Header: Courtesy of Porsche
Porsche has just opened its newest exclusive Charging Lounge in Leonberg, near Stuttgart, making it the sixth of its kind. Just in time for the summer travel rush, this isn’t just a place to get a quick jolt for your electric Porsche; it’s designed to be a comfortable and thoughtfully crafted stop for drivers.
A smart stop for journeys big and small
The new Leonberg lounge is cleverly placed near the Leonberg junction, where the A8 and A81 motorways meet. This makes it an easy stop for people heading off on holiday or for business travelers going in any direction. Big cities like Stuttgart and Pforzheim are just a short drive away, about 15 and 25 kilometers respectively. This new location joins others in Germany (Bingen am Rhein, Estenfeld near Würzburg, Ingolstadt, and Hamburg) and one in Koblach, Austria.
Get back on the road, fast
At the Leonberg site, Porsche owners will find six powerful DC fast-charging points. These can deliver up to 400 kW of power. What does that mean for your car? A newer Taycan, for example, can go from a nearly empty battery (10 percent) to 80 percent charged in about 18 minutes. The electric Macan isn’t far behind, taking around 21 minutes for the same charge. So, it’s a quick pit stop.
Comfort and conveniences while you wait
Porsche wants the charging break to be enjoyable. Outside, there are seating areas with built-in speakers. Step inside, and you’ll find comfy lounge chairs, a good selection of soft drinks and snacks, a coffee machine, and a water dispenser. There are also modern restrooms and strong Wi-Fi. A nice touch is the view of the surrounding countryside.
A greener approach to building
Working with Studio F.A. Porsche, the company has come up with a smart way to build these lounges. The Leonberg station, like the one in Hamburg, uses this new modular concept. This means all Porsche Charging Lounges share a recognizable design style but can be adjusted to fit the specific piece of land they are on. It also means they can be expanded if needed.
While the base is concrete, the main parts of the building are mostly made of steel, stainless steel, wood, and stone. A partner company in Baden-Württemberg makes these modules using electricity from renewable sources. The lounge uses a heat pump for heating and cooling. Solar panels on the roof provide some of the electricity, and a digital building management system helps save energy by, for example, dimming the lights automatically when no one is around.
Finding and using the lounge is simple
Finding these Porsche Charging Lounges is straightforward. They show up in the car’s navigation system (Porsche Communication Management) and in the My Porsche app with a special gold-colored icon. To get into the charging area and the lounge itself, you need a Porsche ID. If your car’s license plate is linked to your Porsche ID, the barrier opens automatically thanks to license plate recognition. You can save your car’s registration number in the My Porsche app. Alternatively, you can use a Porsche Charging Card or a QR code from the app. When you’re done charging, the cost is handled through the Porsche Charging Service. You can also pay on the spot if you prefer.
Part of a growing charging world
The Porsche Charging Service gives access to many charging points from different providers around the globe. Right now, that’s over 900,000 charging points in more than 25 countries in Europe alone. Nearly 75,000 of these are fast DC chargers with over 150 kW. This includes the IONITY network, which has over 740 fast-charging sites. Aral pulse is another key partner, adding over 3,000 fast-charging points in Germany. Porsche Charging Service Plus customers even get better rates at Aral pulse stations, paying €0.39/kWh instead of the standard €0.69/kWh.
This new Leonberg lounge is a clear example of how Porsche is thinking about the entire electric car experience, combining speed with a well-designed, comfortable environment.
