For years, Porsche has been criticized by environmentalists who claim the luxury automaker has a dismal record on fuel efficiency. Porsche’s first hybrid, the Cayenne sports utility vehicle—and other hybrids to come—represents an effort to respond to the negative publicity. The hybridizing of Porsche models will also help the company meet increasingly tighter standards on carbon emissions in the European Union.
Michael H. Leiters, head of Porsche’s hybrid program told that Porsche is trying to shake the company’s anti-green image. “If everyone is saying you are environmentally friendly, that is not good.” Leiters said that hybrids are the solution.
The Porsche Cayenne hybrid will join the Lexus 400h and the BMW X6 concept hybrid in the increasingly crowded luxury hybrid SUV market. The company has not added any specifics on a release date beyond “the end of the decade.” Pricing information is similarly vague. Yet, Wendelin Widedeking, chief executive at Porsche, indicated that the Porsche Panamera sedan will be next to feature a hybrid system.
The introduction of Porsche hybrids could be considered a homecoming. One of the earliest hybrids ever produced was designed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1900. The 25-year-old engineer, unknown at the time, had produced an electric car featuring battery-powered electric motors integrated directly into the front-wheel hubs. The vehicle became a hybrid when Porsche later added an internal combustion gasoline engine to drive a generator, which charged the batteries.
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