--- title: "718 Porsche Boxster, Cayman Will Go Electric in Early 2020s, Hybrids Possible: Report" description: "A Porsche executive has reportedly admitted there to be an electric 718 prototype running around with a hybrid also in the works." date: "2019-04-23" modified: "2019-04-23" authors: - name: "James Gilboy" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/27612/718-porsche-boxster-cayman-will-go-electric-in-early-2020s-hybrids-possible-report" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Electric Vehicles" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Porsche News" tags: - "718 Boxster" - "Convertible" - "Electric Vehicle" - "porsche" - "sports car" --- # 718 Porsche Boxster, Cayman Will Go Electric in Early 2020s, Hybrids Possible: Report ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* Porsche's entry-level 718 sports car twins, the Boxster and Cayman, will reportedly go electric in the early 2020s, but it won't yet mean a phaseout of their combustion-powered twins. These electric 718s will be built on the Porsche PPE platform, claims [*Autocar*](), adding that Porsche chose to re-platform the electric 718s because the current chassis can't accommodate batteries large enough to meet Porsche's goal of 186 miles (300 kilometers) of range. PPE is Porsche's new electric-only architecture and will be used for the Taycan sedan as well as its high-riding Cross Turismo derivative, the [electric Macan crossover](), and even an Audi product, the E-Tron GT. Electric, PPE-based Boxsters and Caymans are said to be coming by 2022, but this won't necessarily mean the current generation of cars will be retired by then. Porsche is reportedly considering a hybridization program for the current Boxster and Cayman, which would see the models sold in both mild and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) formats alongside the PPE-based electric models, akin to [similar plans rumored for the Macan](). Hybrid drivetrains for these models would reportedly be based on a solution developed for the upcoming [992-generation 911 hybrid](), and involve sliding a disc-shaped 48-volt electric motor between the 718's flat-four and a modified dual-clutch transmission. On the mild hybrid 718s, this motor would provide increased performance and efficiency but no electric-only driving mode, whereas the PHEV would have a battery large enough to drive on electric power for short trips. Porsche chairman Oliver Blume allegedly confirmed the existence of electric 718 prototypes and a program that's building hybrid versions of the sports cars. "We have prototypes of the 718 running in electric now, and a hybrid prototype is being built," Blume reportedly told *Autocar*. "If you look to the next generation of those cars it is possible, although it is not yet clear whether it would be plug-in hybrid or hybrid." Porsche has insisted that [the iconic 911 will never be made into an electric-only model]() if it has its way, though Porsche hasn't counted out "electrified" hybrid models. Gasoline hardliners can take comfort in knowing that a hybrid 911 is still some time out and won't be launched until Porsche thinks it's good enough. ## Author James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids." ### Author social links [Instagram]()