What is the Fastest Electric Car?

In the past, hybrids and electric cars weren’t noted for their speed. As technology has advanced the design and mechanics of these cars, though, finding zippy electric sports cars is no longer a problem for consumers who want the most energy efficient automobile but don’t want to sacrifice speed.

What is the fastest electric car and how fast is it? Currently, the top five fastest electric vehicles include:

• Rimac Nevera (258 miles per hour)
• Tesla Roadster (250 miles per hour)
• Tesla Model S Plaid (200 miles per hour)
• Lotus Evija  (200+ miles per hour)
• Lucid Air (168 miles per hour)

Are the Fastest Electric Vehicles Considered Sports Cars?

Sports cars and muscle cars are synonymous with speed. Are the fastest electric vehicles considered sports cars? Many on the list could be considered sports cars. The Rimac Nevera, the future Tesla Roadster and the Lotus Evija are designed as sporty models.

When looking at these vehicles, buyers can see from their sleek and compact structure that they are made for speed. However, the Lucid Air is the only model on the list that might simply be more of a luxury car with decent speed.

All of the fastest electric cars are noted as luxury models and are priced accordingly. The Rimac Nevera also takes the top spot for price; the Nevera costs about $2.4 million. The Lotus Evija comes in at a close second for the most expensive vehicle with a base price of around $2.3 million. The Tesla Roadster comes in at a very distant third. The Roadster costs about $200,000—and this is considered the base price.

What Buyers Should Know about the Fastest Electric Vehicles

Buyers who want the fastest electric vehicle should have a larger budget. These vehicles are all high-priced models. Fast electric vehicles won’t be particularly budget friendly, especially those that offer the top speeds on the market.

Rimac Nevera

The Rimac Nevera is currently the fastest and most expensive electric vehicle on the market. The Nevera is manufactured in Croatia, and it can reach a top speed of 258 miles per hour and can accelerate from 0 to 62 MPH in 1.85 seconds. Even the vehicle’s name means speed—a Nevera is a powerful and fast-moving lightning storm.

The Nevera costs about $2.4 million, which isn’t really in the budget for many buyers. However, those who can afford luxury speed at any price might gravitate towards this model. The Nevera has an estimated range of about 340 miles.

Tesla Roadster

The new Tesla Roadster hasn’t officially hit the road yet. Buyers interested in this new sports car from Tesla can reserve one for $50,000. However, buyers shouldn’t assume this is the base price; the $50K is simply more of a down payment for the reservation. The Roadster has a base price of around $200,000.

The Roadster will also offer the longest range available for the electric market. According to Tesla, the Roadster will offer an estimated range of 620 miles. This is 100 miles more than the Lucid Air, which currently offers the longest range on the market. It can hit speeds of more than 250 MPH and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 1.9 seconds.

While many sports cars or performance cars are designed for only two, the Roadster has room for up to four people. In addition, the vehicle’s glass room can be removed to create a convertible option. The new Roadster is actually the second generation of a model that was released from 2008 to 2012.

Tesla Model S Plaid

The Tesla Model S Plaid boasts range and speed. The model can travel an estimated 396 miles on a full charge. The Model S Plaid can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 1.9 seconds and can hit speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. 

The speed of this Tesla also comes with a matching price tag. The base price of the Model S Plaid is $129,900.

Lotus Evija

Lotus denotes the Evija as a ‘hypercar’ and might just be in its own class. The Evija can accelerate to more than 200 miles per hour and offers an estimated range of 250 miles. According to Car and Driver, it can go from 0 to 60 MPH in less than three seconds. The name Evija can be loosely translated to mean “to breathe or live.”

Like the Nevera, the Evija is a multi-million dollar purchase with a price tag of around $2.3 million—a price that matches its luxury provenance and speed. Since the new Tesla Roadster has not yet dropped, the Evija is technically the second fastest electric vehicle. This model is limited in production—only 130 will be produced.

Lucid Air

The Lucid Air Dream is currently the longest-range electric vehicle on the market. The model offers an estimated range of 520 miles. It also can reach speeds of more than 160 miles per hour. The Lucid Air is noted to be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 2.42 seconds.

For high-end buyers, the Lucid Air might be considered budget-friendly especially compared to the multi-million dollar prices of the Nevera and the Evija. The base price of a Lucid Air is only $77,400 and is considered a luxury model.

The Price of Electric Speed

The fastest electric vehicles also are the most expensive. With the exception of the Lucid Air Dream, all the fastest models on the market cost more than $100,000. In fact, the two fastest electric models cost more than $2 million.

The Lucid Air Dream also might not be considered a sports car like the rest of the models on the list. The Air Dream is still a luxury automobile, but is an economical choice when compared to its high-speed competitors.

Opting for the fastest electric cars also could require a bit of a wait. Tesla hasn’t yet dropped its latest Roadster model. Those who want a Lotus will face limited production numbers.These luxury or couture cars aren’t simply models that can be purchased in the showroom.

Those who are opting to spend millions on an electric car, though, also could have their own personal specifications about what they want in their vehicle. Some high-end manufacturers might give buyers carte blanche when choosing the perfect model. Buyers might be able to choose custom paint hues or designs or other features.

When the price tag is seven figures, the buyer will likely demand perfection for their investment. They aren’t just paying for speed, they are paying for the name and the reputation that the manufacturer’s name conveys. In the case of the Lotus Evija, though, they also are paying for the rarity of the vehicle.

What is the Slowest Electric Vehicle?

The fastest electric vehicles are in the budget of a very select type of buyer. If the Rimac Nevera and the upcoming Tesla Roadster boast the fastest speeds of electric models, what are the electric vehicles that offer the most sluggish engine?

In the case of sluggish electric vehicles, the issue might not be about top speeds but the ability to accelerate quickly. Drivers typically want an engine that offers a decent acceleration especially when merging onto a busy highway.

Unfortunately, not all electric models offer the acceleration that many buyers prefer. Inside EVS ranked electric vehicles by acceleration from 0 to 60. It should surprise few that Tesla took the top spots. The lowest models on the list, though, included:

• 2021 Hyundai IONIQ (0 to 60 in 10 seconds)
• 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric (0 to 60 in 7.9 seconds)
• 2022 Kia Niro EV (0 to 60 in 7.5 seconds)
• 2022 Nissan Leaf (0 to 60 in 7.4 seconds—this was noted as an estimation)
• 2021 BMW i3 Electric (0 to 60 in 7.2 seconds)

Some of these models also are the least expensive on the market. The Nissan Leaf is currently the lowest priced electric model. While these models could be great options for buyers who want to switch to electric without spending top dollar might find that the trade-off is speed or acceleration.

Buyers who need a vehicle with decent acceleration might opt to take a test drive of their favorite models to ensure it meets their driving preferences. While sluggish acceleration isn’t problematic for all buyers, some might consider it a deal-breaker.

Explore Electric Models Beyond Speed

The fastest electric vehicles are an investment. Buyers who want to switch from the pump to the plug, though, might look at different options to find the best model for their driving needs and their budget.

Speed isn’t everything when it comes to electric options. Buyers can look at the acceleration stats of the model to make sure that it has enough get-up-and-go for their needs. In addition, many buyers consider range to be important, too.

Buyers who will drive long commutes might want to choose an electric model with a longer range. Currently, the Lucid Air offers the best range on the market. However, many moderately-priced models offer long ranges, too.

Consumers can use RelayCars to explore all their electric car options. RelayCars’ website lets users explore cars in augmented reality or by engaging with 3D on-screen vehicle imagery. The RelayCars app, however, allows consumers with access to Google Cardboard to explore vehicles in virtual reality, too. Download the app for free via Google Play or the App Store and start exploring models and researching the best electric vehicles for the budget and speed needs!