Harnessing Formula E Expertise: Inside the Porsche Cayenne Electric’s Design and Vision

05.11.2025

With the Cayenne Electric, Porsche will soon be bringing not only another fully electric model series onto the market, but also a piece of motorsport technology into the series. Numerous innovations are based directly on developments from Formula E. Porsche is the reigning world champion in both the team and manufacturer championships. With the Cayenne Electric, the sports car manufacturer shows that its path to more sustainable mobility does not begin on the drawing board, but on the racetrack.

The new Cayenne Electric benefits greatly from the experience the sports car manufacturer has gained in Formula E. Some technologies of the fully electric SUV come from the Porsche 99X Electric and set standards in terms of efficiency and performance. What both cars have in common, among other things, is the direct oil cooling of the electric motor and a recuperation output of up to 600 kW. «Formula E is our development laboratory for the electromobility of tomorrow. There we gain valuable knowledge for our road sports cars,” says Dr. Michael Steiner, Board Member for Research and Development. “The new Cayenne Electric shows how quickly such technology transfer takes place at Porsche and how relevant our commitment to the electric racing series is.”

“Efficiency is the deciding factor between victory and defeat in Formula E. This principle also characterizes the Cayenne Electric,” adds Florian Modlinger, overall Formula E project manager at Porsche and team boss of the factory Porsche Formula E team. “The focus is not only on efficiency when it comes to the vehicles themselves: agile work, which has been proven in racing, can also help shorten development times and accelerate technology transfer.”

Florian Modlinger, Formula E overall project manager

The heads of motorsport and series development sit close together in Weissach. This promotes the exchange of knowledge between projects. What is tested on the race track inspires the series – and vice versa: the racing car also sometimes learns from the road vehicle. Charging is probably the most striking area for technology transfer: the socket and plug of the 99X racing vehicle and the electric Porsche sports car are similar. The underlying CCS (Combined Charging System) charging system is not only the standard on the road, but also in Formula E.

Direct cooling for maximum efficiency and compact design

Direct oil cooling is a prime example of technology transfer from motorsport to series production. All current-carrying components of the electric drive are cooled directly by a specially developed liquid, which significantly improves efficiency and continuous performance. Porsche has been using this innovative technology in Formula E since the project began – with increasing levels of integration. From 2023, the GT4 e-Performance test vehicle also tested direct oil cooling on the racetrack. It is now coming into series production in the Cayenne Electric on the rear axle of the top model.

While in conventional electrical machines the coolant flows through a jacket outside the stator, with direct cooling the cooling medium flows directly along the copper conductors via so-called stator grooves. This allows the heat to be dissipated directly where it arises. With the same efficiency and performance values, a machine cooled by a water jacket would have to be around 1.5 times larger. Thanks to direct cooling, a design could be chosen for the Cayenne that enables an efficiency of up to 98 percent. The competition version in the 99X has an even higher value.

Extremely high recuperation performance of up to 600 kW

The so-called recuperation significantly increases the efficiency of both vehicles: energy that is recovered during braking is fed into the battery and can thus be used again for propulsion. More recuperation allows for longer ranges and ultimately smaller batteries – the key to more performance for both sports cars and racing vehicles. In Formula E, the amount of energy available is intentionally limited: the 99X Electric can start a race with a maximum of 38.5 kWh of usable energy in the battery storage. If he recovers more energy than the competition when braking, he has more energy available to storm to the finish.

“The challenge of recuperation is highly complex,” says Florian Modlinger. “When braking, we want to recover as much energy as possible and reduce speed as quickly as possible. Depending on the brake pressure, we use the front wheel brakes. The vehicle balance should correspond to the driver’s wishes. It contributes to his trust in the vehicle and thus also to performance. On the road, it is also about driving safety. To combine all of this, a large number of software functions are active during the braking process – a huge field for knowledge transfer.”

Up to 600 kW of recuperation power is possible with the Cayenne, depending on the speed, temperature and charge level of the battery. This means that the SUV achieves the same top value as the 99X Electric. High-performance recuperation also remains active in the Cayenne when driving dynamically. During normal driving, around 97 percent of all braking processes are carried out purely electrically, without the need for assistance from the mechanical wheel brake. Depending on the driving maneuver, recuperation can be carried out until the vehicle comes to a standstill. Only when it is necessary to decelerate beyond the recovery limit do the friction brakes on the front and rear axles intervene imperceptibly for the driver – a perfect interplay of efficiency and driving comfort, characterized by motorsport.

Fast reloads and robust fast charges

Since last season, Formula E has had fast-charging pit stops, so-called Pit Boosts. Within 30 seconds, the 99X Electric recharges ten percent of energy with 600 kW charging power. The Cayenne Electric is also designed for quick pit stops: it takes less than 16 minutes to bring its battery from ten to 80 percent state of charge (SoC).

It’s not just the races that are getting hot. Even in normal everyday driving, temperatures fluctuate greatly. The Porsche philosophy states that high charging performance must be achieved in a wide SoC range even under adverse conditions. The Cayenne’s DC charging power is up to 400 kW. Fast charging is possible from a battery temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. Up to an SoC of around 55 percent, the charging power is over 350 kW – so the fast charging processes are very robust. Within ten minutes, a range of over 300 kilometers can be recharged at a suitable charging station.

When it comes to fast charging, the Formula E is also a test laboratory and showcase at the same time. “The drivers drive the vehicles at the limit – sometimes in sweltering cities such as Jakarta. When we come into the pits to charge, we often have very high system temperatures,” says Florian Modlinger. “At the same time, we want to keep the cooling effort on the racing vehicle as low as possible, because cooling consumes energy and, depending on the hardware, increases the weight. In the Pit Boost pit stops, we demonstrate an energy supply with a huge charging capacity under extreme conditions.”

In Formula E, Porsche invests the available budget primarily in those vehicle parts that are also relevant for the road. According to the regulations, these parts are under the hood. Modlinger: “Our challenges are not visible from the outside. But they are big and in many areas similar to those that we also encounter with our electric sports cars.”

E-Performance Wiki

Electromobility – or e-performance, as we call it – changes many things. This is exciting, but sometimes not easy to understand. The Swiss Porsche Newsroom has therefore decided to cover everything important about it E-mobility and Porsche to explain in simple words.

How does Porsche’s 800-volt architecture,initially developed for formula E,benefit Cayenne Electric owners in terms of charging speed and convenience?

From the Track to the Road: The Electrification of Performance

Porsche’s commitment to electric vehicles isn’t a recent development.It’s a carefully cultivated strategy, deeply rooted in their motorsport heritage, especially their successful Formula E program. The Porsche Cayenne Electric isn’t simply an EV adaptation of a popular SUV; it’s a distillation of years of research, development, and real-world testing in the demanding habitat of Formula E racing. This article delves into how Porsche leveraged its Formula E insights to shape the design and vision behind its all-electric Cayenne.

The 800-volt Architecture: A Formula E Legacy

One of the most notable takeaways from Porsche’s Formula E involvement is the refinement of its 800-volt architecture.Initially pioneered for the 99X Electric race car, this technology dramatically reduces charging times and increases energy efficiency.

* Faster Charging: The 800-volt system allows the Cayenne Electric to accept substantially higher charging rates compared to traditional 400-volt systems. This translates to less time spent at charging stations and more time on the road.

* Reduced Cable Weight: Higher voltage allows for thinner, lighter charging cables, improving practicality and ease of use.

* Enhanced Energy Density: The architecture supports higher energy density batteries, contributing to increased range without compromising vehicle weight.

This isn’t just theoretical advantage. Porsche’s experiance in managing the thermal demands of high-power delivery in Formula E was crucial in ensuring the stability and longevity of the Cayenne Electric’s battery pack.

Regenerative Braking: Maximizing Efficiency inspired by Racing

Regenerative braking is a cornerstone of EV efficiency, and Porsche’s Formula E team has pushed this technology to its limits. The insights gained from optimizing energy recovery under the intense braking demands of Formula E racing have directly influenced the Cayenne Electric’s regenerative braking system.

* Adaptive Regeneration: The Cayenne Electric features an intelligent regenerative braking system that adapts to driving conditions and driver behavior.

* One-Pedal Driving: drivers can opt for a strong regenerative mode, enabling near one-pedal driving, maximizing energy recovery and reducing brake wear.

* Predictive Powertrain Management: Utilizing navigation data, the system anticipates upcoming deceleration events (like approaching intersections or curves) and proactively engages regenerative braking, further enhancing efficiency. This is a direct request of strategies used to optimize energy management during formula E races.

Aerodynamic Optimization: Lessons from the Race Track

Aerodynamics play a critical role in both Formula E and the Cayenne Electric, albeit for different purposes. In Formula E, it’s about maximizing downforce for cornering speed.For the Cayenne Electric, it’s about minimizing drag to improve range and efficiency.

* Active Aerodynamics: While not as extreme as a Formula E race car, the Cayenne Electric incorporates active aerodynamic elements, such as adjustable spoilers and air curtains, to optimize airflow around the vehicle.

* Underbody Aerodynamics: Porsche engineers focused heavily on smoothing the underbody of the Cayenne Electric, reducing turbulence and drag. This is a technique refined through countless hours of wind tunnel testing and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations, mirroring the approach used in Formula E.

* drag Coefficient: the Cayenne Electric boasts a competitive drag coefficient for its class, contributing to improved range and reduced energy consumption.

Thermal Management: Keeping Cool under Pressure

Managing battery temperature is paramount in any electric vehicle, and Porsche’s Formula E experience has been invaluable in developing a complex thermal management system for the Cayenne Electric.

* Liquid Cooling: The battery pack is actively cooled using a liquid cooling system, maintaining optimal operating temperatures even under demanding conditions.

* Heat Pump Technology: A highly efficient heat pump system recovers waste heat from the powertrain to warm the cabin, reducing energy consumption during cold weather.

* Advanced Cooling Strategies: porsche’s engineers have implemented advanced cooling strategies, inspired by the rapid thermal cycling experienced in Formula E races, to ensure consistent performance and battery longevity.

Porsche’s Digitalization and Simulation: A Virtual Advantage

Porsche utilizes extensive simulation and digital modeling throughout the development process, a practise heavily emphasized in Formula E.

* Digital Twin Technology: Creating a “digital twin” of the Cayenne Electric allows engineers to virtually test and refine various design parameters, reducing the need for costly physical prototypes.

* Real-Time Data Analysis: Data collected from the 99X Electric during Formula E races is analyzed in real-time, providing valuable insights that inform the development of future road cars.

* Predictive Maintenance: The Cayenne Electric’s onboard systems collect data on component performance, enabling predictive maintenance and minimizing downtime.

the Future of Porsche Electrification

The Cayenne Electric represents a significant step in Porsche’s electrification journey. By seamlessly integrating the knowledge and technologies developed through its Formula E program, Porsche has created an electric SUV that delivers both exhilarating performance and exceptional efficiency. the ongoing commitment to motorsport innovation will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of Porsche’s electric vehicle lineup,pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of electric mobility.