[March 2026 Update] - Porsche's ONLY OTA update hobbles North American Taycans to max 9.6 kW charge rate…

[gnr3312]

There it is. I’m not sure how to feel about it because I do want the upcoming plug and charge capability, and the extra hour it’s not a big deal right now as I charge overnight but still went from 10.4 kW to 8.8 kW.

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[whitex]

My only word of caution is that these updates are related to safety, so if something happens and you are found ignoring it, then there are bigger problems to be had.

How did you conclude WSS4 is a safety update? Even "resolving interrupted AC charging sessions" does not sound like safety, but rather a convenience. Note not all cars got it - my Taycan did not, I have the 19.2kW OBC - so if only 11kW OBCs get it, it would imply that the 11kW is unsafe, or is Porsche forgetting to send a safety update to cars with 19.2kW OBC's?

 

[whitex]

I am not sure if I reported already but corporate customer service was not helpful and could not even take it down as a concern with my ask to review and respond.

So they said "no comment" and hung up on you? Or did they say that this is normal? Or did they use some excuse like "my computer does not have a category to enter this"?

 

[refazi]

How did you conclude WSS4 is a safety update? Even "resolving interrupted AC charging sessions" does not sound like safety, but rather a convenience. Note not all cars got it - my Taycan did not, I have the 19.2kW OBC - so if only 11kW OBCs get it, it would imply that the 11kW is unsafe, or is Porsche forgetting to send a safety update to cars with 19.2kW OBC's?

It's very simple, there were about 3 recalls about the same issue before, first was the NEMA 14-50 connector cable , then lock the supplied mobile charger to 50%, then cash reimbursement to customers choice charger, and now reducing the charge load on the OBC.

 

[whitex]

It's very simple, there were about 3 recalls about the same issue before, first was the NEMA 14-50 connector cable , then lock the supplied mobile charger to 50%, then cash reimbursement to customers choice charger, and now reducing the charge load on the OBC.

OBC issues are very distinct from EVSE (PMC+/PMCC) issues. One has nothing to do with the other. Limiting the PMC does not help at all with any safety issues of the OBC, especially that most people will not use a PMC+/PMCC for their Taycans. Similarly, limiting the OBC will not mitigate a potential safety issue on the PMC+/PMCC if you plug in a non-Taycan car (perhaps a Cayenne EV, Taycan with 19.2kW option, or an Audi, or other EV that can charge >9.6kw).

 

[refazi]

The issue is not the OBC, the issue is that the system cannot handle over 40A AC apparently so the solution is the limit that at the OBC..

 

[whitex]

The issue is not the OBC, the issue is that the system cannot handle over 40A AC apparently so the solution is the limit that at the OBC..

Define "system" vs. OBC

 

[refazi]

Define "system" vs. OBC

the system is the path from the charing equipment to the HVAC battery - that includes the cable you plug in, the inlet socket, the internal cable to the obc, the obc and the cabling from it to the battery and obvaously all the relays and fuses and controls in between

 

[chun]

the system is the path from the charing equipment to the HVAC battery - that includes the cable you plug in, the inlet socket, the internal cable to the obc, the obc and the cabling from it to the battery and obvaously all the relays and fuses and controls in between

no

Need i mention that there are hundreds of providers of EVSE - the charger/cable? What, has porsche deemed them all unsafe? Their next ploy: Electricty is evil, buy petrol cars... 911 is the safest petrol car?

On Board Charger / obc of the taycan is being limited to 40A in USA for one reason or another.
This is clearly reducing the performance of a car, and in usa you can probably ask for a buy back

If this happened to me in switzerland, my charging time would increase by several hours, and as I am charging overnight, to take advtange of reduced tariff, it would have a signifiant monetary impact... and would also impact my ability to leave on time in the morning. It is utterly inacceptable, and I wouldn't leave the porsche service until they fix it.

For people that have in their build sheet / contract 11kw, in USA, they should absolutely ask for a buy back. I am sure dealers/services will pay attention quite faster at that point, and magically find the missing KW

 

[d00d]

My '23 with the standard OBC hasn't seen the update at this point.
I dislike AC will be downrated if I do eventually get it, but the slower rate won't really affect me.
However, it may allow plug and charge at Tesla DC chargers?
If true, not having the optional 400V module, this would only apply in the rare case I would need to charge there, at least until full V4 ones arrive in my area.

 

[SergeyIndy]

So they said "no comment" and hung up on you? Or did they say that this is normal? Or did they use some excuse like "my computer does not have a category to enter this"?

I was routed to Charging team, they said we do not handle this, forwarded me to Customer service team, they said "just to set the expectations", did you contact the dealer, then we cannot really record something like this and even if we would there is no way for us to escalate it anywhere so someone can look at it and respond to it. Both teams do not have access to any systems where they can look up WSS4 and tell me anything about it. Charging team is about help desk for all things charging. Customer service team is to resolve problems with service. No team to handle what we are dealing with.

 

[Tooney]

I was routed to Charging team, they said we do not handle this, forwarded me to Customer service team, they said "just to set the expectations", did you contact the dealer, then we cannot really record something like this and even if we would there is no way for us to escalate it anywhere so someone can look at it and respond to it. Both teams do not have access to any systems where they can look up WSS4 and tell me anything about it. Charging team is about help desk for all things charging. Customer service team is to resolve problems with service. No team to handle what we are dealing with.

POSIWID.

 

[SergeyIndy]

POSIWID.

I have not heard of this term before, but now the OBC charging can join the public charging, with example too familiar to many below, with one bullet missing, which is limiting charge to 80%, where I needed 85% to get to the next charger. For me specifically, recently I posted that I should be able to charge at a Tesla charger that is labeled for non-Tesla cars and I have the adapter, but my success rate is 50% so far. I have 2 more in the area to try to get this rate to hopefully improve.

 

[RED!]

I'm having a new and different issue, which my dealer says is "normal" (BS) that although it's warmer now, since the upgrade I don't get the same milage at the same percentage of charge.
Note, in both cases the OBC allowed the charger to charge over the target - some "solving charging problems solution"

Anyone else?

 

[Jonathan S.]

Three advantages from all this:

1. I am no longer wondering if the noticeable decrease in charging speed is somehow unique to my Taycan. (I knew it wasn't unique to my EVSE, since I noticed the same decrease at two different places with two different brands of hardwired 48a EVSE models.)
2. When I eventually replace my Taycan (2028? 2029?) with the i3 M Touring (or iX4 M if the wagon version of the EV 3 series doesn't reach our shores), I can console myself when I miss the many special aspects of the Taycan that I no longer have to put up with the especially annoying aspects of the Taycan.
3. I now have an excuse to post this picture of a Tesla Destination Charger from Wednesday, at a ski resort owned by a publicly traded company with a net worth of about three-quarters of a billion dollars. (All the Tesla Destination Charger plugs there are like this, with almost all of them in constant use, since the charging is free, as is the skinning for turns -- go figure, giving away for free whatever other places easily receive a bit of extra revenue. This time though I was especially sketched out, so instead of slapping my adapter onto the NACS plugs, I used an available J1772, even though those plugs are even slower.)

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