Electric sports car Piëch GT starts the test phase

Electric sports car Piëch GT starts the test phase

Piëch Automotive AG is opening a new chapter in the testing phase of the Piëch GT electric sports car project. "Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, we managed to overcome the resulting delays and keep our project fully on track. The previous financing rounds were successful, and we can now confidently move forward towards market launch," emphasizes Toni Piëch, co-founder and CEO of Piëch Automotive.

Technical update

The battery and battery cell technology of the Piëch GT has undergone a significant innovation. “Thanks to close cooperation with partners in China and Europe, a solution was found that enabled full charging in less than five minutes,” explains Klaus Schmidt, head of the development team. With a view to later series production and shorter procurement routes for the charging stations, Piëch has decided to relocate the development of the battery cell, which originally began in China, geographically closer to Europe and to advance it with German partners.

Thanks to the new charging concept, the Piëch GT (which was still called Piëch Mark Zero in the concept phase) can be charged to 80 percent in eight minutes at any CCS2 fast charging station. A quick charger specially developed by TGOOD enables this process to be carried out in less than five minutes, as the company has now announced. “These are absolutely impressive values,” emphasizes Schmidt, visibly proud of the latest stage of battery cell development.

Under 3 seconds to 100 km/h

Thanks to the compact and robust pouch cells, not only is thermal management easier, but the targeted curb weight of under 1,800 kilograms enables the Piëch GT, in combination with its around 450 KW (611 HP), to accelerate from zero to one hundred in less than 3.0 seconds. "The pouch cells we use are clearly the future - both in terms of weight and in terms of quick-charging capability. And we are particularly pleased that the battery developed specifically for Piëch can easily be used in series production," explains Schmidt. The Piëch GT has a purely electric range of 500 kilometers according to WLTP. 

The new Piëch GT is intended to convincingly transport the genes of a classic sports car into the electric age, according to the company's claim. To make this possible, a synchronous motor on the front axle produces 150 kW, while two synchronous motors on the rear axle, each with 150 kW of power, provide additional thrust - sports car feeling guaranteed! The arrangement of the batteries (part is housed in the center tunnel, the rest on the rear axle) enables a similar axle load distribution and driving behavior that was previously only reserved for sports cars with combustion engines. In contrast to the widespread underfloor arrangement, the package enables a low seating position typical of sports cars as well as precise handling with immediate feedback to the driver.

The second prototype will be completed by next March, with another series of several prototypes to follow in 2022. Then an extensive testing phase follows. The start of series production is scheduled for 2024. When it comes to sales, they want to rely on around 60 of their own, authentic brand stores and not on a conventional franchise system. The aim is to offer buyers a real brand and product experience right from the start.