Do you know the fastest street legal electric cars?

Do you know the fastest street legal electric cars?

Electric vehicles have had a relatively quiet reception in the automotive world, but that hasn't stopped a few automakers from putting their hats into the ring.

While many of these new electric cars have been fairly mundane and even laughable attempts at creating an electric car, there have been some notable exceptions to this rule. In fact, the list of all-time fastest street-legal electric cars is actually quite impressive.  

In terms of raw acceleration, many electric vehicles can more than hold their own against internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicles.  Also noteworthy is that these high-powered EVs are not only performance-oriented models created by small startups or boutique manufacturers – they're also going head to head with big-name brands like BMW and Porsche.  

Tesla Model 3 Long Range (aka Tesla (TSLA) Model 3 Performance)

Even though the Porsche Taycan hasn't been officially launched, it's already well-known as an incredibly fast electric car.  The Taycan has a top speed of 155 mph and can reach 60 mph from a standstill in under 3.5 seconds, making it one of the quickest cars on sale today.  The Taycan has actually already bested another performance-oriented EV, the Tesla Model S P100D with Ludicrous Mode, in one test conducted by Carfection.

Benefits:

  1. The most advanced automobile in production today
  2. No emissions (just water vapor!)
  3. Quicker than most gasoline-powered cars on the market

Porsche Taycan Turbo S / Mission E Cross Turismo

This electric car was presented as a concept car at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, but Porsche plans on bringing it into production as early as 2019.  The Taycan Turbo S is estimated to have a top speed of 149 mph and a 0-60 time of under 3 seconds.  This electric supercar has impressive performance, though Porsche has yet to release official numbers for this model.

Benefits:

  1. Highly customizable exterior
  2. All wheel drive with all torque routed to each individual wheel for maximum traction

Audi e-tron GT

Audi always was a company that debuted high-performance models before the rest of the market could catch up to their technology.

The Audi e-tron GT is scheduled to share a platform with Porsche's Taycan, but it may arrive earlier than Porsche's electric supercar.  Audi claims that the e-tron GT can go from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and has a top speed of around 152 mph.

Benefits:

  1. Estimated range of 248 miles
  2. Highly customizable exterior and interior

Porsche 918 Spyder

The Porsche 918 is the most high-performance plug-in hybrid that Porsche has ever produced, and it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds.  The car also holds the record for fastest recorded lap time at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca by a street-legal production car (with a time of 1:19.9).

Benefits:

  1. All-wheel drive with all torque routed to each individual wheel for maximum traction
  2. The comfortable ride even during spirited driving thanks to its sophisticated suspension system

Tesla Model X Long Range

When the Tesla Model X debuted in 2015, it was the quickest SUV on the planet, accelerating from 0-60 mph in a blistering 2.9 seconds.  This car's impressive performance is due to its all-wheel drive and low center of gravity thanks to its battery pack being stored below the floor pan.

Benefits:

  1. Autopilot system that can help with navigation through traffic

Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 4S

This car is basically a Taycan Turbo S with all-wheel drive that also has a 280-mile range.  The Cross Turismo 4S is currently just a concept car, but it won't be long before Porsche decides to put this model into production.

Benefits:

  1. Highly customizable exterior and interior
  2. All wheel drive for maximum traction in any situation

Tesla Model Y

Yes, there will be many Tesla cars! They are featured here because they are the quickest electric SUVs on the market.  The Tesla Model Y will have a similar drivetrain to the Tesla Model X, which means it should be one of the quickest SUVs when it is released. 

Benefits:

  1. Autopilot system that can help with navigation through traffic
  2. Quicker than most gasoline-powered cars on the market thanks to its high torque powertrain

Audi e-tron GT RS

Like the Taycan Turbo, this electric car is a high-performance version of the Audi e-tron GT.  The RS will have approximately 670 horsepower, and it should be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds.  This model is expected to compete with the Tesla Model X and is currently slated for 2020 production.

Benefits:

  1. An automatic system that can help with merging through traffic and changing lanes on crowded highways

Tesla Model S Long Range

This entry-level Tesla is definitely quick for an electric car, but it still isn't the fastest of Tesla's vehicles.  That said, this super sedan can still continue accelerating until its battery runs out thanks to its powerful twin motors. Its highest speed is 155 mph. This model is unique as it has a low drag coefficient and is aerodynamically perfect.

Benefits:

  1. Automatic system that can help with merging through traffic and changing lanes on crowded highways

Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S

Well, this car is probably the quickest car on this list. The Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S has over 700 horsepower and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 3 seconds.  This Porsche also has a range of 280 miles, which is very impressive considering the power it puts out.

Benefits:

  1. All-wheel drive with all torque routed to each individual wheel for maximum traction.
  2. Autopilot system that can help with navigation through traffic
  3. Top tier luxury and comfort

Porshe Taycan Turbo

This model is different from the Taycan Turbo S in that it has 670 horsepower and a top speed of about 161 mph.  This model is the entry-level version of Porsche's high-performance electric vehicles, so most if not all expect it to be quick for its price tag. You will surely love this model because it has a range of 280 miles and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

Benefits:

  1. Quicker than most gasoline-powered cars on the market thanks to its high torque powertrain

Tesla Model 3

This model`s performance is definitely not the best in its class, but it is better than most economy cars. This model can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, and it has a top speed of 130 mph.  This entry-level Tesla is still quick for being electric thanks to its least heavy battery packs, which are placed between the axles instead of above them.

Benefits:

  1. Autopilot system that can help with navigation through traffic

Tesla Model X Pace

Once finally released, this model could possibly be the quickest electric SUV on the market.  This model will have a top speed of 163 mph and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds. It has a range of 295 miles, which is great considering its power output.

Benefits:

  1. The autopilot system is quite good and reliable

Lucid Air Dream Edition

Lucid Aircar is one of the most luxurious and comfortable electric cars you can buy.  With its 1080 horsepower V8 engine, it is very quick for an electric car.  According to Lucid, this model has a range of 400 miles and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds.

Benefits:

  1. Autopilot system will be improved sooner to much more productive one

Rimac Nevera

Among this list, Rimac is surely one of the most popular brands in the world.  It has a twin-turbo V8 engine with 1,200 horsepower and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds.  This sports car also has a range of 400 miles, which is pretty impressive for an electric vehicle that puts out this much power.

Benefits:

  1. Rimac's signature battery technology uses a larger number of small cylindrical cells, instead of fewer larger ones.

So, what is the fastest street electric car?

The Tesla Model S Plaid is the winner with a top speed of 225 mph.  It is also the quickest electric car on this list, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds. The Lucid Air Dream Edition has a range of 400 miles and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds.  This sports car is closely followed by Rimac's own Concept One, which can reach 60 mph in only 2.6 seconds.

Tesla Model S Plaid is special because it uses two electric motors for its all-wheel-drive system and can produce a combined 1,000 horsepower.  It also has a top speed of 225 mph and an estimated range of 350 miles.

What is the world`s fastest electric car?

The Rimac Concept One is definitely the world's fastest electric vehicle.  It has a top speed of 220 mph and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds. Tesla Roadster 2.0 actually holds the record for the fastest production car ever made. It has a top speed of 250 mph and can go from 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, thanks to its four separate electric motors.  

What exactly makes electric cars so fast?

Electric cars are not fast for no reason.  Several reasons contribute to their quickness, such as:

  • Lighter batteries allow more power to be packed in a smaller amount of space and weight, which means more speed
  • Information on the internet says that electric cars have torque at zero RPMs, while gasoline-powered cars don`t get it until 3,000 RPMs or so. This is why some electric cars accelerate faster than most gasoline vehicles on the market.
  • Higher-quality tires can better grip on different surfaces and do not heat up as quickly during heavy usage.

Also, electric cars have an amazing power-to-weight ratio.  They are much lighter than gasoline cars, which means they can go faster with less power. Quick EVs tend to have a good aerodynamic design that cuts down wind resistance to increase speed.

Most quick electric vehicles are expensive high-end luxury cars that are designed for top speeds and acceleration.  However, if you`re looking for the fastest street-legal electric car in the world, it looks like there aren`t any in production or available in general consumer markets yet. You usually have to buy used models of famous sports cars, but these models require extensive modifications in order to become street legal because most of them were never intended for public roads in the first place.

Most electric cars are not designed to go at top speeds, but they can still be quick.  The Tesla Model S is said to have a range of about 240 miles, which means this car could theoretically travel over 400 miles if it didn`t run out of juice before that point.

Tesla`s website says the Model S Plaid has a range of 350 miles and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.4 seconds. While electric cars are not yet known for their speed, the future looks promising.  As technology improves, so will acceleration times for these vehicles.

What are some other fast EVs?

Some other quick EVs you might want to check out include the Rimac Concept One and Koenigsegg Regera. The Koenigsegg Regera is an all-electric supercar that can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds.  It has a top speed of around 250 mph. Meanwhile, the Rimac Concept One can reach speeds up to 220 miles per hour and has a range of about 400 miles on one charge.

From what we`ve seen so far, Tesla Model S Plaid seems to be the best electric car for people who prioritize speed over everything else mainly because it is built more like an actual sports car than other EVs on this list.  It also costs quite a bit less than any of the cars listed here at $145,000. It definitely would not be our first choice, but it is technically the world`s fastest street-legal electric car.

When it comes to the future of EVs and speed, we`ll just have to wait and see!  It seems like fast production models are just starting to emerge, so it will be exciting as more hits the market. 

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