Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022

[tigerbalm]

Thanks @Bigben for the photos in the chunnel train. Very helpful information and context to have. We randomly made the right decision on our way over here – at least we'll make a more informed one on the way back!

Sponsored

 

[AlbyVaz]

Good photos! Thanks, for sharing

 

[B61]

Good photos! Thanks, for sharing

Agreed.
it counts who stands behind the camera, but it’s easier if one stands behind Leica

 

[Throb]

Thanks @Bigben for the photos in the chunnel train. Very helpful information and context to have. We randomly made the right decision on our way over here – at least we'll make a more informed one on the way back!

Fantastic photos to demonstrate how narrow the regular double-deck carriages are on the Eurotunnel trains. Thanks for posting @Bigben

That appears to be an E70 X5, which is 1,933 mm wide. The Taycan is actually wider than that at 1,966 mm, so you would have even less room in a Taycan.

 

[SwissTaycan]

Even the "basic" rooms in this hotel are comfortable and spacious.

Alas not “basic” prices by any stretch! I think only Bürgenstock close to Luzern tops them in all of Switzerland.
P.S. Try the Japanese restaurant.. It is impressive although one is in the alps.

 

[proficient_mathematician]

Thanks for these trip narratives, they're a brilliant piece of escapism in between scrolling through threads of delivery delays (admittedly not that consequential in the grand scheme of things) and actual news of war and energy crises...

Makes one want to set on a similar voyage, I just fear my attention span would run out planning for charging stops, border crossings, hotels etc! You guys must spend ages setting everything up so the trip goes smoothly.

 

[tigerbalm]

Day 12: Mountain Passes near Andermatt (Switzerland) [Rest & Driving Day]

Today was planned as a bit of a rest day – so we hung around our hotel all morning but got an itch to drive a nearby mountain pass or two by midday. So we called for our car at 14:30 and set off to explore some of the local area.

As we want to approach the Gotthard Pass from the south – we take the 17 km long Gotthard Tunnel – to position ourselves correctly.

Like last time we were in the tunnel – the ambient temperature half way – always surprises us – today it was 38C degrees.

Popping out at just the right place to start our southernly climb.

Seeking out the Tremola – the second time this car has been on it!

With the start of the cobblestone surface indicating we're in for a treat.

The climb starts off easily enough.

But we're soon into the famous hairpin bends.

The road is very quiet today and we have it to ourselves.

Giving us plenty of time to stop off and admire the view (of our car - haha).

Until we reach the top of St Gotthard at just over 2000 meters.

We grab some lunch of sausage and bread with mustard and continue onto our next waypoint – Furkapass.

Where we pick up some classic cars – a Rover (inclusive of plenty of white exhaust smoke), Aston Martin DB7 and many others.

And some woolly sheep on the road – a sight very familiar on Irish roads.

Reaching the top – where the weather was very clear – last time we were here it was raining and misty.

And a good view of the other side of the pass.

Caused all the classic cars to stop for pictures – and of course a bloody recreational vehicle!

We start heading down.

Where we are straight onto the next pass – Grimselpass – this is epic – the passes are just lining up back-to-back.

As we climb up we can see others climb down from Furkapass on the right – just like we did a short time ago.

As we reach the top – we climb into the clouds

With visibility quickly reducing.

We pull over to soak up the atmosphere – and discover what the "fog lights" on the Taycan actually look like.

And the mist lifts as quickly as it descended – with visibility sweeping across and revealing a lake that is on this peak.

The classic cars never far behind us!

Time to leave – and turn off the fog lights.

Impressive hydro-electric dam infrastructure beside us on our descent.

Lots of little tunnels constructed in the 1980s.

We stop off at the little town of Innertkirchen for a quick comfort break – great public facilities here.

As this was supposed to be a rest day – its time to head back to Andermatt – and the best way is over one final mountain pass – Sustenpass.

Climbing high enough to see some glaciers.

Okay, enough stops – lets get home!

Gaining 9% of battery on the long descent back down to 1000 meters.

Arriving back to The Chedi in Andermatt with 51% battery for a full 22kW destination charge in a light rain.

The days charging stats:

Location	Start SOC %	End SOC %	kWh added	Cost	Duration	Ambient Temp	Battery Temp	Charger Type	Network
Andermatt	51%	100%	41.00	€0	2h 12m	19.5	34	AC 22 kW	Hotel

Today we did 179 km over 5:04 hours, with an average speed of 36 km/h, consuming 22.9 kWh/100km.

 

[tigerbalm]

Day 13: Andermatt (Switzerland) -> Stuttgart (Germany)

Today we start our long journey back to Ireland – heading in a mostly northerly direction. We checked out of our hotel with a full destination charge and a healthy dent in our accommodation budget!

Heading back the way we came into Andermatt – over the Oberalppass.

We're aware that we'll miss the alps as we descend down below 500 meters for the first time in a few days.

We drive along the border with Liechtenstein without crossing into it.

But we do cross into Austria – again – for short period.

We're only in Austria for a few kilometres before we cross into Germany – where we'll be for the next few days.

We stop off in the town of Friedrichshafen – on the shore of Lake Constance – where we park in an underground car park – and plug in for a 22 kW charge.

We're heading to the nearby Zepplin Museum – where we get to admire this 1938 Maybach.

And get to experience mockup's of a 1930's Zeplin.

Both externally.

And internally as a passenger would have.

The most infamous Zeplin of them all – Hindenburg.

Afterwards – we eat a late lunch in the afternoon sun.

While we see a real-life blimp float on by.

Arriving back to a fully charged car. We spend just over an hour and a half in a museum and eating food – and got a meaningful top-up from a public parking AC charger.

This is where the optional 22kW AC charger really delivers value.

As we now leave Friedrichshafen with a full battery – we don't need to stop at any IONITY stations today.

We get stuck behind some traffic – but actually get to enjoy it.

And continue on the two hour slog into Stuttgart.

Where we hit some heavy rain and thunderstorms – and more traffic.

Before parking up outside our hotel for tonight.

Tomorrow is a dedicated Porsche Day – with a Taycan Factory Tour and a Dinner & Drinks reception at Restaurant Christophorus (menu attached) – kindly organised by Porsche Centre Dublin.

The days charging stats:

Location	Start SOC %	End SOC %	kWh added	Cost	Duration	Ambient Temp	Battery Temp	Charger Type	Network
Friedrichshafen	63%	100%	34.00	€18.41	1h 43m	25.0	35	AC 22 kW	Hotel

Today we did 430 km over 6:31 hours, with an average speed of 67 km/h, consuming 17.2 kWh/100km.

 

[tigerbalm]

Museum receipt today had a public key, hashing algorithm and more on it.

Never seen that on a receipt before!

 

[Throb]

Tomorrow is a dedicated Porsche Day – with a Taycan Factory Tour and a Dinner & Drinks reception at Restaurant Christophorus (menu attached) – kindly organised by Porsche Centre Dublin.

The days charging stats:

Location	Start SOC %	End SOC %	kWh added	Cost	Duration	Ambient Temp	Battery Temp	Charger Type	Network
Friedrichshafen	63%	100%	34.00	€18.41	1h 43m	25.0	35	AC 22 kW	Hotel

Today we did 430 km over 6:31 hours, with an average speed of 67 km/h, consuming 17.2 kWh/100km.

Great trip report, as usual. I'm loving it.

I was at the Porsche Museum last week and I used the free Porsche chargers in the underground car park below the museum to fully charge my...BMW 330e Touring.

So, yeah, if you happen to read this before you get there, use the free Porsche chargers if you can.

I'm jealous you're doing the Taycan factory tour. They don't offer it in August so I missed out.

I'm in Maastricht, Netherlands, so I suspect you'll drive pretty close to me on your way to Calais.

Enjoy the day today!

 

[tigerbalm]

Thanks @Throb – we used them last year when we were here:

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/western-europe-taycan-road-trip-report.6491/post-95037

Car is currently at 39% state of charge in anticipation. Thought – at least last year – only supplied power at 11kW – half the speed of the Mercedes-Benz museum!

I'm in Maastricht, Netherlands, so I suspect you'll drive pretty close to me on your way to Calais.

We're going home via Luxembourg and then Bruges in Belgium so will lean a little west of Maastricht. Thought we nearly crossed into Netherlands on our way here. I always forget how much Netherlands "sticks into" Belgium around Maastricht!

My co-driver and I lived in the small town of Noordwijkerhout years ago – still have fond memories of cycling from there to Leiden.

 

[tigerbalm]

Porsche Factory Tour – unfortunately, but unsurprisingly we won't be able to bring a camera in. But we will be keeping a keen eye out – especially as we are due to have a Turbo S coming down the line next month.

In particular, we're interested to see if we see 12-volt batteries in the cars on the line. Let us know if you want us to look out for or ask any questions!

In the absence of photos – we do plan on writing up a detailed post about the experience and what we observe.

The only similar tour like this in a factory we've ever been to was Boeing in Seattle.

 

[Throb]

Thanks @Throb – we used them last year when we were here:

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/western-europe-taycan-road-trip-report.6491/post-95037

Car is currently at 39% state of charge in anticipation. Thought – at least last year – only supplied power at 11kW – half the speed of the Mercedes-Benz museum!

Great! The 330e can only take 3.7 kW, but we still managed to get a full charge from empty, what with it only being a 12.0 kWh battery (gross).

We're going home via Luxembourg and then Bruges in Belgium so will lean a little west of Maastricht. Thought we nearly crossed into Netherlands on our way here. I always forget how much Netherlands "sticks into" Belgium around Maastricht!

My co-driver and I lived in the small town of Noordwijkerhout years ago – still have fond memories of cycling from there to Leiden.

I guess you went along the E40 just north of Liege?

I used to live in Luxembourg. I loved it.

Porsche Factory Tour – unfortunately, but unsurprisingly we won't be able to bring a camera in. But we will be keeping a keen eye out – especially as we are due to have a Turbo S coming down the line next month.

In particular, we're interested to see if we see 12-volt batteries in the cars on the line. Let us know if you want us to look out for or ask any questions!

In the absence of photos – we do plan on writing up a detailed post about the experience and what we observe.

The only similar tour like this in a factory we've ever been to was Boeing in Seattle.

It would be great if you did give us some feedback on the 12V batteries. My Taycan RWD is due to be built this week. Dolomite Silver with full blackberry, if you keep a lookout.

I've done the BMW factory tour in Munich, which was very good indeed. Also the Boeing tour in Seattle, and the Airbus tour in Toulouse. Both were fab too.

 

[xy911jk]

In particular, we're interested to see if we see 12-volt batteries in the cars on the line. Let us know if you want us to look out for or ask any questions!

The only similar tour like this in a factory we've ever been to was Boeing in Seattle.

I was about to ask... Yes please, let us know if they eventually found some of those batteries. Even better: get one of them and send it to me via priority mail before boarding in Calais...

 

[tigerbalm]

It’s a bit strange seeing the car we parked in the basement appear as an exhibit in a museum!

Sponsored