Porsche has made history in Southeast Asia by becoming the first brand to conduct the fastest single journey in an EV from Thailand to Singapore. Three drivers representing Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore took turns behind the wheel of a Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, using the seamless and ultra-rapid charging capabilities of the Shell Recharge High Performance Charging (HPC) network – implemented by Shell in collaboration with Porsche using ABB-supplied chargers – to complete the journey from Bang Yai, the outskirts of Bangkok, to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Timestamps along the way were authenticated by official timekeeper TAG Heuer, the Swiss luxury watchmaker driven by its deep ties with motor racing. The record time set at 29 hours and 15 minutes was certified by both the Singapore and Malaysia Book of Records.

Dubbed the “Taycan Record Run”, this feat was achieved by journalists Pholpat Salayakanond from Thailand, Pan Eu Jin from Malaysia and Desmond Chan from Singapore. The trio drove in shifts over the gruelling 1,845-kilometre route, stopping only for short charging intervals along the way. Throughout their journey, the Shell Recharge HPC network and its 180 to 360 kW ABB chargers provided convenient operation and ultra-rapid charging speeds, and thanks to the Porsche Taycan’s unique 800V charging architecture, each charging interval taken on this route lasted no more than 25 minutes on average.

The car chosen for this record run was the Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo – the marque’s first all-electric sports car. Elevated and unlike any other EV, the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is also optimally prepared for adventure with additional space and ground clearance. Following a free software update in 2022, the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, with Performance Battery Plus, also benefits from an improved WLTP-rated electric range of up to 512 kilometres, thanks to innovative thermal energy management, selective front electric motor de-coupling and improved recuperation strategies.

The three drivers’ electrifying trail into the record books began in the dark, early the next morning on 18 July 2023, as the Taycan was brought to the starting point: a Shell Recharge station at Bang Yai, on the outskirts of Bangkok. After topping up the car using ABB’s fastest 360 kW DC charger at this station, at exactly 04:00 AM local time, official timekeepers TAG Heuer started the clock, and the participants silently cruised out of the station, on their way toward Singapore.

Given the unpredictability of the route ahead, drivers were assured knowing that the car would be able to handle any road condition – and with the car’s navigation pointed straight out of Bangkok, the three voyagers made haste to the first pit stop on their route, as their first sunrise greeted them at Hua Hin.

Along the way, the car was kept within all prevailing speed limits, so as not to invalidate the record or increase the drain on the car’s battery. No additional charging benefits were accorded to the participants on this record run, and the three journalists made use of the existing special benefits accorded to all Porsche owners on the Shell Recharge HPC network, reserving their next chargers up to 60 minutes ahead of their arrival.

En route south through the Thai peninsula in bright daylight, the car’s special 75th anniversary livery caught plenty of attention from fellow road users. Friendly well-wishes about the journey were received at every charging stop, as the car made its way quickly through its checkpoints in Thailand, from Chumphon to Nakhon Si Thammarat, and further south into Hat Yai. By nightfall, the trio smoothly passed customs at the Sadao border, making a beeline to their mid-point, the first checkpoint in Malaysia at Porsche Centre Penang.

Porsche Malaysia staff and TAG Heuer officials were on hand to certify the mid-point time: 17 hours and 55 minutes had elapsed since the trio emerged from the Shell station in Bang Yai. Recently upgraded twin-175kW DC chargers, bringing up to 350 kW at Porsche Centre Penang were immediately called to action, powering the Taycan from 5 to 80 per cent state-of-charge in less than 23 minutes. Whilst stopped, the participants had time for a quick night-time refresh, preparing for the journey ahead in the dark.

 

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Back on the road again, fatigue was truly settling in after more than 20 hours on the road with only limited rest in-between. Now, the Taycan’s safety assistance systems were called into play: Bright Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS+) LED headlights shone far ahead, while lane-keeping assistance kept the trio safe as they fought through their exhaustion to stay focused on the road ahead.

After another charging interval at the Shell Recharge Tapah south-bound lay-by, the Taycan made a vast, silent journey across the bulk of the Malaysian peninsula. The trio topped up for the last time at the Shell Recharge Tangkak south-bound charging station at the tip of the state of Johor, their last stop before heading into Singapore.

The three drivers drove past the Malaysia-Singapore border early on Wednesday morning, despite an administrative challenge at the Tuas checkpoint, thanks to a back-up Taycan Cross Turismo was activated.

The travellers made their way across Tuas Checkpoint and into Singapore under torrential skies, but there would be no rain on their parade. The trio were on the last segment of their journey across the Ayer-Rajah Expressway, just outside of the Marina Coastal Expressway, the Taycan indicated left to exit.

At 10:15 AM, the car pulled up to the finishing line – the SG50 Lattice structure within the picturesque grounds at Gardens by the Bay. With the iconic skyline of modern Singapore in the background, the record-setting Taycan arrived triumphantly, and its drivers were welcomed by the media, Porsche staff and event partners, as well as officials from the Singapore and Malaysia Book of Records.

After a celebratory announcement, TAG Heuer timekeepers authenticated the timing sheets for the entire journey, and the numbers were keyed in: 29 hours and 15 minutes. Representatives from the Singapore Book of Records, Porsche Singapore and Shell handed the certificates to the three drivers, officially confirming that they had completed the fastest single journey in an EV from Thailand to Singapore. The Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo and its three drivers are now pioneers in the history books.

 

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