So, has there really been no credible news…

[atebit]

Porsche Sucks. Officially.

EOM

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[Kakatus10]

Here's some (old) news you may have missed. Last link is newer August news, battery tech related.

Porsche acquired majority share of the Varta AG platform V4Drive GmbH this past May, renaming it V4Smart. Varta AG is a smaller branch of the larger parent company Clarios. Varta has been around since 1886, so they've been around the cell block a few times.

Energizer owns the consumer segment, where Clarios owns the Automotive segment and makes their batteries in the same plants as Bosch.

It's important to note Varta AG is a smaller branch focused on new battery and storage technology under Varta then under Clarios.

It's also important to note these cells are already proven, as they're the similar cells used in the 911 hybrid (UHP-3X). The energy density of the UHP-5x cells are greater and designed for a more balanced load at roughly 277Wh/kg. For comparison, I believe the 812 LG Chem cells on the Taycan Refresh are 259 Wh/kg. I cannot find numbers on the Nortvolt Cells they were going to use, so not sure if this will positively or negatively affect the curb weight, but today 300Wh/kg is peak lithium Ion Density, so it doesn't get much better than 277Wh/kg. Tesla's 4680 cells that started production in 2022 are 272Wh/kg for reference.

The UHP-5X which have been in production since 2024, also boast better thermal management, but offer no real numbers to compare against, so take that as a grain of salt.

Acquiring News:
https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2025/company/porsche-v4smart-varta-ag-ultra-high-performance-lithium-ion-cylindrical-cells-38766.html#:~:text=V4Drive becomes V4Smart: Porsche acquires,performance lithium-ion cylindrical cells.

More on the platform:
https://newsroom.porsche.com/en_AU/...ance-lithium-ion-cylindrical-cells-38783.html

Latest news:
https://www.electrive.com/2025/08/1...iary-v4smart-presents-second-generation-cell/

 

[ze_shark]

Short clip of a mule of the 718 ...

https://www.threads.com/@speedstarp...QF0NAZGTW4AJCI5kepvbb2Y51-B8nl9m5wybY63Tvt1eA

The pesky 718 which Porsche AG keeps communicating on, but some still want to believe has been canned.

 

[atebit]

Meh, I’ll believe it when there’s allocations. Which there won’t be this decade, if ever. Porsche’s idea of innovation is refreshing the models wearing their Lifestyle products. They’re the wrong company to be pioneering a BEV convertible.

 

[chun]

Short clip of a mule of the 718 ...

https://www.threads.com/@speedstarp...QF0NAZGTW4AJCI5kepvbb2Y51-B8nl9m5wybY63Tvt1eA

The pesky 718 which Porsche AG keeps communicating on, but some still want to believe has been canned.

The pesky mules still running the batteries from a now bankrupt and long closed battery manufacturer - at least was the case not even 3 months ago according to the driver, in the Swiss/Italian alps

Whatever these mules are testing, it is not the battery, as they don't have a new provider.


EDIT: And while Porsche is thinking whether to put cars out and what cars to put out, other German manufacturers actually walk the talk

 

[ze_shark]

Yeah yeah sure yeah, and Audi has doubled down annoucing Concept C for 2027 production without a battery supplier either.

We should all take flaky factoids and speculation from an unserious Xiaomi worshipper for certainties, and ignore the obvious information put out officially by both companies.

 

[SergeyIndy]

Meh, I’ll believe it when there’s allocations. Which there won’t be this decade, if ever. Porsche’s idea of innovation is refreshing the models wearing their Lifestyle products. They’re the wrong company to be pioneering a BEV convertible.

I am convinced now that 718 BEV not happening. My dealer GM has been at it a long time and he said it is deferred to 2030+ which in Porsche speak means not going to happen.

I agree, let's see some allocations. I cannot even get an allocation for Macan EV Turbo if I want one, and you are all believing some 718 BEV whatever any time soon.

 

[ze_shark]

I do not understand why you want to believe grumpy dealer GM in the US while the Porsche CFO publishes slideware affirming that the 718 will launch well before 2030 and Audi's CEO tells the markets that Concept C sister cars goes in production in 2027. Dealers mostly don't know what they are talking about, even when the product is on the market.

 

[atebit]

I do not understand why you want to believe grumpy dealer GM in the US while the Porsche CFO publishes slideware affirming that the 718 will launch well before 2030

Because you can’t just insert the slideware into the front end of a factory and have cars come out the other end. As an IT Delivery Consultant (in other words, a “do-er”), I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to sit in a dark conference room screaming silently inside my self while some director or C-Suite bozo perpetrated slideware on a customer heralding something I knew couldn’t be done without violating the laws of physics.

 

[ze_shark]

These are disclosures from a publicly traded company. In some countries, it means something. This ain't Tesla. They would not promise vaporware they know cannot come out.

And Audi's CEO would not be joining the choir.

You do you, but in my world, i go with this info rather than a random Porsche dealer, let alone a US Porsche dealer

 

[atebit]

Let us know what kind of range you get driving that slideware.

 

[Jasper4S]

Can’t wait for the 718 EV release, just so I can check if the “Porsche is bankrupt” guy suddenly goes quiet in Switzerland.

 

[tigerbalm]

Was chatting to the owner of the motoring group that owns Porsche Centre Dublin yesterday on a bunch of topics. He knows that the 718 EV is the only EV from Porsche that I am truly interested in – i.e. I'm not a potential SUV EV buyer.

Anyways, he mentioned that he was with Porsche in Leipzig last week and got to sit in (but not drive) a 718 EV mule car. He was impressed with its size and feeling in general, including the quality of the interior fit & finish.

He has no clue when it might be released – didn't get the impression it would be in the next 12 months anyways. It exists – but might as well not. He said it was still very much on all the roadmap slides they were shown. It wasn't the focus of the presentation he was at though.

 

[ze_shark]

 

[Kakatus10]

... as they don't have a new [battery] provider.

This is incorrect, they announced back in May they're expanding their partnership with the same battery supplier that they've been working for the 911 hybrid.

V4 Drive is the battery platform.

They have several battery products, one of which is suitable for a BEV, it's a slightly different product than the battery in the 911 hybrid. See my previous post at the top of this page.

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