13-03-2025
Why Porsche's Next 911 Should Have a Battery-Electric Version
Porsche is introducing all-electric versions throughout its portfolio, but Stuttgart doubts the world is ready for a battery-electric 911
Engineers in Weissach have developed hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric powertrains that compromise none of Porsche's high-performance attributes.
If those engineers can build an all-electric 911 that upholds this heralded sports car's legacy, then no one should be surprised.
Much of the coverage coming from Porsche's annual press conference in Stuttgart this week has been devoted to the launch of the all-new Cayenne EV later this year and a mysterious new SUV model with internal-combustion and hybrid powertrains, potentially arriving before decade's end.
And there was news about derivatives of the iconic 911 sports car, including a reinterpreted 1970s limited-edition model from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and an additional 911 flagship model to 'raise the bar even further,' as the automaker says.
But this line in the press conference synopsis deserves closer scrutiny: 'Its customers will still be able to choose between combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric drivetrains in every vehicle segment well into the 2030s.'
If the 911 is in one of these segments, is this a coded way of revealing—or at least planting a seed—that the next-generation 911 will have an all-electric variant?
That would certainly be newsworthy, so we reached out to Porsche PR rep Frank Wiesmann and got a reasonable explanation: 'In this case, we're referring to our two-door sports cars as one segment. The 911 is offered with a combustion engine and a very sporty t-hybrid powertrain while our two-door sports car in the 718 segment will be fully electric in the future.'
OK, that makes sense, but the question remains: Why does Porsche—at least publicly—reject the notion of an electric 911? Do the deep-pocketed 911 purist collectors find this idea so repugnant that Stuttgart knows better than to offend these loyal customers?
Now, I'm not supporting the crazy idea that the next 911 should only be an EV. Internal-combustion driving the rear wheels must always be the core formula, but the 2025 model year brings with it—as Wiesmann mentioned—the 532-hp 911 Carrera GTS with a turbocharged "T-Hybrid" six-cylinder powertrain as a midcycle upgrade.
Should this 911 GTS hybrid be perceived as a trial balloon? If customers appreciate its 2.9-second sprint to 60 mph, couldn't an all-electric 911 be even faster? Heck, the larger, four-door all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo S (with launch control) can make that run in 2.6 seconds.
Porsche has been aggressive in its EV product expansion: The new Macan has an all-electric version, and 44% of takers in the US so far this year are choosing the EV. Porsche plans to launch an all-electric Panamera, and after the all-electric fourth-generation Cayenne (to be revealed later this year in the US) will come the all-electric 718 Boxster and Cayman sports cars.
That's the entire Porsche portfolio, leaving the 911 as the sole offering without a battery-electric option. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has said the 911 will likely never be fully electric due to its rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive design.
But the engineers in Weissach already have vast experience developing hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric powertrains that compromise none of Porsche's high-performance attributes. One could argue these advanced powertrains are a natural step up from conventional internal combustion.
If those engineers can find a way to build an all-electric 911 that upholds this heralded sports car's legacy, then no one should be surprised.
Perhaps it all boils down to sales—and the prospects of an uncertain EV market: All-electric Taycan sales in the US fell from 7,500 units in 2023 to 4,700 last year, while 911 sales ballooned from 11,700 to 14,100 units.
What do you think of an all-electric 911? Please comment below.
