Macan EV Road Trip by Out of Spec Dave - Part 1

[ColdCase]

The video kinda illustrates how daunting and frustrating learning a new GUI can be after using another for awhile, let alone learning the cross country EV world from scratch. My wife has no interest in these kinds of details and is primary why she and her friends shy away from EV. Unlike us technocrats, simple is better for the vast majority .

She loves driving the Mini SE, however. But she would be intimidated by charging other than simply plugging in an extension cord at home. Its software just does the right thing out of the box. It has plenty of range to get to the beach or visit the grandkids and back.

For us technocrats, however, it can be so interesting.

 

[KRed]

Hey Dave what tire size are your Nokians? Are they winters or all weather?

 

[OutofSpecDave]

Hey Dave what tire size are your Nokians? Are they winters or all weather?

285 45 20 in the rear, 235 45 20 in the front Dedicated Hakka snows R5

 

[OutofSpecDave]

his videos are painfully redundant and take way too long to get to the point - I find them unwatchable - but he is a knowledgable EV reviewer - just painfully long videos for normally very little actual content.

Totally agree!

 

[DTaxman]

Must be a misprint in the manual as the Macan only supports 9.6kW 40A It does not support 48A OBC

I could have sworn at some point I saw Porsche documentation that indicated it supported 48 amp charging. However, I just went to Porsche USA and the official website does indicate 40 amp charging. Not sure if it ever changed, but somewhere along the long 48 amp charging seemed to be an expectation. Maybe some of the launch materials? Doing a web search, I do still see some dealer websites indicating 48 amp charging.... very strange.

 

[daveo4EV]

I could have sworn at some point I saw Porsche documentation that indicated it supported 48 amp charging. However, I just went to Porsche USA and the official website does indicate 40 amp charging. Not sure if it ever changed, but somewhere along the long 48 amp charging seemed to be an expectation. Maybe some of the launch materials? Doing a web search, I do still see some dealer websites indicating 48 amp charging.... very strange.

prosche website as of today

https://configurator.porsche.com/en-US/model/XABAA1/standard-equipment

I still believe this to be a regional vehicle configuration error (enforced by on board vehicle software parameters like matrix LED's) on Porsche's part for North America - also there is no 40 amp _only_ onboard charger in their supply chain (VW/Audi/Porsche)…

but in almost 5+ years of dealing with Porsche they are constantly confused by the North American difference between the 40 amp limit of ALL _MOBILE_ EVSEs (9.6 kw or 240V@40 amps) and the limits on an onboard charger inside the vehicle - they claimed the Taycan could only charge at 9.6 kW for 4+ years - even when you could demonstrate to them that was not the case…with their own Porsche Wall charger…they still insisted the Taycan was limited to 9.6 kw max charge rate.

I find it honestly hard to believe there is a separate on board charger component for North American Macan's as it's confirmed it's 11 kW for the rest of the world - also the Taycan has always been an 11 kW vehicle, Audi etron GT/SUV is 11 kW, Q6 is 11 kW and the Cayenne Hybrid and Panamera hybrid is 11 kW…

this is someone being confused inside Porsche about the limits of mobile EVSE's in North America and the max charge rate of the onboard charger with a hardwired non-mobile EVSE

but good f'ing luck getting anyone in porsche to investigate this, confirm my theory, and then in fact release any update of any form to remove the cap…

all that can be said at this point is that it's probably not strictly necessary for the Macan to have a 9.6 kW limit/cap - and it's probably an unintentional outcome, how it got hat way would be an interesting investigation and ultimately show up an internal communication problem by people that have no clue about EV's, but no one is going to take an interest to resolve it…so we're stuck with it- even if it could be better and 'fixed' in software/configuration-parameters.

 

[hulz99]

Hi guys Yes indeed I was learning on the fly Hope you all don’t mind my short format YouTube videos Very happy to be part of this community now! Go easy on me though as I make mistakes along my journey We really LOVE this car!

Welcome to the forum Dave!! I really loved your video on the Macan, looks fanstastic and very promising start to your road trip!

 

[ColdCase]

285 45 20 in the rear, 235 45 20 in the front Dedicated Hakka snows R5

Some were thinking that the replacements were larger diameter and that would explain the speedo error.

STD 20 inch Macans tires are

• Front: 7.5J x 20 ET32 wheels with 235/55 R20 tires
• Rear: 10J x 20 ET49 wheels with 285/45 R20 tires

Are you sure the replacement fronts are 235/45 20, not 235/55 20 ?.....

Speaking from stuffing the max size tire in a wheel well, actual tire diameter, for a. 235/55 R20 (or any tire), will vary from brand to brand, and model to model. Sometimes year to year. Someone should check the tire brand's spec sheet to see if there is much difference.

 

[ColdCase]

Portable EVSE chargers in the US have a 40 amp limit. The UL listed ones will limit the current to 40 (9.6kW) regardless of what the EV wants. Some EVSEs can be configured for a lower limit, 32 amp typically.

I've read here that some properly hard wired EVSEs can supply 48 amps (11 kW), but you don't typically see these in the wild (in the US) .

I think someone was going to try a 48 amp EVSE, but I haven't heard the results.

Porsche marketing doesn't make it easy.

 

[daveo4EV]

Portable EVSE chargers in the US have a 40 amp limit. The UL listed ones will limit the current to 40 (9.6kW) regardless of what the EV wants. Some EVSEs can be configured for a lower limit, 32 amp typically.

Hard wired EVSE can supply 48 amps (11 kW), but you don't typically see these in the wild (in the US) .

I think someone was going to try a 48 amp EVSE, but I haven't heard the results.

Porsche marketing doesn't make it easy.

the North American SAE J-1772 EV charging standard allows for 1.44 kW to 19.2 kW L1/L2 charging (12 - 80 amps) - there are similar ISO standard with a lot of overlap - so there is no one standard but the general constraints follow the SAE J-1772 guide lines - for AC charging North America is migrating to the SAE J-3400 NACS standard, but it's mostly an updated standard covering the new physical plug format for NACS style charging cords and vehicle charging ports…

the gen1 Porsche Taycan supports this full range of charging capacity - the gen1 Taycan has an option 19.2 kW onboard charger and the Tacan with this factory option does in fact charge at 19.2 kW when paired with an appropriate capacity EVSE - standard Taycan (no factory option) support 48 amp (60 amp breaker) 11 kW charging…that is also beyond dispute and is easily demonstrated.

building codes limit "mobile" EVSE's (those with removable NEMA plugs) to 40 amps (9.6 kW on a 50 amp breaker) - this is where the confusion creeps in - if you are a "MOBILE" EVSE with a NEMA plug you can not provide more than 40 amps via a NEMA 14-50/6-50/10-50 NEMA outlet

you can provide up to 19.2 kW (80 amps @ 240 volts) if your EVSE product is hardwired - again this is a BUILDING code electrical device limit - NOT a EVSE limit or a charging protocol limit.

hardwired J-1772 EVSE's can be anywhere from 12 amps to 80 amps…
mobile plug-based J-1772 EVSE's can be from 12 amps to 40 amps…

there are number of hardwired EVSE's in North America that are more than 40 amps - I have 3 in my garage - and I can drive to at last 5 locations with in 10 miles of my home…that offer L2 charging at more than 40 amps…

Porsche sells a hardwired Wall mounted EVSE that is configurable from 12-80 amps - Porsche Wall Charger Connect - it supports the Taycan at 11 kW and 19.2 kW if you have the optional Taycan 19.2 kW onboard charger…

there is no reason (other than Porsche screwing up) that the North American Macan's are limited to 9.6 kW (40 amps) - none of their other EV or Hybrid products have a similar limitation = and the same for Audi. the onboard charger in the supply chain world wide is nearly identical across multiple vehicle assembly lines and not different regionally…

many existing EV owners have installed 60/80/100 amp EVSE's in their homes - hardwired - mounted - one of the most popular EVSE's is the charge point flex which tops at 50 amps on a 70 amp breaker (12.5 kW possible charge rate).

• My 2020 Taycan charged at 11 kW on my setup
• My friend Audi eTron SUV charges at 11 kW on my setup
• My son's Tesla Model Y charges at 11 kW on my setup
• my 2024 Macan Turbo EV caps out a 9.5 kW on my setup - and the EVSE reports 39.7 amps being delivered of an available 48 amp capacity
• My 2024 Macan Turbo charges at 9.6 kW at my dealer service Porsche Wall Charger with an 80 amp capacity (19.2 kW max charge rate)
• dealership Loaner 2024 Cayenne eHybrid's charge at 11 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger
• dealership Loaner 2024 Panamera eHybrids charge at 11 kW on the same Porsche Wall charger
• dealership Loaner 2022 Taycan RWD w/11 kW onboard chargers charge at 11 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger
• A 2023 Taycan w/19.2 kW onboard charger charge at 19.2 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger
• A 2025 Taycan w/11 kW onboard charger charged at 11 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger
• A 2024 Macan Turbo (not mine) in PDI charged at 9.5 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger

for some reason Porsche has limited/capped 2024/2025 North American Macan's to 9.6 kW

I do not believe Porsche will ever pursue resolving this

I do believe it's an un-necessary limit

Porsche customer support representative who identified as an EV expert and Macan expert told me that maximum charge rate of _ANY_ EV in North America was 9.6 kW - When then asking about the 11 kW Taycan/Cayenne/Panamera/Audi/Tesla, and their own Porsche Wall Charger Connect which offers more than 9.6 kW - she had no response. she had no response about the 19.2 kW factory option for the J1 Taycan - Porsche internal confusion on this topic is deep, and institutional and just sloppy and makes me question their commitment to EV's - which as we all know is waning…

NOTE: what the Porsche customer support "expert" told me on the is that no EV in North America supports more than 9.6 kW charging - and yet their own products tested at their dealership with their own EVSE demonstrate that to be a false assertion.

What she meant to say but was not trained properly to understand was that no _MOBLE_ EV Charger (EVSE) can charge at more than 9.6 kW - but there are EV's (many from porsche/Audi) that can charge at great than 9.6 kW, but that will require a non-Mobile EVSE hardwired and a circuit breaker of 60 amps or more. Here sir let me direct you to our own product the Porsche Wall Charger Connect that can be configured to provide up to 19.2 kW of charging capacity (240V@80 amps on a 100 amp breaker).

I believe this limit is in place not due to hardware limitations, but someone inside of Porsche got confused between mobile EVSE limits, hardwired EVSE limits, and onboard vehicle charger limits - they have been confused in this space before and had the wrong spec's posted on the North American website for Taycan for 4+ years (listing the Taycan as a maximum of 9.6 kW and yet listing their mobile EVSE as being an 11 kW EVSE [which is impossible in North America] and conflicts with the specifications sticker on the back of the PMC/PMC+/PMCC/PUC)

there is no ambiguity that there is a imposed 9.6 kW limit in the North American Macan's - that has been demonstrated…

it is also not hard to find a greater than 40 amp EVSE in North America…

many customers on the Taycan forums and this forum have existing 60 amp or greater installs in their garage…and enjoy 11 kW charge rates on their Porsche vehicles (other than their new Macan EV)

We'll never know exactly why there is this limit with the North American Macan - but I'll bet anyone lunch it's a configuration mistake and not a hardware limit - but Porsche will never address it.

I also find it odd that the Macan is the _ONLY_ EV in the entire Audi/Prosche EV product offering with this limit…even their hybrid's are 11 kW. Seems an incongruity at a minimum - also very very inefficient supply chain management to have this one difference if the onboard AC/DC chargers are in fact different - poor supply chain management - additional complexity in assembly - more complexity in parts/supply - and a non-competitive product in the market place (9.6 kW charging limit is not a Premium EV charging experience) - if this is in fact a hardware limit - it speaks to really really poor management on Porsche's management - seems a very complex difference in a region where it's deficient and probably gains nothing - AC/DC converters for battery charging is a component easily shared across their entire suite of products…

 

[SergeyIndy]

Portable EVSE chargers in the US have a 40 amp limit. The UL listed ones will limit the current to 40 (9.6kW) regardless of what the EV wants. Some EVSEs can be configured for a lower limit, 32 amp typically.

I've read here that some properly hard wired EVSEs can supply 48 amps (11 kW), but you don't typically see these in the wild (in the US) .

I think someone was going to try a 48 amp EVSE, but I haven't heard the results.

Porsche marketing doesn't make it easy.

We have a poll. No one achieved 11kW on 48Amp supplied to Macan EV in the US. I tested it with a brand new Macan 4. There is nothing wild about it, it is the expectation from directly wired home EVSE.

 

[Fly4ever]

Hey @OutofSpecDave welcome to the community!
While I was watching your latest video earlier today I was keep wondering why you didn't join the forum yet and I was thinking now you finally got the car most likely you'd show up...and here you are!!
I'm sure you'll find it quite useful and in many cases also entertaining to participate in the most active Macan EV forum available!

 

[Dragon Tourniquet]

but Porsche will never address it.

They could, but the only way to ensure it is if a class action lawsuit is filed against then for false advertising.

 

[OutofSpecDave]

Hey @OutofSpecDave welcome to the community!
While I was watching your latest video earlier today I was keep wondering why you didn't join the forum yet and I was thinking now you finally got the car most likely you'd show up...and here you are!!
I'm sure you'll find it quite useful and in many cases also entertaining to participate in the most active Macan EV forum available!

Thanks for the warm welcome! Looking forward to learning from all of you!

 

[OutofSpecDave]

the North American SAE J-1772 EV charging standard allows for 1.44 kW to 19.2 kW L1/L2 charging (12 - 80 amps) - there are similar ISO standard with a lot of overlap - so there is no one standard but the general constraints follow the SAE J-1772 guide lines - for AC charging North America is migrating to the SAE J-3400 NACS standard, but it's mostly an updated standard covering the new physical plug format for NACS style charging cords and vehicle charging ports…

the gen1 Porsche Taycan supports this full range of charging capacity - the gen1 Taycan has an option 19.2 kW onboard charger and the Tacan with this factory option does in fact charge at 19.2 kW when paired with an appropriate capacity EVSE - standard Taycan (no factory option) support 48 amp (60 amp breaker) 11 kW charging…that is also beyond dispute and is easily demonstrated.

building codes limit "mobile" EVSE's (those with removable NEMA plugs) to 40 amps (9.6 kW on a 50 amp breaker) - this is where the confusion creeps in - if you are a "MOBILE" EVSE with a NEMA plug you can not provide more than 40 amps via a NEMA 14-50/6-50/10-50 NEMA outlet

you can provide up to 19.2 kW (80 amps @ 240 volts) if your EVSE product is hardwired - again this is a BUILDING code electrical device limit - NOT a EVSE limit or a charging protocol limit.

hardwired J-1772 EVSE's can be anywhere from 12 amps to 80 amps…
mobile plug-based J-1772 EVSE's can be from 12 amps to 40 amps…

there are number of hardwired EVSE's in North America that are more than 40 amps - I have 3 in my garage - and I can drive to at last 5 locations with in 10 miles of my home…that offer L2 charging at more than 40 amps…

Porsche sells a hardwired Wall mounted EVSE that is configurable from 12-80 amps - Porsche Wall Charger Connect - it supports the Taycan at 11 kW and 19.2 kW if you have the optional Taycan 19.2 kW onboard charger…

there is no reason (other than Porsche screwing up) that the North American Macan's are limited to 9.6 kW (40 amps) - none of their other EV or Hybrid products have a similar limitation = and the same for Audi. the onboard charger in the supply chain world wide is nearly identical across multiple vehicle assembly lines and not different regionally…

many existing EV owners have installed 60/80/100 amp EVSE's in their homes - hardwired - mounted - one of the most popular EVSE's is the charge point flex which tops at 50 amps on a 70 amp breaker (12.5 kW possible charge rate).

• My 2020 Taycan charged at 11 kW on my setup
• My friend Audi eTron SUV charges at 11 kW on my setup
• My son's Tesla Model Y charges at 11 kW on my setup
• my 2024 Macan Turbo EV caps out a 9.5 kW on my setup - and the EVSE reports 39.7 amps being delivered of an available 48 amp capacity
• My 2024 Macan Turbo charges at 9.6 kW at my dealer service Porsche Wall Charger with an 80 amp capacity (19.2 kW max charge rate)
• dealership Loaner 2024 Cayenne eHybrid's charge at 11 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger
• dealership Loaner 2024 Panamera eHybrids charge at 11 kW on the same Porsche Wall charger
• dealership Loaner 2022 Taycan RWD w/11 kW onboard chargers charge at 11 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger
• A 2023 Taycan w/19.2 kW onboard charger charge at 19.2 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger
• A 2025 Taycan w/11 kW onboard charger charged at 11 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger
• A 2024 Macan Turbo (not mine) in PDI charged at 9.5 kW on the same Porsche Wall Charger

for some reason Porsche has limited/capped 2024/2025 North American Macan's to 9.6 kW

I do not believe Porsche will ever pursue resolving this

I do believe it's an un-necessary limit

Porsche customer support representative who identified as an EV expert and Macan expert told me that maximum charge rate of _ANY_ EV in North America was 9.6 kW - When then asking about the 11 kW Taycan/Cayenne/Panamera/Audi/Tesla, and their own Porsche Wall Charger Connect which offers more than 9.6 kW - she had no response. she had no response about the 19.2 kW factory option for the J1 Taycan - Porsche internal confusion on this topic is deep, and institutional and just sloppy and makes me question their commitment to EV's - which as we all know is waning…

NOTE: what the Porsche customer support "expert" told me on the is that no EV in North America supports more than 9.6 kW charging - and yet their own products tested at their dealership with their own EVSE demonstrate that to be a false assertion.

What she meant to say but was not trained properly to understand was that no _MOBLE_ EV Charger (EVSE) can charge at more than 9.6 kW - but there are EV's (many from porsche/Audi) that can charge at great than 9.6 kW, but that will require a non-Mobile EVSE hardwired and a circuit breaker of 60 amps or more. Here sir let me direct you to our own product the Porsche Wall Charger Connect that can be configured to provide up to 19.2 kW of charging capacity (240V@80 amps on a 100 amp breaker).

I believe this limit is in place not due to hardware limitations, but someone inside of Porsche got confused between mobile EVSE limits, hardwired EVSE limits, and onboard vehicle charger limits - they have been confused in this space before and had the wrong spec's posted on the North American website for Taycan for 4+ years (listing the Taycan as a maximum of 9.6 kW and yet listing their mobile EVSE as being an 11 kW EVSE [which is impossible in North America] and conflicts with the specifications sticker on the back of the PMC/PMC+/PMCC/PUC)

there is no ambiguity that there is a imposed 9.6 kW limit in the North American Macan's - that has been demonstrated…

it is also not hard to find a greater than 40 amp EVSE in North America…

many customers on the Taycan forums and this forum have existing 60 amp or greater installs in their garage…and enjoy 11 kW charge rates on their Porsche vehicles (other than their new Macan EV)

We'll never know exactly why there is this limit with the North American Macan - but I'll bet anyone lunch it's a configuration mistake and not a hardware limit - but Porsche will never address it.

I also find it odd that the Macan is the _ONLY_ EV in the entire Audi/Prosche EV product offering with this limit…even their hybrid's are 11 kW. Seems an incongruity at a minimum - also very very inefficient supply chain management to have this one difference if the onboard AC/DC chargers are in fact different - poor supply chain management - additional complexity in assembly - more complexity in parts/supply - and a non-competitive product in the market place (9.6 kW charging limit is not a Premium EV charging experience) - if this is in fact a hardware limit - it speaks to really really poor management on Porsche's management - seems a very complex difference in a region where it's deficient and probably gains nothing - AC/DC converters for battery charging is a component easily shared across their entire suite of products…

Great intel here Bedtime reading for sure tonight