Porsche's iconic 911 will sole survivor of automaker's combustion models

Porsche intends to gradually electrify its lineup so that electric vehicles account for 80% of sales by 2030, leaving its iconic 911 as the only internal-combustion engine model standing.

Due to its investment in e-fuels and efforts to have the EU permit sales of such vehicles after 2035, the German luxury automaker's plans are being closely watched, including by environmentalists.

Due to an investment in Chilean energy company HIF Global, Porsche, which had not previously disclosed plans to eventually only offer one combustion-engine model, is perceived as being closely associated with e-fuels.

According to Porsche e-fuels team leader Karl Dums, the automaker will electrify its small SUV Macan first, then the 718 sports car, and finally the best-selling Cayenne. The 911 is the exception, with 13% of sales in 2022.

In the beginning, according to Dums, their strategy was to transition to electric mobility while continuing to produce the 911 with a combustion engine.

E-fuel is made from hydrogen that is produced from renewable resources and carbon dioxide that has been captured; as a result, it emits carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere after burning.

The aviation sector and large vehicles are the primary markets for HIF Global's e-fuel, according to Dums, who also noted that almost all passenger cars will eventually be electric.

Only specialized, expensive models will use e-fuels, according to business and automotive experts. Considering that major automakers have already invested $1.2 trillion in electrification, it is likely that they won't produce any new e-fuel models after 2035.

Ferrari, like Porsche, pushed for an exemption from EU e-fuel regulations; however, the exemption has not yet been finalized. Ferrari still claims that by 2030, 80% of its models will be electric or hybrid.