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Porsche is set to unveil its first fully electric SUV in 2024, the Macan EV, which will be “the sportiest model in its segment,” according to the automaker. Although Porsche is pushing its release back another year, the company is finally giving us the details of what we can expect from the long-awaited Macan EV.

Despite initial hesitancy in going all in on electric with concerns over performance, the German automaker is not looking back.

It all started with the release of the electric Taycan, which has been a wild success for Porsche, with the company producing its 100,000th model last week.

Porsche’s first electric model even outsold the iconic Porsche 911 last year, with over 41,000 deliveries. Kevin Giek, VP of Model Line Taycan, stated:

With the Taycan, we have made a decidedly successful start in the electric age.

However, Porsche doesn’t plan to let the momentum slow. The automaker plans to build on its success following up with the Macan EV in 2024. In fact, according to reports in August, Porsche expects the output of its electric Macan to reach the same, if not more, than its gas-powered counterpart.

With Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume at the helm, Porsche expects at least half of total sales to come from electric vehicles by 2025, which will quickly ramp to 80% by 2030.

The Porsche Macan EV launching in 2024 will likely play a key role in getting the German automaker there. Here’s what we know so far about Porche’s first all-electric SUV.

Porsche-electric-SUV-Macan
Porsche electric Macan testing

Porsche releases details on 2024 Macan EV

The Macan EV will be the first Porsche model to sit on its upcoming Premium Platform Electric (PPE), its dedicated electric vehicle platform co-developed with Audi.

The PPE EV platform is set to use an 800V electrical system, while Porsche will utilize 100 kWh battery packs. According to the company, this is the ideal size for superior range and performance.

Porsche also says it’s planning to further improve charging speeds (over the Taycan’s 270 kW) with a target recharge rate from 5% to 80% in less than 25 minutes.

The German automaker’s PPE platform will be designed for both rear and all-wheel drive systems. Two liquid-cooled motors will produce up to 603 hp and 738 lb.-ft. of torque. Porsche will also be swapping silicon semiconductors with silicon carbide, which is better suited for higher-power models.

The rear motor will be mounted behind the rear axle, like the 911, in what Porsche calls its Performance Rear Axle. The approach gives the Macan EV a better weight balance of 48 to 52% front to rear.

Deliveries of the Macan EV are slated for 2024, with Porsche targeting an official release in either late 2023 or 2024 as it finalizes tuning.

Electrek’s Take

I wouldn’t doubt the Macan EV to be the “sportiest model in its segment” with Porsche’s performance history.

The Macan EV will make an excellent addition to the Porsche Taycan, giving it the market potential it needs to achieve its electric sales targets. Although Porche’s fully electric SUV is getting pushed back until 2024, I expect an aggressive rollout.

Look for Porsche to build on the success it established with the Taycan with the Macan EV in 2024.

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This electric excavator has battery swap tech that lets it recharge in minutes [update]

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This electric excavator has battery swap tech that lets it recharge in minutes [update]

The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.

UPDATE: telematics announcement.

Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.

XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.

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We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).

XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?

Easy in, easy out

XCMG battery swap crane; via Etrucks New Zealand.

The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.

You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.

Telematics announcement at bauma

XCMG showcases green, smart tech at bauma 2025; via XCMG.

Earlier today, XCMG launched its next-generation Xrea Global Telematics Platform, integrating IoT, big data, cloud computing, and AI to enable what it’s caling, “seamless cross-border fleet management.”

The new telematics platform supports a dozen languages via PC and mobile interfaces, and offers real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and data-driven optimization of both the vehicle and the vehicle’s batteries, empowering equipment managers and fleet operators to track fleets across town, or across time zones.

“XCMG remains committed to advancing engineering technology to empower a sustainable future. Our mission is to deliver efficient, intelligent, and eco-friendly lifecycle solutions for global clients,” said Mr. Yang Dongsheng, Chairman of XCMG Group and XCMG Machinery. “Today, 19% of our product portfolio comprises green innovations under our ‘Green Mountain’ new energy line, with full electrification across all series underway.”

SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG; via PR Newswire.

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Tesla (TSLA) is having a terrible month, and it’s only April 10th!

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Tesla (TSLA) is having a terrible month, and it's only April 10th!

On today’s troubling episode of Quick Charge, we explore all the troubles befalling Tesla (and TSLA stock) in the month April – with top executives fleeing the ship, demand plummeting, sales slipping, government incentives at home and abroad under threat, and a raft of receipts brought on by an OpenAI lawsuit hitting the brand, it’s already a bad month for Elon … and there’s still 20 more days to go!

None of this even touches on the $43 million “backlogged” rebate scandal Tesla’s facing in Canada that’s being blamed for people’s negative attitudes about the brand (ha!) or the fact that neither the long-promised Roadster 2.0 or the Tesla Semi will see production anytime this year, either.

The word you’re looking for when you think of Tesla these days is, “cooked.”

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

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A vast 600 MW Texas solar farm just hit a major milestone [update]

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A vast 600 MW Texas solar farm just hit a major milestone [update]

Renewable developer Vesper Energy has cut the ribbon on Hornet Solar in Swisher County, Texas, one of the largest single-phase solar farms in the US.

As Electrek reported in January, the 600-megawatt (MW) Hornet Solar includes over 1.36 million modules covering more than 6 square miles. The project will contribute more than $100 million in new tax revenue to Swisher County and deliver 600 MWac of energy–enough to power 160,000 homes annually. 


January 30, 2025: “The seamless coordination between our team and our EPC partner, Blattner, has enabled us to remain ahead of schedule and on budget while ensuring quality throughout the process,” said Juan Suarez, co-CEO of Irving-based Vesper Energy.

Hornet Solar uses bifacial solar panels mounted on a single-axis tracking system to maximize efficiency. The solar farm is connected to Oncor Electric’s transmission system within ERCOT and is contracted to provide power to four off-take partners through individual Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs).

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The Hornet Solar project in the Texas Panhandle is on track to be fully online by spring 2025.

Texas is a utility-scale solar leader in the US, with a ranking of No. 2 and 37,713 MW currently installed. It’s projected to install 51,144 MW over the next five years and move into the No. 1 spot, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The total solar investment in the state is $45.2 billion.

On January 21, the SEIA, Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation (CTEI), Advanced Power Alliance (APA), and the Texas Solar + Storage Association (TSSA) reported that existing and expected utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage projects will contribute over $20 billion in total tax revenue – and pay Texas landowners $29.5 billion – over the projects’ lifetimes.

Read more: Texas just became No 1 in the US for most utility-scale solar


If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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