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Fastest Electric Cars in the World
Some of these electric cars come with ridiculous specs and seem too good to be true!
by Sidd Dhimaan, on LISTEN 14:17There is no dearth of electric cars in the market now. We aren’t just talking about the urban commuters, but also fast electric cars. There are many new automakers that start their electric car journey with fast cars or electric supercars. Companies like Estrema, Aspark, and even Tesla, for that matter, came up with fast electric sports cars or electric supercars. While some have faded into oblivion after showing us promising concepts, some have weathered the storm and are either into production or will enter production.
Here’s a list of the eight fastest electric cars in the world today that are in the production stage or about to enter production. Some of these fast cars are from mainstream automakers, some from established EVmakers, and some from new start-ups.
TLDR: Fastest Electric Cars in the World
| Rank | Make & Model | 0-60 MPH | Top Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Porsche Taycan Turbo S | 2.6 Seconds | 161 MPH |
| 7 | Tesla Model 3 Performance | 3.1 Seconds | 162 MPH |
| 6 | Tesla Model X Plaid | 2.5 Seconds | 163 MPH |
| 5 | Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance | 2.5 Seconds | 168 MPH |
| 4 | Tesla Model S Plaid | 1.9 Seconds | 200 MPH |
| 3 | Lotus Evija | 3.0 Seconds | 200+ MPH |
| 2 | New Tesla Roadster | 1.9 Seconds | 250+ MPH |
| 1 | Rimac Nevera | 1.85 Seconds | 258 MPH |
Porsche Taycan Turbo S
The Turbo S is the flagship Taycan model. It is supposed to be a performance-oriented model, and its minuscule 201-mile range is a testament to that. Yet, it ranks behind the likes of the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Lucid Air. This electric sports car makes up to 616 horses from its dual-motor setup, but with the Overboost Power and Launch Control, it churns out up to 750 horses. The maximum torque is rated at 774 pound-feet. Unlike most of the electric cars, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S comes with a two-speed transmission that’s mounted on the rear axle.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo S is one of the fastest electric cars in the world, with a top speed of 161 mph and a 0 to 60 mph time of 2.6 seconds. Before the Turbo S, the ‘Turbo’ model held the apex position in the Taycan lineup. It had a Nurburgring record to its name for being the fastest production EV at the Nürburgring for over two years, until it was smashed by the Tesla Model S Plaid a few months back.
| Configuration | Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 750 horses (Overboost Power) |
| Torque | 774 pound-feet |
| Battery Size | 93.4 kW (Performance Battery Plus) |
| Range | 201 miles |
| 0-60 mph | 2.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 161 mph |
| MSRP | $185,000 |
Tesla Model 3 Performance
With a starting price of under $60,000, the Tesla Model 3 Performance is the cheapest electric car on this list. The electric car comes with two electric motors – one mounted on each axle. The Tesla Model 3 Performance has a top speed of 162 mph; one mph more than the flagship Taycan model that’s priced more than thrice the cost of this entry-level Tesla model.
It takes 3.1 seconds to sprint to 60 mph, making it one of the fastest electric cars in the market today. Despite this, it still offers an EPA-estimated range of 315 miles, which is rather impressive. Some folks think it’s been too long in the tooth, despite Tesla rejigging it for the 2021 model year. However, news has emerged that Tesla is gearing it up for yet another big change for the upcoming model.
| Configuration | Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 450 horses |
| Torque | 471 pound-feet of torque |
| Battery Size | 82 kWh |
| Range | 315 miles |
| 0-60 mph | 3.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 162 mph |
| MSRP | $58,990 |
Tesla Model X Plaid
While the Tesla Model S Plaid has been hogging all the limelight, many people have probably forgotten that the Model X is also offered with the Plaid treatment. Tesla has noted that this electric SUV can run a quarter-mile in under 10 seconds. It features three motors that power all four wheels. Combined, they make 1,020 horses.
Courtesy of this, the Model X Plaid can sprint to 60 mph from rest in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 163 mph. This makes it one of the fastest cars in the electric market today. The last time we saw an SUV feature such killer numbers was when Dodge released the Durango Hellcat. Despite being the performance trim in the line-up, the Model X Plaid is god to travel for 313 miles on a full charge. There’s no word on the battery, but is speculated to be powered by a 120 kWh pack. As for the price, it’s $10,000 cheaper than the $129,900-Model S Plaid.
| Configuration | Tri-motor, all-wheel-drive |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 1020 horses |
| Torque | N/A |
| Battery Size | 120 kWh (est.) |
| Range | 313 miles |
| 0-60 mph | 2.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 163 mph |
| MSRP | $119,990 |
Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance
Lucid came out with the Air in 2020 as a promising sedan that had in it to take down the Tesla Model S. Designed by Peter Rawlinson, the same gentleman who was the brains behind the Tesla Model S, the Air came as a fresh air of breath in the long reign of the Model S, and proved to be a force to reckon with. In fact, it was such a force that even MotorTrend acknowledged it by naming the Air its 2022 Car of the Year! Months after its launch, the top-spec Dream Edition was split into two – Range and Performance – to allow customers to choose what they need the most.
The Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance churns out a combined 1,111 horses and approximately 737 pound-feet of torque from its dual-motor setup. This allows the EV to silently propel to 60 mph from rest in 2.5 seconds and let it go all the way up to 168 mph, making it one of the fastest electric cars in the world. This doesn’t make it the fastest electric car, but it’s still something. Even though Lucid has a Dream Edition model that favors the range, the Performance model can also go 471 miles before losing breath. This makes it one of the five fastest electric cars that you can buy today.
| Configuration | Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 1,111 horses |
| Torque | 737 pound-feet (approx.) |
| Battery Size | 113 kWh |
| Range | 471 miles |
| 0-60 mph | 2.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 168 mph |
| MSRP | $169,000 |
Tesla Model S Plaid
The Tesla Model S Plaid needs no introduction. It debuted earlier this year and shattered the current EV scene. It came with ridiculous specs that can put any car to shame, not just electric supercars. We’ve seen its prowess multiple times on the drag strips. Recently, a driver even managed to complete a quarter-mile sprint in the stock car in under nine seconds! Tesla plonked another motor in the Model S’ dual-motor setup and the three motors make 1,020 horses combined. The electric car is powered by a 99 kWh battery pack that’s good for 348 miles when driven sedately.
Now, coming to its performance, the Tesla Model S comes with some ridiculous specs. The company says it can sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in 1.99 seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph! The Tesla Model S Plaid is the fastest electric four-door sedans you can buy today. We must inform you that we haven’t yet seen in go beyond 167 mph so far, but we’re sure the claimed top speed can be achieved. If not with this, perhaps in the Plaid+ form!
| Configuration | Tri-motor, all-wheel-drive |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 1020 horses |
| Torque | N/A |
| Battery Size | 99 kWh |
| Range | 348 miles |
| 0-60 mph | 1.99 seconds |
| Top Speed | 200 mph |
| MSRP | $129,900 |
Lotus Evija
The limited-production Lotus Evija was announced a couple of years back, and in spite of the advent of many fast cars since then, it continues to remain one of the fastest street-legal cars in recent times. It is composed of carbon fiber and was built to be one of the most aerodynamic cars in the world. The Evija features a quad-motor setup – one electric motor on each wheel – that dishes out 1,973 horses and 1,254 pound-feet of oomph combined! To own one, you’d have to shell out over $3 million.
Lotus claims that this electric supercar can go beyond 200 mph when given enough tarmac. This is highly impressive and makes it one of the fastest electric cars in the world. The 0-60 mph leaves much to be desired, as it takes around three seconds to sprint to the mark. This is in no way unimpressive, but electric cars have set such standards that even three seconds to 60 mph seems slow. As for the range, it could be driven for 250 miles before you’d have no other option but to plug it in. Impressive car, right?
| Configuration | Quad-motor setup, all-wheel-drive |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 1,973 horses |
| Torque | 1,254 pound-feet |
| Battery Size | 80 kWh (est.) |
| Range | 250 miles |
| 0-60 mph | Under three seconds |
| Top Speed | 200+ mph |
| MSRP | $3.1 million (approximately) |
New Tesla Roadster
Tesla announced its arrival in the electrification scene in 2008 with the Roadster. It was the first car to wear the Tesla badge. While the first-gen looked like the Lotus Elise’s long-lost twin, the company unveiled the Roadster 2.0 in 2017 and it had more Tesla traits and characteristics to it. It was expected to come out in 2020, but here we are, peeping into 2022 without a sight. However, we are optimistic it will arrive in the coming year. More like wishful thinking.
Anyway, the Roadster 2.0’s specs are jaw-dropping. It will feature two motors on the rear axle and one at the front. Although the horsepower isn’t revealed, the electric car will make 7,376 pound-feet of torque at wheels. This will help the EV sprint to 60 mph in just 1.9 seconds. If this wasn’t quick enough, the Roadster will be offered with a SpaceX option package that includes 10 rocket thrusters around the car. This will help it touch 60 mph from rest in just 1.1 seconds!
Tesla has revealed that the new Roadster will have a top speed above 250 mph. That doesn’t make it the fastest electric car, but it’s right there with other top players. Other performance specs include 0 to 100 mph in 4.2 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 8.9 seconds. The Model S Plaid has managed to breach the nine-second mark, so we expect the Roadster to be much quicker. And, the icing on the cake is the 620-mile range, thanks to a 200 kWh battery pack that Tesla plans on using. I wonder how the automaker will keep its weight under check.
| Configuration | Tri-motor, all-wheel-drive |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | N/A |
| Torque (at wheels) | 7,376 pound-feet |
| Battery Size | 200 kWh |
| Range | 620 miles |
| 0-60 mph | 1.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250+ mph |
| MSRP | $200,000 |
Rimac Nevera
Well, here’s the world’s fastest electric car, the Rimac Nevera. Rimac previewed it as a concept called C_Two at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and rolled out the production version three years later and christened it Nevera. The Nevera tops the list of the fastest electric cars in the world with a top speed of 258 mph! It’s not just this; the Nevera sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in 1.5 seconds, to 180 mph from rest in 9.3 seconds, and runs the quarter-mile distance in 8.6 seconds. The 8.6-second time, by the way, was achieved during a drag race.
The Nevera features a quad-motor setup that makes it an all-wheel-drive car. The total power output is 1,914 horses and 1,741 pound-feet of twist. It features a 120 kWh battery pack that helps it achieve 342 miles on a single charge as per the WLTP ratings. This electric supercar is highly aero-efficient and even comes with a ‘High Downforce’ mode that boosts the downforce by 326-percent! The Nevera will be limited to 150 examples and will bear a price tag of €2 million apiece, which is approximately $2.3 million as per the exchange rates at the time of penning this article.
| Configuration | Quad-motor setup, all-wheel-drive |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 1,914 horses |
| Torque | 1,741 pound-feet |
| Battery Size | 120 kWh |
| Range | 342 miles (WLTP cycle) |
| 0-60 mph | 1.85 seconds |
| Top Speed | 258 mph |
| MSRP | $2.3 million |
Conclusion
There are many other models that we haven’t taken into consideration because they’re either just concepts or are far from production (the Tesla Roadster is getting delayed, but will come out soon, and hence it made the cut). These include the Estrema Fulminea, the Aspark Owl, the Pininfarina Battista, and the Nio EP9, to name a few. We’ll update this list once they near production or we have more new electric cars come up – which is bound to happen in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest electric car in 2021?
The fastest electric car, for now, is the Rimac Nevera. It can sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in 1.85 seconds and has a top speed of 258 mph. This is not just the fastest electric car on sale today, but also one of the fastest cars in the world. Rimac noted that the Nevera takes 9.3 seconds from 0 to 180 mph and can run quarter-mile distance in 8.6 seconds
How fast is the fastest electric car?
The Rimac Nevera is the fastest electric car. It has a top speed of 258 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 1.85 seconds.
Why are electric cars so fast?
The biggest reason is the instantaneous, flat torque. Unlike internal combustion engines, you don’t have to wait for the peak torque at a high rpm. You have all the torque available to you from literally 0 rpm.
What is the fastest electric production car?
The Rimac Nevera has the fastest electric car top speed of 258 mph. The Tesla Roadster comes next, with a top speed of 250+ mph. We’ll have to wait for it to arrive to see if it will have a top speed higher than the Nevera’s or not.
Who makes the fastest electric car?
Rimac (now known as Bugatti Rimac) makes the fastest electric car called the Nevera. The Nevera is the production version of the C_Two concept that was unveiled three years back at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
Rimac is just a 10-year-old Croatian company, but has risen through the ranks rapidly. In fact, Rimac holds 55-percent stake in Bugatti; or now known as the Bugatti Rimac.
What is the fastest electric car 0 to 60?
The Rimac Nevera is the fastest car from 0 to 60 mph. It takes just 1.85 seconds. The Tesla Model S Plaid is also one of the fastest cars and comes next, with a claimed 0-60 mph time of 1.99 seconds.
