Porsche sued in US over slow, overheating EV chargers

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the lawsuit targets the Porsche Mobile Charger Plus (PMC+) and Porsche Mobile Charger Connect (PMCC). Both models are marketed as convenient home charging options for Porsche owners, capable of fully charging a vehicle in 9.5 to 10.5 hours when connected to an outlet providing at least 40 amps, as reported by Carscoops.

However, according to Road & Track, plaintiffs Paul Herdtner, who owns a 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S and a PMCC, and John Holby, who purchased a 2021 Taycan Turbo and a PMC+, claim the devices overheat during use, pose a potential fire risk, and often take nearly twice as long to fully charge a vehicle.

The Porsche Taycan Turbo. Photo from Instagram

"Taycan and E-Hybrid owners and lessees choose to purchase or lease the cars in part because they expect to be able to charge them in a reasonable amount of time, as PCNA’s marketing and technical materials state," the lawsuit states, as quoted by Road & Track. "The inability to rapidly charge a Taycan or E-Hybrid model at home severely hampers the owner or lessee’s ability to use and enjoy the car on a regular basis."

The filing also alleges that Porsche has long been aware of the issue but has failed to address it or issue a "recall, repair, replacement, or other program."

The plaintiffs are seeking chargers that perform at the advertised capacity or full reimbursement for the cost of purchasing or leasing the PMC+ and PMCC devices. The lawsuit also demands actual, discretionary, and punitive damages, and requests a jury trial.

In 2023, the German automaker settled a similar lawsuit over allegedly defective home chargers by reimbursing customers and introducing an updated model equipped with a temperature sensor.