Porsche is underlining its sustainability ambitions by using Earth Day 2021 to raise awareness of climate protection among its workforce. The action day will center around the so-called #Project1Hour in which the Volkswagen Group brand is giving all its employees the opportunity to spend one hour focusing on this topic.
Specifically, the company will provide information on the facts and consequences of the climate crisis with the help of a special online seminar, offer food for thought through virtual presentations, or invite employees to take part in a climate quiz. The aim here is to increase each employee’s personal contribution to CO₂ avoidance. #Project1Hour is taking place throughout the entire Volkswagen Group, which has proclaimed Earth Day as Volkswagen Climate Day.
Porsche is committed to the climate protection agreement of the United Nations Climate Change Conference and the Paris Agreement. Decarbonization plays a key role here, and it has set itself a competitive target.
“By 2030, Porsche aims to achieve carbon neutrality throughout its entire value chain and for the entire lifecycle of its newly sold vehicles,” said Dr. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “We have already made concrete decisions to this end through our decarbonization program. Every individual can make their own personal commitment too.
Carbon-neutrality at Porsche means maximum avoidance and reduction of carbon emissions. When these two options have been fully exhausted, the sports car manufacture uses carbon-offsetting measures to close the gap to ensure a carbon-neutral footprint.
As specific measures, all the company’s major locations have been carbon-neutral since the beginning of the year—Zuffenhausen since 2020, followed by Weissach and Leipzig in January 2021. In addition, the aim is to invest more than €1 billion in decarbonization measures over the course of the next ten years.
Porsche reached a milestone with the premiere of the Taycan Cross Turismo in March. The company claims that the all-electric crossover version of the Taycan sedan is the world’s first vehicle to be carbon-neutral throughout its entire use phase.
The Taycan Cross Turismo—with a length/width/height of 4974/1967/1409 mm, respectively—closely follows the Mission E Cross Turismo concept study presented at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Its silhouette is defined by the sporty roofline sloping down to the rear—called the “flyline” by Porsche designers. Off-road design elements include wheel arch trims and unique front and rear lower aprons and side sills. As part of the Off-Road Design package, the Cross Turismo has special flaps at the corners of the front and rear bumpers and at the ends of the sills. These make for a striking exterior and provide protection from stone impacts.
Like the ground-breaking Taycan all-electric sedan, the Cross Turismo version benefits from an innovative drive system with 800-V electrical architecture. Its new high-tech chassis with all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension ensures good off-road dynamics. The wagon-like shape gives 47 mm more headroom for rear-seat passengers and up to 1212 L of load capacity loaded via a large tailgate at the rear.
Four derivatives of the Taycan Cross Turismo are available from launch, all with the Performance Battery Plus with a total capacity of 93.4 kW·h. The range starts with the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo with 280 kW and “overboost” power for launch control of 350 kW; WLTP combined power consumption of 26.4-22.4 kW·h/100 km; and WLTP range of 389-456 km. At the top is the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo with 460 kW and overboost power for launch control of 560 kW; WLTP combined power consumption of 26.4-24.4 kW·h/100 km; and WLTP range of 388-419 km.
An optional Off-Road Design package increases ground clearance by up to 30 mm so it can be driven on mixed surfaces and uneven tracks. Standard Gravel Mode improves suitability for driving on rough roads.
For the Taycan Cross Turismo, Porsche has developed a rear carrier for up to three bicycles, and the tailgate can be opened even when the rear carrier is loaded. The company also launched two e-bikes, the eBike Sport and eBike Cross, at the same time as the car.
“In 2019, we sent out a key signal with the debut of our first all-electric sports car,” said Blume, at the world premiere of the new, more versatile derivative. “We see ourselves as pioneers of sustainable mobility; by 2025, half of all the new vehicles we deliver will have an electrified drive—either fully electric or plug-in hybrid. In 2020, one in three of all vehicles we delivered in Europe had an electric powertrain. The future belongs to electric mobility. With the Taycan Cross Turismo, we’re taking another major step in this direction.”
Beyond vehicle electrification, an example of Porsche’s multi-dimensional approach to climate protection and sustainability is the rock flour plant at the Leipzig site, which helps turn car paint residue into cement. In its internal catering, it takes care to make efficient use of food supplies, also drawing on artificial intelligence. With the help of a deep-learning algorithm, the AI derives recommendations as to which dishes should be offered and in what quantities. The AI takes into account various factors such as past sales quantities as well as calendar and weather data.
Porsche promises that further model series will follow in the Taycan Cross Turismo’s sustainable mobility tracks. In particular, plans call for more than 80% of new vehicles sold to be purely electric models or plug-in hybrids by 2030.
