Should I get performance battery

[snstevens]

I really recommend the Performance Battery Plus. The primary reason is that over time all batteries will degrade so it's best to start at a higher capacity level.

While I don't like discussing resale (you're buying a Porsche and you should just option exactly what you want), the PBP is an expected feature of a 4s and it will be noticed at the time of resale (either because you have it, or because you don't).

Also, when was the last time you bought a battery powered device and said to yourself "I think I'll get the one with the smaller battery because I don't think I'll need extra charge now or in the future..."?

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[Foxy]

I'd generally say yes, you should, but it depends on how highly optioned your car is in other areas. Is it a RWD or 4S?

For RWD, I think it can make sense to omit the performance plus battery if you're trying to stick to a budget around $100k or less. But if you're well over that then you should find a way to include it by cutting other options

Re: mobility you don't need anything else.

Car already comes with a charging cable for your home. So don't buy the mobile charger connect as this is just a fancy home charging cable with a screen. Also Porsche's charging cables have some issues that people have documented on this forum, both for the free one and the upgraded one

19.2kw charger is the electronics onboard the car that can increase your charge rate at home from 11kw to 19.2kw (almost doubling), so you could charge your car fully at home in like 4-5hrs instead of 7-8hrs. HOWEVER, most homes in the US won't be able to support charging this quick given how the homes are wired, so very rarely do people in US add this option

150kw/400v you could consider adding but not a must have IMO. This dictates how fast your car charges at 400V fast charging stations. Standard is 50kw, so this would triple the speed. At fast charging stations in the public, there are two types, one is 400v and another is 800v. In the US, Tesla chargers are all 400v, but right now we can't use tesla chargers since they're locked to only Teslas. Almost all of the fast chargers compatible with Taycans are 800v. So in most use cases this isn't going to come into play since this option is only when you use a 400v charger, which are Tesla chargers that aren't available to Taycans. Tesla is rumored to open up their network to other cars in the future but this hasn't happened yet.

Overall this could be a nice to have, but depends on how often you think you'll be charging at fast chargers and road tripping. If you don't plan on charging at public stations often, this really is a low utility option. Also, reality is that the fastest charging is still at 800V stations (270kw) even if you get this option, so you'd want to preferentially choose 800V stations if possible on road trips over Teslas regardless. Tesla chargers are more common and more reliable, but again, not available right now to Taycans. By the time they open them up, it's possible the 800V network will be on par with reliability and available enough that it'll be rare where you're forced to stop at a Tesla charger

That’s an interesting post Whan, thanks. To clarify, are you saying that the cabling options are a waste of money? I’m based in the U.K. where we don’t have many super fast chargers and the Porsche cabling options are very expensive.

 

[4SJB]

Hi Foxy
I have owned a 4S with larger battery since Dec 20. Covered 19000 miles and from my home in Buckinghamshire have travelled to Newcastle, the Lake District, Lands End and many other long trips.
I added every charging option available because it was my first EV.
I have an Andersen charging box at home.
I have used the Public Charging cable (cheaper available on line) once and theMobile Charger Connect (massively over engineered, heavy and bulky) once.
I have not used any of the other options and have not specified any upgrade on my 4SCT due in November.
The charging infrastructure in the UK is fine unless you need a charge at peak times.
I normally use Ionity and have never had to queue - they are expensive unless you get the 30p/KWh Porsche discount, so I think many people avoid them.
The only option I did consider was the internal upgrade to effectively double 400v supply, which might be useful if I am travelling on the Continent or want to use Tesla chargers which are now becoming more available and I understand may run at 400v in most countries.
Hope this helps, but happy to talk direct.
BTW I am in Iceland (not with my 4S unfortunately) at the moment and have access to the Tesla chargers!

 

[sbarker108]

I just saw and replied to your other post with your build code. You need to get the bigger battery. Your car build is very expensive for a 4S, so it would be extremely unbalanced of a build if it didn't have the big battery. I said this to someone else on the forum, but you'll suffer heavily in resale if you don't. Almost everyone buying a used high spec taycan will be looking for the big battery. So if you don't get it, if/when you do sell yours, it will be passed up in favor of other cars on the market with it, unless yours is priced very low

The first thing EV owners tend to look for is range so I agree with this post. You may not need it but if your intention is to sell it, the next person probably will (or at least think they will).

 

[Foxy]

Hi Foxy
I have owned a 4S with larger battery since Dec 20. Covered 19000 miles and from my home in Buckinghamshire have travelled to Newcastle, the Lake District, Lands End and many other long trips.
I added every charging option available because it was my first EV.
I have an Andersen charging box at home.
I have used the Public Charging cable (cheaper available on line) once and theMobile Charger Connect (massively over engineered, heavy and bulky) once.
I have not used any of the other options and have not specified any upgrade on my 4SCT due in November.
The charging infrastructure in the UK is fine unless you need a charge at peak times.
I normally use Ionity and have never had to queue - they are expensive unless you get the 30p/KWh Porsche discount, so I think many people avoid them.
The only option I did consider was the internal upgrade to effectively double 400v supply, which might be useful if I am travelling on the Continent or want to use Tesla chargers which are now becoming more available and I understand may run at 400v in most countries.
Hope this helps, but happy to talk direct.
BTW I am in Iceland (not with my 4S unfortunately) at the moment and have access to the Tesla chargers!

Thanks mate, that’s really helpful. I’m about to buy an interim car (lightly used) because my ordered car is so far away now, I’m paying over the odds and when I questioned the lack of on board charging on the used car my dealer was pretty dismissive. I’m a little confused and somewhat irked by the fact the same dealer stood and watched while I ticked every charging option when I ordered my 4S!!

I will be reviewing my order now and put the money into a different option like RWS or HUD. Thanks again.

 

[DerekS]

Yes, get it. No such thing as too much range on an EV.

 

[daveo4EV]

no EV owner has ever said "my car goes too far on a single charge"
never met an EV owner that opt'd for a smaller battery that didn't regret it
and never met an EV buyer that wants the lower range version on the used market when all the other used EV's have the bigger battery

it's a strange place to save money on a build vs. other cosmetic-only porsche options IMHO

but again it's not my money.

 

[RBGtaycan]

No, I don’t have it and have never needed the range, 27k miles in a year.

Like you, I do NOT have it and am happy to have saved a lot of money, a fair amount of weight...I get 260 miles + on the smaller battery ...

 

[DerekS]

Like you, I do NOT have it and am happy to have saved a lot of money, a fair amount of weight...I get 260 miles + on the smaller battery ...

After my summer of road tripping at 27K miles I am getting 210-220 at 100%.
WITH the performance battery.

I'm still hoping the guess-o-meter will crawl back up to where it was (~235 at 85%, ~275 at 100%.) I am losing hope though and may get the battery health checked.

 

[gnop1950]

I'd say yes. I optioned the PB+ on my 4S and, personally, if I was looking to buy a used Taycan I'd be looking for one with with the PB+. But then I also have the 19.2kW option and installed a Porsche Wall Charger Connect at home.

 

[DerekS]

What's your mileage and your use? Any long high speed road trips?

 

[pio]

Just to add one data point, when I was considering a second hand Taycan 4S from a rational point of view I knew that I would be happy with the normal battery. Suppose the PB can bring you 380 km in a day (have some SOC% left for peace of mind and then you home-charge), and the PB+ can bring you 430 km in a day, how often do you expect to be above 380 km and below 430 km for your day trip.

However when options were on the table, and things got real, it felt "safer" to go for the PB+ which I ultimately did. Now four weeks later (agreed - not much real life experience yet) I've managed to come home with 5% SOC already once. I am now starting to shift my opinion, and I would happily waive some other options in favour of the PB+ option.

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