Porsche votes to send the Mission E all-electric sports sedan into production

Porsche will build a production version of the Mission E concept as the brand’s first all-electric vehicle to take on the Tesla Model S.

The Mission E concept is Porsche’s vision of the future, a step toward increasing the legendary automaker’s stake in the electric-car segment. As for the comparison to the 918 Spyder, we’ll remind you that, while the Mission E has just entered its post-concept development process, the hypercar went out of production earlier this year. The vehicle will thus achieve both acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 3.5 seconds and a range of more than 500 kilometres.

The Porsche Mission E will be built in Stuttgart, Germany in a new assembly facility, though some components, including the motors, will be built in expansions built off of current facilities. “Even with exclusively battery-powered sports cars, Porsche is remaining true to its philosophy and offering our customers the sportiest and technologically most sophisticated model in this market segment,” he said in the release. In addition, the Mission E’s quick-charge system boasts an 80-percent charge in 15 minutes flat – two times as fast as the best electric-car chargers now available.

Porsche promises to offer a slightly longer range than rivals, reaching more than 310 miles on a single charge. Porsche also added wireless inductive charging, allowing the Mission E to be charged like a cell phone on a Power Mat. The engine manufacturing site will be expanded to also make electric motors, while the body shop will also be upgraded. “Even in a greatly changing motoring world, Porsche will maintain its front-row position with this fascinating sports auto”, said Wolfgang Porsche, supervisory board chairman, in a statement after the management approved the project.

While Porsche has dabbled in the hybrid game, this will be the brand’s first fully-electric vehicle.