Detlev von Platen, former president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, is passionate about the future of cars and respecting the legend of Porsche. “Our founder (Ferry Porsche) said that the last car on earth will be a sports car,” says von Platen. “Innovation is in our name, and we created a sports car of the future. It’s not just fuel efficient, we have intelligent performance.”
Now with three plug-in hybrids in its line, Porsche is leading the pack for premium hybrids with the new Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid and updated Panamera S E-Hybrid. As von Platen explains, that one of the drivers behind Porsche’s hybrid vehicles is the result of low emission zones: “Nearly 200 cities and towns in nine countries around Europe set Low Emission Zones (LEZs) to help meet EU air quality values,” he says. “Our hybrid owners are connoisseurs and socially responsible; and we’re very proud to lead the effort to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions in a performance based sports car.”
In Porsche’s home country of Germany, there are currently 71 LEZs in operation. When asked if Porsche will eventually convert their entire line to hybrid, von Platen is diplomatic: “I believe hybrids will be more present 10 years from now.”