Our chance to put the public charging infrastructure to the test.
For all the tabloid hysteria around EVs and charging, running the Taycan as a daily driver has been remarkably easy. It’s not got the longest range in the world – the figures say it’ll do 274 miles, in reality that’s nearer 220 to be safe – but in three months of varied driving I’ve rarely had to use a public charging point. Partly that’s because
I’m lucky, in that I have chargers both at home and at the office, and also because it’s been unseasonably warm so the efficiency has come easier.
Arecent run to Castle Combe to race with my dad in a TVR Grantura (a yin and yang moment if ever there was one) gave me one of those chances to try the public charging network. It was a late night run so the Ionity station at Chippenham was deserted but well-lit, although I can imagine a lone female finding it a bit too remote for comfort. The speed was good (150kW average) and the cost okay. The latter is helped by the Porsche charge card that comes with all new Taycans. It lasts three years and gives you a discounted rate at Ionity, dropping it from 74p/kWh to 30p. It can also be used at various ‘destination’ chargers like hotels, as well as Porsche dealers, but after the three years you need to renew it at an annual cost of £179.
The Chippenham charger took only 18 minutes to give me enough charge to get to Castle Combe and then home the followin
