Porsche: Eco-chic ride brings high-speed thrills - The Green Voice

“This is the way of the world,” said Dwight Woodside, certified sales manager at Sewickley Porsche. “We see this as a great opportunity. We are taking that racing heritage of Porsche and putting it into our everyday cars.”

But  there was nothing ordinary about this day or experience as I got behind  the wheel of the new Taycan. One couldn’t help feeling like a boss  behind the wheel of this six-figure stunner. The dashboard lit up almost  as brightly as I did as they walked me through the intricacies and  incredible features of this car. Too warm? Just say “I’m hot” and the  air conditioner turns on. The seat adjusts to you perfectly, with lower  lumbar support and even more support against your knees. Adjust the  steering wheel, decide if you want to be in sport mode or eco-chic mode  and you are ready to go.

“It’s just like when we transitioned  from horse and buggy to car. Going from the old ways of how we drove to  electric will take a little adjusting, but once you get comfortable with  it, you just go,” added Woodside.

And he was right. Within  minutes, I felt more at ease and the car’s intuitive nature was a big  part of that. When I hit the highway — bam! Literally one heartbeat and I  went from zero to 60 (OK 70 mph if my mom isn’t reading this) so  smoothly it felt like I was flying. But that was all part of the grand  design, after a billion dollar investment to get this car right.

“We  know this is a want, not a need. This is different from Tesla. This has  the soul of a Porsche and that is hard to quantify,” said Woodside.

It  was further evident when you drove it. While it may be out of my price  range, with the base model starting at $80,000 and going up to $200,000,  the event was to bring awareness that Porsche is leading the pack when  it comes to new electric models. For anyone that came to test drive the  model, they donated to the Fern Hollow Nature Center, a beloved space in Sewickley.

Since  1997, the Center has been a valuable educational and environmental  resource in the community. With over 8,000 visitors each year, the  Center provides the community with unique learning opportunities and a  wonderful facility for events.

“We think Fern Hollow is a great  organization and we value our place in the community,” said Woodside.  “Having this view of nature and wanting to be committed to the future,  we are showing that you can adapt this into your modern life. It is neat  to see the worlds collide in a way that is environmentally sound,” he  added.

The benefits of having a green ride can’t be understated.  Electric cars produce no air pollution. No gas means removing yourself  from that industry. Electric cars cost one-third less to run than  hitting up a gas station and you can charge them at home. More people  buying electric means we will see more stations pop up across the  country.  

A green ride puts a smile on your face, but cruising  down the highway in that Taycan? I’m electrified — and still smiling  days later.