycan Cross Turismo five-door crossover, even outpacing sales of Tesla’s competitive Model S in Canada this year, with 576 units sold compared to 452 for the American electric brand, so therefore promoting its recharging network only makes sense.

In the case of Electrify America, which is connected to Porsche’s U.S. operations via VW Group ownership south of the 49th, your personal benefit may only be realized during weekend excursions across the border or the occasional extended road trip in the same direction.

Either way, when Electrify America’s combined capability with its affiliated European network (Ionity, a collaborative effort between BMW, Daimler, Ford and the VW) is tallied up, more than 1.21 gigawatts of fast-charging power is made available to Taycan owners, meaning you’ll be able to get where you want to go easier and faster than ever while traveling in the U.S.

2022 Porsche Taycan
Porsche Taycan features an 800-volt electric system capable of being recharged from 5 to 80 percent in just 22 minutes.

Commemorating this achievement, Porsche produced a humourous short video starring the ultra-modified DeLorean sports car from 1985’s “Back to the Future” film (watch it below). Those familiar with the classic comedy might remember a young Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly) playing a video tape of an older Christopher Lloyd (Emmett “Doc” Brown) explaining that he’d need 1.21 gigawatts of power to send the DeLorean back through time, at which point a younger mid-50s-era Doc expressed bewilderment (over and over) that it would take “1.21 gigawatts!” of power to achieve such a feat (enjoy a YouTube video of the scene below).

The two companies make up the largest DC fast charging networks in the U.S. and Europe respectively, with 670 stations to Electrify America’s credit, and 372 location under the Ionity banner (so far).

2022 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
The Taycan is available in four-door coupe and five-door Cross Turismo body styles.

DC fast charging is the best way to refuel your Taycan, being that the 800-volt super-EV only requires 22 minutes to replenish its battery from five to 80 percent. Thanks to the Taycan’s 270-kW charging speed, you’ll spend “less time spent charging and more time traveling,” claimed Porsche in a press release.

Additionally, the Taycan’s Plug-and-Charge system, which Porsche jokingly stated is “second only to Mr. Fusion for convenience,” all you need to do is plug it in for charging to begin automatically. Better yet, Taycan owners receive “30 minutes of free charging for the first three years of ownership” at Electrify America locations. Porsche claims that it’s easy to locate recharging stations too, thanks to a “Charging Planner” featured within the Taycan’s Porsche Communication Management (PCM) infotainment system.

Porsche earned over 20,000 Taycan buyers worldwide in 2020, while even better, the sport-oriented automaker had already sold 19,822 of its ultra-quick EVs by Q2 of 2021. With sales growth like that, a growing network of fast chargers will be a necessity.

 

The Porsche Taycan x Back to the Future (1:00):

1.21 Gigawatts – Back to the Future (6/10) Movie CLIP (1985) HD (3:15):

Honda has been at the forefront of production car electrification since the first modern-day hybrids hit Canadian roads way back at the turn of the millennia, but the Japanese automaker has been cautious…

152 Honda Canada dealerships to add electric charging stations

2017 Honda Clarity Electric
Clarity PHEV to ride “safe” ground between pure EV and non-plug-in hybrid, but the full electric will arrive later in 2018. (Photo: Honda)

Honda has been at the forefront of production car electrification since the first modern-day hybrids hit Canadian roads way back at the turn of the millennia, but the Japanese automaker has been cautious to add plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) or pure electric vehicles (EVs) to our smaller market despite previously offering the Accord Plug-in Hybrid and Fit EV south of the border.

This will soon change thanks to the new Clarity Plug-In Electric Hybrid that will go on sale across Canada starting mid-winter 2018 and the Clarity Electric expected next spring, so in preparation for the arrival of these two models a total of 152 Honda dealerships will have outfitted their facilities with electric charging stations before 2017 comes to a close.

2017 Honda Clarity Electric
152 Honda Canada dealerships will soon have EV recharging capability in preparation to their new Clarity Plug-in PHEV and EV. (Photo: Honda)

“The investment by our dealer network is an indication of our commitment to supporting Honda’s Global 2030 Vision of electrifying two thirds of our fleet,” said Jean Marc Leclerc, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Honda Canada. “This electrification project is essential to our future business as we begin to introduce more electrified vehicles in Canada starting with the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid sedan later this winter.”

The commitment represents close to two thirds of Honda Canada’s entire dealer network, with each getting two 240-volt charging stations apiece. Either charger will be capable of replenishing the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid’s 17-kilowatt hour (kWh) battery pack in about two and half hours.

2017 Honda Clarity Electric
Despite being a forerunner in the hybrid sector, Honda has been slow to adapt to plug-in technology. (Photo: Honda)

Honda’s first dedicated PHEV is said to have an overall driving range exceeding 530 km (329 miles) and a pure EV range of 68 km (42 miles), which should be enough for many would-be owners who live in urban environments to travel to and from work on electricity alone, although they will need to utilize the car’s electrically-assisted hybrid mode for extended trips.

According to a Honda Canada press release, “… the Clarity Plug-In Electric Hybrid aims to ease Canadian’s concerns about driving range with a no-compromise alternative fuel vehicle that meets the needs of Honda’s customers today while building the foundation of an electrified future.”

2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell
Honda first offered a fuel cell powered Clarity in the U.S. (Photo: Honda)

The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid’s electric motor is capable of 181-horsepower and 232 lb-ft of instant torque, while the internal combustion engine (ICE) portion of the power unit is a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder.

With plenty of plug-in contenders already vying for early adopters, plus no shortage of alternatives arriving each year as well as new additions announced regularly, Canadian PHEV and EV markets are already very competitive, so therefore aggressive pricing, financing and leasing options, along with Honda’s reputation for quality, will determine the new Clarity’s success.

2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
The new 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid offers an upscale interior filled with premium features. (Photo: Honda)

This said, despite being one of the original innovators in the HEV sector and producing a wide variety of hybrid models since that initial two-seat Insight, Honda hasn’t had much success with its electrification program to date, the now discontinued Civic Hybrid and the recently introduced second-generation Accord Hybrid aside.

Honda’s U.S. division has already launched the Clarity at select dealerships in Oregon and California with pricing approximately equivalent to $42,500 CAD, while the Clarity Fuel Cell car, which is more representative of the automaker’s long-term alternative fuel plan, went on sale in December of last year, followed up by the aforementioned Clarity Electric, a full EV capable of up to 130 kilometres of range on a single charge.