Porsche Performance Hybrid System Kit by Vonnen
Vonnen Performance out of Santa Clara, California has developed a hybrid system kit to retrofit to several Porsche models, whether they're manual or automatic, air-cooled, turbocharged, or naturally-aspirated. Meet Vonnen Shadow Drive.
Hybrid Retrofit
Coming out of Santa Clara, California, Vonnen Performance (a spinoff of Porsche suspension specialists Elephant Racing) has developed what the company calls the Vonnen Shadow Drive (VSD) - a bolt on performance hybrid system that will be available for purchase and installation across a range of current and past Porsche vehicles, including air-cooled models. Check out all there is to know about Vonnen's hybrid system and tell us if it's worth the hefty price tag.
Photos courtesy of Vonnen
Electric Motor and Engine
The conversion process begins with a stock Porsche. Vonnen bolts its liquid-cooled Motor Generator Unit (MGU) to the crankshaft in place of the stock flywheel. An inverter gets mounted to the top of the engine, which takes the DC current generated by engine braking and converts it to AC power to feed to the battery pack mounted in the front trunk. The electric motor adds an additional 150 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque over stock, with only a 170-pound net weight change (approximately, including weight removed). The system is designed to fit either automatic or manual transmissions.
>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid system kit right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!
Battery Management System
The 400-amp liquid-cooled, lithium-based, Battery Management System is specifically designed for rapid charge and discharge rates. Storing power from the regenerative braking system, the smaller and lighter hybrid battery replaces the starter motor to power the engine and the vehicles other accessories.
>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid system kit right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!
Vonnen Control Unit
The brains of the hybrid system is the Vonnen Control Unit (VCU). Executing all the control logic and algorithms, the VCU monitors system readiness and manages the mode of operation. Vonnen's system plugs into the car's ECU via a controller area network (CAN) bus connection and observes the vehicles operating environment including things like RPM, vehicle speed, and throttle input. This information is monitored and relayed back to Vonnen's computer, which releases energy through the electric motor accordingly. When a driver goes to step on the gas, the hybrid motor will then send power to the electric motor mounted on the crankshaft to give it more rotating force. The engine's ECU and VCU don't interact otherwise. The system is wirelessly upgradeable through customer's smart phones (iPhone or Android).
>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid system kit right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!
App-based Control
Of course, because it's 2019, there's an app to access this system. Via Bluetooth, the app provides real-time system monitoring, social sharing, driving mode selection, and an on/off toggle to enable/disable Shadow Drive entirely. Speaking of driving modes, there's three: street, sport, and overboost. From a mild bump to 100% of VSD’s power and torque for a few seconds of all-out boost, the system will automatically power down, recapturing energy from the engine and regenerative braking, which allows everything to cool. The end result of VSD is a seamless wave of torque from 0 rpm through redline, greatly augmenting the “area under the curve” of the stock engine’s torque band, without altering emissions.
>>Join the conversation about the Vonnen hybrid system kit right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!
Number Crunching
Vonnen anticipates many of its customers will be owners of current-generation Porsches (specifically, 911, Boxter, and Cayman models), those that want to keep the car within the family or have a personal attachment to a particular car, but feel it’s lacking in power. With the system's compatibility with older, air-cooled models, the performance boost from the additional modern technology may increase appeal among classic car owners whose older-gen Porsche's are slower and less powerful by today's standards. Without any need to cut into the chassis, engine, or transmission because of the systems compact structure, potential customers may see this as a means to preserve the value of their car, new or old. So, what might this cost you? Vonnen says parts and installation of VSD are priced at $75,000. You're probably thinking you could just buy yourself a whole new car with that kind of money. This isn't untrue, but then again, customers may appreciate the power boost on the car they already know and love.