What's all this about?
Porsche says it will be the first manufacturer to come to market with wireless charging for its electric vehicles (EVs). In typically pragmatic style, the company is straightforwardly going to call this convenient technology Porsche Wireless Charging (PWC), and the first vehicle it will be available on will be the all-electric fourth-generation Cayenne SUV that's due to land sometime in 2026.
Very cool. How does the system work?
Well, assuming you know how wireless charging functions for a smartphone, it works on exactly the same principle, except on a larger scale given the battery sizes involved. It necessitates a baseplate that measures 1,170mm long, 780mm wide and 60mm deep, and weighs around 50kg, which has to be wired into the mains (Porsche will offer an installation service with a qualified electrician for that). It has a 90 per cent efficiency rating when it transmits energy at 11kW AC, which is high, and it's robust enough to survive in the elements outside... or even if an owner drives over the baseplate in their weighty Cayenne by accident. Of course, many customers will have it installed in a garage or carport instead.
Can all Porsche EVs avail of wireless charging then?
No, not as yet, as the first way of getting hold of this system is to order one with your new Cayenne EV. But the PWC is going to go on sale in 2026 in Porsche Centres across Europe (other global markets to follow after) and the online Porsche Shop, so presumably then it could be adapted for the existing Taycan and Macan models. However, hardware does need to be installed on the car to communicate with the baseplate; on the Cayenne, it's mounted on the underside and between the front wheels, with shielding to protect it from stones and also weatherproofing to keep the rain out. This should be fitted to new Taycans and Macans coming off the line after the Cayenne Mk4 has launched, but whether you can retrofit it to cars already on the roads remains to be seen.
Is it a really easy system to use?
Of course. The Cayenne's onboard cameras feature a special view that helps to guide the owner to the perfect parking position above the baseplate. Once the car is in position with its handbrake activated, wireless charging starts automatically after the Cayenne lowers itself a few centimetres to move the receiver closer to the pad for the best power transmission. Safety overrides sense if a living creature, perhaps a pet cat, gets between car and pad during charging, or if there's something metallic on the baseplate that's heating up, and will cut the power accordingly. PWC is also integrated into the My Porsche app, so owners can monitor charging processes in real-time and register several vehicles to one domestic plate. It's all very clever and neat, as you'd expect of the German manufacturer.
When will we see this tech for the first time before the Cayenne's launch?
At the IAA motorshow in Munich next week, where it will be previewed with the latest camouflaged prototype of the Cayenne that has fancy paint which lights up in a pattern while the car is wireless charging - typical motorshow flashiness, there. The Cayenne itself, by the way, will charge at up to 400kW DC on public connections if you need quicker than 11kW AC wireless, which is even faster than the 270- and 320kW peak speeds of the Macan and Taycan respectively.
Michael Steiner, the Porsche board member for development, said: "Ease of use, suitability for everyday use and charging infrastructure are still the decisive factors when it comes to the acceptance of electric mobility. We are proud that inductive charging will soon be available in series production at Porsche. Charging an electric car at home has never been so easy and convenient."
Matt Robinson - 4 Sep 2025
