In 1939 Porsche released what is considered its first vehicle, the Porsche Type 64. Perhaps considered to be one of the most iconic and well-known sports cars, the Porsche 911 was released in 1964 featuring a 2.0-liter, flat-six making 148 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. In 2019, Porsche moved from your traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and released its first Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), the Porsche Taycan. To date the Porsche Taycan production volume is > 140,000.
An Alumobility-Porsche cooperation came together to further develop this milestone vehicle. A theoretical case study focused on converting the existing steel-intensive mixed-material body Top Hat structure of the Porsche Taycan to an all-aluminium Top Hat.
Zahra Awan (Assistant Editor, Aluminium International Today) spoke with Prof. Mark White (Technical Director, Alumobility) on the project, its outcomes, and the future of BEVs.