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.
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.
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.
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.
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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