The real challenge for Tesla is going to come when more experienced car manufacturers start cranking out their own electric cars.
One particularly fearsome competitor in this regard is Porsche, which started building its new Mission E concept, a new four-door, four-seat all-electric car that features system power of 600 horsepower, acceleration of 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 3.5 seconds, a driving range of more than 310 miles per charge, and a recharge time of just 15 minutes.
Porsche will invest a 1 billion-euro ($1.09 billion) for producing the battery-powered sports car, which will be manufactured near division headquarters in Stuttgart and create 1,000 jobs, the Volkswagen AG unit said in a statement. The model, based on the low-slung Mission E concept unveiled in September at the Frankfurt auto show, will enter showrooms at the end of the decade.
The car will be charged via an 800-volt charger unit that is twice as powerful as today's quick-charge systems, Porsche said. The Mission E's two electric motors are mounted at the front and rear of the car and its lithium-ion batteries are integrated in the vehicle floor. The vehicle can optionally be charged wirelessly by induction via a coil set into a garage floor.
To assist in operating the vehicle, the car features eye-tracking and gesture-control functions, which include holograms that allow the driver to grab apps out of the air, according to Porsche.
