In a road trip to remember, three intrepid journalists accomplished the unimaginable—a lightning-fast, all-electric journey from Thailand to Singapore, completed in just 29 hours and 15 minutes. This extraordinary adventure was undertaken as part of Porsche’s ongoing 75th-anniversary celebrations, etching a historic moment in Southeast Asia.
The daring odyssey kicked off in Bang Yai, on the outskirts of Bangkok, culminating at the iconic Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Behind the wheel of a cutting-edge Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, and harnessing the rapid-charging capabilities of the Shell Recharge High Performance Charging (HPC) network, a collaborative triumph between Shell and Porsche, these three fearless explorers embarked on a mission aptly dubbed the ‘Taycan Record Run.’
The trio, comprised of Pholpat Salayakanond from Thailand, Pan Eu-Jin from Malaysia, and Desmond Chan from Singapore, took turns navigating the challenging 1,845-kilometer route. Their only respite came in the form of brief 25-minute charging stops, made possible by Shell’s swift-charging infrastructure and the Taycan’s innovative 800V charging architecture.
With its elevated ride height and a range stretching up to 512 kilometers, the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo proved to be the ideal choice for this potentially grueling expedition. The team meticulously adhered to all national speed limits, not only for safety but also to preserve the record, while simultaneously optimizing the vehicle’s range.
As they journeyed southward, across the Thai peninsula, the Taycan’s distinctive 75th-anniversary livery attracted curious onlookers and sparked engaging conversations at each charging station. Their route took them through checkpoints from Chumphon to Nakhon Si Thammarat and beyond to Hat Yai. The team took full advantage of the same privileges available to all Porsche owners on the Shell HPC network, pre-booking their upcoming charging slots up to 60 minutes in advance.
With nightfall descending upon them, they crossed the Sadao border and reached the midpoint, the first checkpoint in Malaysia at Porsche Centre Penang. After a brief rest, the intrepid crew resumed their journey into the night, relying on the Taycan’s advanced safety features. The Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS+) LED headlights illuminated the road ahead, while lane-keeping assistance ensured the vehicle remained perfectly aligned as they pressed on through the darkness.
Following another charging interval at the Shell Recharge Tapah, the Taycan continued its nearly silent passage across the expanse of the Malaysian peninsula. The final battery top-up occurred at the Shell Recharge Tangkak, situated at the tip of Johor state. The trio forged ahead, crossing the Malaysia-Singapore border in the early morning hours, surmounting a challenge at the Tuas checkpoint with the assistance of a backup Taycan Cross Turismo.
At precisely 10:15 local time, the triumphant team and their extraordinary Taycan arrived at the finish line—positioned at the SG50 Lattice structure within the picturesque Gardens by the Bay. A warm and enthusiastic reception awaited them, with fellow Taycan owners from Porsche Club Singapore, Porsche staff, event partners, and dignitaries from the Singapore and Malaysia Book of Records.
After an exhilarating announcement, TAG Heuer timekeepers meticulously authenticated the timing records for the entire journey, and the remarkable numbers were confirmed: 29 hours and 15 minutes—an incredible milestone, marking the fastest single journey in an electric vehicle from Thailand to Singapore. The Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo and its intrepid drivers had etched their names into the annals of history.
Andre Brand, General Manager of Porsche Singapore, aptly summed it up, stating, “Our first all-electric sports car, the Porsche Taycan, is already the benchmark for sporty performance, dynamic handling, and efficient charging. Now, we elevate the use-case for electric cars even further, by demonstrating that long-distance, cross-border EV travel can be both rapid and seamless with this inaugural Thailand-to-Singapore EV record.”
