Porsche adds standard 22kW AC charging to Macan

For the new model year, Porsche is adding a 22 kW onboard AC charger as standard to the Macan GTS and Macan Turbo. The Macan, Macan 4 and Macan 4S will continue with 11 kW as standard, although buyers can specify the 22 kW charger as an option.

Where 22 kW makes a difference

A 22 kW AC connection is most useful when a car will be parked for a few hours rather than overnight. That makes it a good fit for workplaces, hotels, leisure sites and public car parks where installing a DC rapid charger may be unnecessary or too expensive.

Based on the Macan’s roughly 95 kWh usable battery, a full charge would take about four hours 20 minutes at 22 kW in ideal conditions, compared with eight hours 40 minutes at 11 kW. Real sessions will take longer because of charging losses, and most drivers will not arrive with an empty battery.

A 22 kW chargepoint will not always deliver 22 kW. The actual rate depends on the vehicle, cable and available site power. At workplaces, hotels and public car parks, load management may reduce the output when several vehicles are charging or other demands on the site are high. Most UK homes have a single-phase electricity supply, so home charging is likely to be capped at around 7.4 kW. This makes the Macan’s 22 kW upgrade less important for drivers who charge primarily at home.

Why 22 kW availability remains inconsistent

Manufacturers have introduced 22 kW AC charging sporadically. Some fit it as standard, some offer it as an option and many continue to use 11 kW. Availability can also change between models, trim levels and model years.

There is a practical reason for this. An 11 kW charger is usually sufficient when a vehicle is parked overnight, while manufacturers have put more emphasis on improving DC charging for long journeys. The case for 22 kW is strongest at destinations with three-phase power and dwell times of a few hours.

Porsche’s revised Macan range reflects that mixed approach. The faster AC charger should be valuable to drivers who regularly use compatible workplace or destination charging, but it will make little difference to owners who normally plug into a 7 kW home unit overnight. All Macan versions continue to support DC charging at up to 270 kW for faster stops on longer journeys.