Could The Upcoming Porsche 718 EV Share The Fate Of The Macan EV?

The 718 EV’s battery issue has more to do with economics

Porsche’s battery supplier, Sweden-based Northvolt, filed for bankruptcy at the end of November 2024. Porsche’s mother company, Volkswagen AG, contracted Northvolt, which was founded back in 2015 by two former Tesla executives, to provide batteries for its upcoming 718 EV, which was originally scheduled for launch around the third quarter of 2025. Still, due to issues with the battery supplier, the model will likely be delayed until the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026.

The batteries were designed to work with the Porsche 718 EV’s 800-Volt architecture, providing a range of 250 miles on a single charge and a fast-charging capability of up to 270 kW per hour. Currently, Northvolt owes 313 million to the European Investment Bank, which was lensed to the startup company, in light of the expanding demand for EVs. Said expansion, however, was short-lived as EV demand in key markets is, currently, dwindling, putting startup companies like Northvolt in an unfavorable position.

The Macan EV is a learning experience for Porsche

Before we even knew that Porsche planned to electrify the 718, the Porsche Macan EV was delayed in a similar manner. However, the problems there were not related to the battery supplier. Rather, it was Porsche experiencing battery issues during cold-weather testing. Apparently, this was due to software issues related to the battery charging. Some owners are already reporting battery charging issues with their Macan EV, meaning the problem wasn’t completely solved during pre-production testing.Does this mean the Porsche 718 EV will suffer similar problems with battery charging?

Porsche is still tight-lipped regarding the 718 EV’s characteristics. Some of the powertrain options will, likely, be shared with the Macan EV, but the battery could be different, likely smaller to keep the weight down. The earliest spy shots of the electric Porsche Boxster suggest the model has been in development for around two years now. Should the Porsche 718 EV experience similar issues with the battery, it could deter buyers. Porsche enthusiasts are already at odds with the decision of the 718 taking the fully electric route. In light of Porsche’s more recent decision to turn some EV models into ICE-powered, turning the Porsche 718 into a hybrid might be a much better alternative. Porsche already proved the validity of this with the T-Hybrid powertrain.

How will Porsche address the gap between the discontinued 718 and the upcoming 718 EV?

The gas-powered Porsche 718 is still available depending on where you are based. In Europe, the mid-engine Porsche sports car was discontinued in Europe due to new, strict cyber security regulations. Porsche could easily remedy this and it might have to since the EV 718 is being delayed, leaving a gap in the lineup. Many enthusiasts prefer the 718 to the 911 for its superior balance, even though Porsche has artificially suppressed the car’s performance. The Porsche 718 GT4 RS is a good example of what an unleashed version of the car is truly capable of when not suppressed.

That said, the Porsche Macan gave us an idea of what could happen to the 718. Production of the gas-powered variant of the small Porsche SUV was extended due to the Macan EV’s delay. Meanwhile, Porsche fans are worried that one of two things could happen – either the 718 will lack sufficient range or it will become too heavy due to the batteries, needed to provide a decent range. Then, there is the question of a manual transmission. Porsche is adamant it will not employ a "fake” manual in its EVs like Toyota. Porsche, just give us a 718 hybrid already!