Wireless charging for the 2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric

Yes, still A prototype, but Porsche is finally letting people experience what its next electric car will be like when it reaches production next year. We got a briefing on the underpinnings of the Cayenne Electric’s new architecture, got a peek at the ultra-luxurious interior, and witnessed a few hot laps led by one of Porsche’s professional drivers.

Charging plate.

Courtesy of Jeremy White

However, the highlight of the show was that there was nothing of the above, it was more about trying out the Cayenne Electric’s party trick and experiencing exactly how Porsche’s wireless charging system works with an electric car, and how ridiculously similar the process is to placing your phone on a Qi charging pad.

Reminiscent of BMW’s 3.2-kilowatt 2018 attempt, this new wireless version from Porsche is finally fit for purpose because it can charge at the rates you get from home wall chargers for electric vehicles — up to 11 kilowatts. This means that by simply moving the 50kg floor pad, owners will be able to get the SUV fully charged in 11 hours or so, saving the 108kWh battery power overnight without having to physically plug it in. (Porsche covered part of my travel expenses so I could see this in action.)

But how do you line up that floor pad and get it in the right place to start charging when you can’t see the black pad as it disappears out of your line of sight as you roll toward the pad? Porsche naturally sought to use the cabin’s central screen that transitions to a camera covered in red and green lines for guidance, as well as a green circle to help you reach the impressive 11-kilowatt charging point.

The vehicle provides visual clues to take you into the correct position.

Courtesy of Porsche