Porsche Electric Car: A Legacy of Innovation from the Semper Vivus to Today

Porsche, a name synonymous with high-performance and groundbreaking automotive engineering, boasts a history deeply rooted in electric mobility. Long before the current wave of electric vehicles, Ferdinand Porsche, the company’s founder, was pioneering electric and hybrid technology at the dawn of the 20th century. His most remarkable creation from this era was the Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus, recognized as the world’s first functional hybrid car. This visionary vehicle, conceived over a century ago, not only showcased Porsche’s innovative spirit but also laid the foundation for the electric and hybrid vehicles we see today. Recently, Porsche has meticulously recreated the Semper Vivus, paying homage to its heritage and reaffirming its commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive technology. This faithful replica is a testament to Porsche’s enduring legacy of innovation, now brought to life for modern audiences.

The Dawn of Electric Mobility: The Lohner-Porsche Era

Ferdinand Porsche’s foray into automotive design began in 1896, and by 1900, he had already unveiled his first electric vehicle, the Lohner-Porsche. This groundbreaking car was propelled by innovative wheel-hub motors driving the front wheels, a sensation at the Paris World Exhibition of 1900. This electric marvel quickly evolved to include all-wheel drive and four-wheel brakes, further establishing Porsche as a pioneer in automotive technology.

The Lohner-Porsche wasn’t just an electric car; it was a platform for relentless innovation. Building upon this success, Porsche conceived an even more ambitious project: integrating a petrol engine with his battery-powered wheel hub drive. This revolutionary idea, born in 1900, marked the genesis of the serial hybrid drive principle and culminated in the Semper Vivus – a vehicle that would redefine automotive possibilities.

Semper Vivus: The World’s First Functional Hybrid Car

The Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus, meaning “Always Alive” in Latin, was truly ahead of its time. Ferdinand Porsche ventured into uncharted territory by creating the world’s first functional, full-hybrid car. In this groundbreaking vehicle, two generators, each paired with a petrol engine, acted as a single charging unit. This unit simultaneously supplied electricity to the wheel-hub motors and recharged the batteries, ensuring continuous operation.

To realize this ambitious concept, Porsche ingeniously adapted his electric racing vehicle from the Semmering-Bergrennen race. He combined electric wheel-hub motors with two combustion engines, eliminating any mechanical connection to a drive axle. Instead, each engine powered an electric generator, supplying both the wheel-hub motors and accumulators with electricity. This ingenious system gave birth to the serial hybrid drive. The Semper Vivus, as a full hybrid, could also travel considerable distances solely on battery power, engaging the combustion engine only when needed to recharge the batteries. This capability highlighted the vehicle’s efficiency and forward-thinking design.

To optimize weight and accommodate the petrol engine, Porsche replaced the original heavy battery with a smaller, lighter unit. He then installed two water-cooled DeDion Bouton petrol engines in the vehicle’s center, each driving a generator to produce electricity. This setup allowed for independent operation of the engines, each contributing to the power supply. The generated electricity flowed to the wheel-hub motors, with surplus power directed to the batteries. Furthermore, the generators could also function as electric starter motors for the petrol engines by reversing rotation, showcasing the system’s integrated design.

Despite its groundbreaking technology, the Semper Vivus faced challenges. The vehicle’s weight, a persistent issue with wheel-hub motor cars, remained substantial. While the hybrid version added only slightly to the original weight, the 1,200 kg prototype strained the pneumatic tires of the era. The hybrid concept, while visionary, was not yet refined for mass production. The exposed engines, basic chassis, and complex interaction of engine, batteries, and control systems required further development. Nevertheless, the Semper Vivus undeniably demonstrated the immense potential of hybrid technology and inspired Porsche to continue pushing the boundaries of automotive innovation.

From Semper Vivus to the Lohner-Porsche Mixte: Towards Production

Driven by the promise of his hybrid concept, Ferdinand Porsche refined the design, leading to the Lohner-Porsche Mixte in 1901. Mixte, derived from the French term for “mixed,” aptly described this “petrol-electric hybrid car”. This model adopted a more conventional front-engine layout, similar to the Mercedes vehicles designed by Wilhelm Maybach, but retained the serial hybrid concept with two wheel-hub motors.

For the Mixte, Porsche employed a powerful 5.5-liter, 25-hp four-cylinder engine from Austrian Daimler as an electrical generator. This engine connected to the generator under the seat via a driveshaft, with a primary controller near the steering wheel for managing the system. Porsche continuously worked to reduce vehicle weight, minimizing battery size and developing dust-proof battery housings. While the Lohner-Porsche Mixte’s reduced battery capacity limited its pure electric range, the overall weight of the four-seat touring car decreased to around 1,200 kg. In typical operation, the petrol engine and generator maintained a constant speed, supplying a consistent voltage to the wheel-hub motors and battery. Beyond efficiency, the Mixte offered the advantage of using the generator as an electric starter motor, eliminating the cumbersome and dangerous hand-cranking of engines.

Despite its advancements, the Lohner-Porsche Mixte remained an exclusive and expensive vehicle, limiting its sales. However, it marked a significant step forward in hybrid technology and showcased Porsche’s relentless pursuit of innovation.

The Legacy of Innovation: Semper Vivus Recreation and Modern Porsche Hybrids

The groundbreaking spirit of the Semper Vivus continues to inspire Porsche today. In 2007, the Porsche Museum embarked on an ambitious project: recreating a faithful replica of the 1900 Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus. This undertaking, completed after three years of meticulous work, was not merely about visual replication but about achieving the original vehicle’s functionality.

The project relied on limited historical resources, including black-and-white photos and a single technical drawing. Experts meticulously researched and calculated to recreate components like the electric wheel-hub motor from scratch. Coachbuilder Hubert Drescher and his team employed traditional techniques and materials reminiscent of early 20th-century carriages, sourcing specialized materials to ensure authenticity. The fully functional replica incorporates some original components, including combustion engines, further bridging the past and present.

Today, Ferdinand Porsche’s legacy of innovation thrives at Porsche AG’s Research and Development Center in Weissach, Germany. Porsche continues to develop advanced hybrid systems, evident in models like the Cayenne S Hybrid and Panamera S Hybrid. The pioneering work on the Semper Vivus laid the groundwork for Porsche’s current endeavors in electric mobility, culminating in vehicles like the all-electric Porsche Taycan and the plug-in hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder. From the Semper Vivus to the Taycan, Porsche’s journey exemplifies a century-long commitment to pushing automotive boundaries and driving the future of electric and hybrid vehicles.