In an effort to demonstrate that it is possible to go on a road trip in an EV from Penang to Johor without any issues, race driver Leona Chin, fashion designer Celest Thoi, restauranteur Jen Tang, jewelry designer Yinn Ooi, and content creator Beng Lim undertook a 12-hour, emission-free expedition in the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and the Taycan Cross Turismo recently.
The group set off on their Taycan trip across the North-South Expressway, through seven states and parallel trunk roads, accompanied by picturesque greenery landscapes and iconic landmarks.
After setting off from Johor, the group cruised along the long, straight roads of the initial stretch of the North-South Expressway. While experiencing the smooth ride of the Taycan, the group enjoyed their favourite road trip playlists through the Porsche Communication Management system, which seamlessly integrates Apple Music and Spotify.
The first stop of the trip took place at Shell Recharge Pagoh. Here, the group had their first experience of the Porsche-Shell High Performance Charging (HPC) network, with charging stations strategically located for smooth electric journeys along Malaysia’s North-South Expressway and beyond into Singapore and Thailand. This makes it the longest EV-ready highway route in all of Southeast Asia.
Thanks to the Taycan’s fast charging capabilities, the ladies only had to take a quick breather. As the first production vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts instead of the usual 400 volts for electric cars, the Taycan features a charging time from 5 to 80 percent SoC (State of Charge) in just 22.5 minutes under ideal conditions. With just 10 minutes at a fast charger, more than 100km of range can easily be gained.
The road trip saw the group entering the Titiwangsa mountain range, also known as the “spine of peninsular Malaysia.” The Porsche Connect app and Apple CarPlay guided the group through navigated routes, as they got to know one another better and took inspiration from like-minded individuals with big dreams.
While the Taycans had more than enough range to carry on with the journey, it was soon time for the group to recharge themselves. The former Straits Settlement of Melaka has proven to be an ideal stop, with its enchanting historical architecture and renowned Peranakan cuisine.
The two Taycans navigated through traffic to Jonker Street via Ayer Keroh, as they were eventually rewarded for their willingness to brave the narrow Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock with elusive parking spaces in front of Casa Del Rio Melaka.
It was soon time to depart from the “Venice of the East,” for a quick stop at Shell Seremban and back on the North-South highway for the longest single stretch of the journey – past Kuala Lumpur all the way up to Perak in the North.
With the terrain gradually changing around them, the group made their way through Negeri Sembilan to the bustling capital, Kuala Lumpur. In the Taycan Cross Turismo, the passengers took in the views of the Twin Towers and other skyscrapers through the panoramic roof, as they enjoyed the additional headroom with plenty of space for their belongings thanks to a maximum luggage compartment capacity of more than 1,200 litres. In no time, the city was behind them.
After passing by the renowned Ipoh signage by the highway, the cars made their final charging stop at Shell Simpang Pulai. Having enjoyed iced lattes to cool off in the warm weather, it was back into the saddle as the group journeyed northward through Perak.
Towering limestone formations greeted them on winding stretches of road, allowing the two Taycans to show off their driving dynamics and sportiness.
The journey drew to an end as both the Taycans crossed the iconic Penang Bridge under the night sky, with the Andaman Sea shimmering under the lights of the bridge. It was a fitting end to the cross-country journey in the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Cross Turismo.
Now that Porsche has shared how it is possible to travel from Penang to Johor in an EV, where to charge, where to stop, and whatnot, those interested can follow the plan above and try it out yourselves.
