There’s many good reasons to buy an electric luxury car in 2021 – and now speed is one of them. Explore some of the fastest electric cars with us.
Electric cars are not what they used to be and there’s many good reasons to buy one. Among other things, they are good for the environment and easy on the pocketbook in terms of fuel costs.
A list of the fastest electric cars? Yes, now you can add speed to your list of reasons to own an electric car – at least when it comes to certain models.
When battery powered vehicles first came on the scene 20 years ago, some people only half-jokingly compared them to golf carts. They were all about efficiency and less about performance. (And some still are that way).
But today’s EVs are much more advanced – especially once you look at the luxury category. In fact, we are now in an exciting new era of the EV sports cars and SUVs and their electric-propulsion systems provide impressive zero-to-60-mph times and instant torque.
While many EVs still don’t offer acceleration and top speeds comparable to gas-powered cars, here’s a list of some some of the fastest electric cars that do:
Porsche Taycan
There’s more than a reason as to why the Taycan made it to the top of our fastest electric cars list. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S set a new quarter-mile record for electric cars in Motortrend magazine’s tests. It also came in near the top for zero to 60 with a time of 2.4 seconds. The Taycan is Porsche’s first-ever fully electric vehicle. The four-door sports car that starts at $150,900, while the more powerful Turbo S version comes in closer to $185,000. The Turbo S version of the dual-motor Taycan boasts 750 horsepower with a staggering top speed of 162 mph. The Taycan also gives you a range of about 250 miles, engaging handling and some of the most legendary engineering in the world of sportscars. All models have dual electric motors, with one powering the front wheels and the other powering the rear. Inside the tech-filled interior, the look is sleek and sophisticated but never overstated. You can fill it with a range of optional luxurious materials and rich color schemes and choose massaging front seats, four-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats, among many other options. The Taycan battery operates by means of pouch cells, chemically optimized for maximum performance with a long range. The battery is also based on 800-volt technology instead of the usual 400 volts with the effecting being improved charging and drive performance with smaller cable cross-sections that reduce overall weight. The Taycan’s charging system is recalibrated to better preserve the battery’s service life and limit overall power loss during fast charging. The 4S comes with a 522-hp powertrain, 19-inch wheels, an adaptive air suspension, a partial leather interior, and keyless entry.
Audi e-tron GT
This fully electric four-seater is also quick and responsive thanks to a similar twin motor system and two-speed transmission. The RS version can deploy an overboost 637bhp (power is normally 590bhp) to deliver an astonishingly fast zero-to-60 of 3.1 seconds. Top speed is 155 mph. Like the sleek e-tron SUV, the four-seater is part of an initial wave of battery-electric vehicles planned by parent Volkswagen Group. The e-tron is built on a new EV-specific platform that incorporates components from the group’s existing SUV architectures. Both feature two electric motors making a combined 355 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. And Motortrend says it’s one of the fastest accelerating electric cars they tested. Even the SUV did 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Range is estimated at just 204 miles by the EPA. The e-tron doesn’t drive like your typical electric car. In fact, it drives like just about any other Audi thanks to state-of-the-art drive technology.
With its electric motor powering each axle, the all-wheel drive Q4 e-tron creates an impressive 300 horsepower that can get you from zero-to-60 in 6.3 seconds. The interior showcases Audi’s state-of-the-art technology, including a digital gauge display that is standard in all models as well as a large infotainment touchscreen angled toward the driver.
BMW i3
With a tight turning radius and quick acceleration – zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds – and a “green” interior that includes environmentally friendly eucalyptus wood, the i3 is also nothing to sniff at when it comes to speed and performance. It’s a progressive and unconventional fully electric sedan. With high-capacity batteries that can be fully charged in under six hours, the BMW i3 and i3s are perfect compact sedans for daily commutes and road trips. Starting at $45,445, the i3 is more fun to drive than most electric cars thanks to a one-speed direct-drive transmission. The i3 is a quick ride that will hit a top speed of 93 mph. And it features a beautifully crafted and open-feeling interior made from recycled materials, and rear side doors are hinged at the back – opening opposite the front doors. The BMW i Wallbox offers faster charging at home: Up to 80 percent state of charge in 5 hours of charging. Public charging is powered by EVgo: Up to 80 percent state of charge in 40 minutes or less of charging.
Jaguar I-PACE
Jaguar’s electric crossover is as good looking as it is fun – and peppy – to drive. This stylish crossover has standard all-wheel drive and produces 394 hp and 512 lb-ft of torque. It also offers precise steering fast acceleration – zero to 60 in just 4. 5 seconds – and a not-too-shabby top speed of 155 mph. Range is an impressive 292 miles thanks to its 90kWh battery. The I-Pace offers more than outstanding performance and range. It features two Jaguar-designed electric motors at each axle, producing exceptional combined performance of 400PS and 696Nm, aluminum construction and a low center of gravity. The I-PACE provides an unmatched balance of all-wheel drive performance, refinement, luxury and agility. And best of all Jaguar Partners with home-charging providers all over the world, making charging your car as easy as charging your phone. Make sure you consider Jaguar, when looking for your pick from the fastest electric vehicles.
Aston Martin Rapide E
With an estimated MSRP of $255,000 this is one of the most expensive EV’s coming on the market with a limited production run of just 155 vehicles. The Rapide E features an 800-volt electric battery that powers its twin motors to produce over 600 horsepower, according to Aston Martin. The Rapide has a range of over 200 miles and it can fully charge in three hours. The fully electric car also has a “sub-4.0 second 0-60 mph time,” the company said. According to the Driving.ca website the sleek four-door will come with a twin-electric-motor drivetrain delivering 610 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque. “The units – which sit in the engine bay where the 6.0-litre V12 and transmission used to live, to maintain weight balance – can rocket the car to 250 km/h, and to 100 km/h from zero in less than four seconds. Accelerating from 80 km/h to 110 km/h takes less than 1.5 seconds,” according to the website. The car will not only perform like a gas-powered Rapide S but it will handle just like one too thanks to a limited-slip differential and a suspension system controlled in part by integrated software. You simply plug in your Rapid E to a 400-volt 50-kW charger to charge it to 300 km of range in an hour.
But speed and luxury are just a few of the benefits of buying electric in the coming years.
Here are some other reasons you might consider taking the plunge:
- EVs are better for the environment because are responsible for fewer greenhouse-gas emissions than gas vehicles.
- They can save you money because they are becoming more affordable in general. They also save you on fuel costs because you spend zero on gasoline as well as maintenance. There’s also a ton of tax incentives and rebates offered on electric vehicles. To see if a vehicle qualifies for federal tax credits (up to $7,500) and for how much, you can check out the EPA site. For state incentives you can check out Plug In America.
- You don’t have to worry about range any more. Today, many vehicles offer 200+ miles of range, meaning a typical driver will be OK for the day. And in the US as of April 2021 there were more than 22,000 public charging stations.
Want to see more of the fastest electric cars? Check out our inventory below:
