Porsche Cayenne gets wireless charging mat

When the new all-electric Porsche Cayenne reaches showrooms next year, owners will be able to replenish its battery without opening the charging flap or connecting a cable. The catch is an optional wireless charging mat, much like the pad beside your bed for charging a smartphone, which is likely to cost roughly £7,000 extra.

Porsche Cayenne wireless charging floor plate

Porsche calls the air-cooled unit a ‘floor plate’ - like a 964, Porsche fans - and it can supply up to 11kW. Because the UK’s single-phase domestic electricity network limits most home wallboxes to a rather leisurely 7.4kW, Porsche says it will sell separate versions of the floor plate for the US, UK and Europe, each designed to make the best use of local electrical infrastructure.

The vehicle’s own charging plate is mounted above its underbody protection, meaning ground clearance is unaffected. According to Porsche, the system can transfer power through an air gap of between 11 and 16cm, with efficiency of up to 90%.

Durability and safety in British weather

Naturally, there are a few less graceful questions. What if your parking is poor enough that you drive over the plate? Porsche says it has been built to withstand the considerable mass of a battery-powered Cayenne without breaking. And if the weather turns, well, British? The unit is completely waterproof and resistant to dirt.

What happens if a cat is asleep on the mat? Could the wireless-charging magnetic field fry it? Porsche’s engineers say they have accounted for that, too. Before charging begins, the proximity sensor carries out 20 seconds of pre-flight checks, looking for metal items or organic matter. It is therefore safe.

Porsche has high expectations for the technology, as its Taycan and Macan data shows that 75 per cent of charging happens at home. With a plate installed on a driveway - or, more probably, in a garage - charging becomes smoother and more convenient, and potentially quicker. The car’s displays also provide a parking guide to help position it precisely over the mat for charging.

Pricing and future Porsche EV compatibility

It is impressively clever and designed to be foolproof, but it certainly will not be inexpensive. Pricing has not been confirmed, although Porsche told TopGear.com that the 50kg charging floor plate should cost around €4,300 plus taxes. The charging plate fitted to the car will be sold separately for around €1,500 plus taxes.

They are separate purchases because owners may want several units: one at their primary home, another at the office and one at a holiday chalet. These are costly accessories aimed at wealthy buyers. If you purchase a used Cayenne Electric whose first owner did not specify the system, Porsche says it can be retrofitted, as can all other future Porsche EVs. Current Taycans and Macans, however, cannot use it.

It's iPhone Lightning vs USB-C all over again…