If a group of motoring enthusiasts was asked what the automotive industry's future looks like, most of them would say that it's electric. Over the last decade, the popularity of electric vehicles has grown significantly, thanks to their ultra-low running costs compared to gas-powered cars and people's need to reduce their carbon footprints.
Another key characteristic that makes electric vehicles an easy sell is that, since their drivetrains are simple, there's less lag, inertia, and wasted energy than gas-powered cars. This means that all the power and torque is delivered instantly after stepping on the accelerator, which is why automakers are producing powerful electric supercars with face-bending acceleration. Let's check out ten of the fastest electric sports cars available today.
10 Automobili Pininfarina Battista
Unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the Battista is an electric sports car manufactured in Germany but with roots in the famous Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina. Looking at the Battista, it is hard to tell that it is an electric car as it looks more like a traditional supercar than resembling a futuristic spaceship.
The Battista is incredibly quick and promises a sub-two-second 0-60 time and a top speed of 217 mph thanks to four electric motors, one for each wheel. The four motors combine to produce 1,400 kW or 1,877 horsepower. Production began in 2020 for the 150 Battistas that will be made, and each will cost upwards of $2 million.
9 Tesla Model S Performance
While almost every major automaker has an EV offering now, Tesla will be hailed by many as the company that started it all. Tesla believed in electric vehicles so much that it actually made them reality instead of leaving them as desirable concepts.
The Tesla Model S Performance may be the slowest car on this list, but with a top speed of 162 mph, it's still a high-speed car considering that it's a full-size four-door sedan that weighs more than two tons. The Tesla Model S Performance comes with a 100 kWh battery and has an impressive range of 367 miles.
8 Porsche Taycan Turbo S
Over the last century, Porsche has made some of the most iconic gas-powered cars in history. With the Taycan Turbo S, Porsche shows that it's just as ready to dominate the growing EV market as they did the gas-powered vehicles market.
The Taycan Turbo S is powered by a 93.4 kWh battery pack with an output of 751 horsepower. The battery has an innovative 800-volt architecture, which allows it to charge up to 188 miles range in 21 minutes. The best thing about the Taycan is that it's made by an experienced automaker and offers the same superb handling and driving feel that other iconic Porsche cars are known for.
7 Genovation GXE
The GXE is a Corvette-based electric hypercar built by Genovation, a small boutique builder from Maryland. The GXE looks like a Corvette C7 from the outside, but it's completely different under the hood. It has a bespoke drivetrain and chassis developed by Genovation and comes with a 60 kWh battery pack producing 800 hp and 718 pound-feet of torque.
Unlike most other EVs, the GXE does not use a skateboard-type battery pack architecture. This allows for batteries to be fitted anywhere, something that Genovation has taken full advantage of. The GXE batteries are placed strategically for optimal weight distribution and excellent handling when it hits the top speed of 209 mph.
6 Jaguar I-Pace
At its launch, the Porsche Taycan looked like it would be the EV that poses a real threat to Tesla's lineup, but its price is still too high for most people. On the other hand, the Jaguar I-Pace falls into the same price range as the Tesla Model Y and looks like the first real Tesla rival from a legacy automaker.
The I-Pace is a practical crossover with all the design hallmarks of an EV; short front and rear overhangs, storage fore and aft, an elongated wheelbase, and a spacious cabin. Powering this car is a 90 kWh battery pack with a range of up to 292 miles.
5 Aston Martin Rapide E
The Rapide E is the first-ever all-electric Aston Martin - excluding the electric conversions the automaker is doing. It takes the luxurious, sporty GT character of the petrol-powered Rapide and adds an electric powertrain, resulting in one of the most beautiful EVs available today.
The Rapide E was developed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering and came with a 65 kWh electric motor making 602 horsepower. It takes less than four seconds to hit 60 mph and will go on to reach a top speed of 155 mph. Aston Martin plans to build 155 examples of the Rapide E.
4 Tesla Model 3
Who would have thought that a sensible family car worth less than $50,000 could match the McLaren F1 to 60 mph? Well, that's exactly what the Tesla Model 3 provides, along with trunks in the front and back, seating for five, and an unmatched range of 329 miles.
An 85 kWh battery pack cranks out 283 hp, giving the Tesla Model 3 a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 162 mph. The smallest of Tesla's offerings, the Model 3, is already a huge mass-market success and is even the best-selling passenger car in the US.
3 NIO EP9
Developed in collaboration with NIO's Formula E team, the beautiful EP9 is an electric hypercar built with one goal in mind; pure speed. The EP9 made headlines in 2017 when it lapped the Nürburgring in 6:45:09 minutes, setting a new record for a production EV.
The EP9 is powered by four electric motors combined to produce a massive 1,341 horsepower, resulting in a 0-60 time of 2.7 seconds and a top speed of almost 200 mph. The range is 265 miles, but thanks to innovative charging technology, the battery can fill up to 80 percent in less than an hour.
2 Tesla Model X
The Model X is one of the biggest cars in Tesla's lineup, but it still manages to go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds. This is pretty impressive for a seven-seater that weighs 2.5 tons.
The Model X is powered by a 100 kWh battery pack that produces 259 horsepower in the front and 503 horsepower in the rear, allowing it to hit a top speed of 155 mph with a range of 301 miles. The Model X shares its chassis with the Model S and looks just as stylish, especially with the unique Falcon doors open.
1 Audi E-Tron
The E-Tron is the first-ever fully electric car built with Audi DNA. With long-range capability, ample space for everyday life, and exhilarating performance, the E-Tron redefines what an electric vehicle is supposed to look and feel like.
The E-Tron draws its power from a 95 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque. It has a range of 222 miles, but thanks to an innovative energy recuperation system, it can go even further.