Kevin Giek, VP of the Taycan model line, wants you to arrive at a fast charger with 10% battery. Not 20, not 30. Ten.
The reasoning is simple physics: the current Taycan achieves up to 320 kW at 800-volt DC fast-charging stations, with 10-80% taking just 18 minutes. The charging plateau maintains speeds above 300 kW up to approximately 70%, then drops significantly past 80%. Arriving with less charge means spending more time in the high-power window.
The 80% Rule
Giek recommends charging only to what your next leg requires. "If the day's destination can be reached comfortably with 60 per cent, then I don't charge any further because it slows after that." The Porsche charging planner calculates whether multiple short stops or a single longer session minimizes total travel time, factoring in the charging curve's shape.
The Shared Charger Trap
Most EV owners have encountered this: you plug in at a 300 kW station and get 75 kW. Giek explains why. When two vehicles charge simultaneously at a single high-power station, available power often splits to "only 75 kW per side." The exception: Ionity and Porsche Charging Lounge stations, which maintain dedicated power delivery per stall.
The practical takeaway is worth the cost of an Ionity subscription or Porsche Charging Service membership. The difference between 75 kW and 320 kW is the difference between a 50-minute wait and an 18-minute stop.
