Here’s my honest take on where things stand in the world of the fastest electric car, broken down the way I actually experienced it.
Stomp on the pedal in almost any electric vehicle and you’ll feel why people obsess over this stuff the motors deliver instantaneous torque the second you ask for it, so the car feels quick off the line before your brain even catches up.
I’ve been lucky enough to be around cars that get tested and rocketed to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds flat, and that kind of acceleration puts them in a higher-performance stratosphere alongside actual supercars.
But quick and fast aren’t the same thing, and they’re not mutually exclusive either the Rivian R1T proves that point since it’s brutally quick but not fast, topping out around 111 mph, while something like the Lucid Air Sapphire is both, cracking 2.1 ticks to sixty on its way to a 207-mph top speed.
Fastest Electric Car
Once you understand those ground rules, the rest of this guide to Fastest E.Cars makes a lot more sense, especially since electric cars are no longer just about being environmentally
friendly compared to combustion counterparts many are now quicker than their fossil-fuel alternatives too, and this list pulls from models across every segment, from Tesla and Audi to BMW, Porsche, and Volvo.
I’ll also mention that the government has floated up to £3,750 toward the purchase of certain electric cars under £37,000, though which ones stay eligible for that grant depends on the manufacturer meeting a sustainability quota, so watch for the official list.
Our experts, myself included, have driven the top fast EVs in this automotive world, and I can tell you the instant torque and near-silent cabin make for an uncanny kind of automotive
experience many manufacturers now build cars that leave old-school performance cars in the dust, and even with a lower top speed than some petrol rivals, in the UK, where 70mph is the legal speed limit, getting there fast is what actually puts a smile on your face; that’s the spirit behind this top ten list of fast electric cars, where the top speeds are honestly still pretty impressive.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
The first time I drove the Ioniq 5 N, I couldn’t believe Hyundai built this as its debut electric performance model the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain cranks out 641 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque, enough to fire this hi-po quasi-hatchback to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, with a quarter-mile run of 11.1 seconds at 123 mph.
It matches the Mercedes-AMG EQS to 60 mph, but the Hyundai actually beats that 751-hp AMG to 100-mph by seven-tenths quicker, hits a higher 163 mph top speed before the governor cuts in, and costs less than half as much.
What really got me, though, was the 650hp car’s mechanical upgrades through corners and its bizarre but brilliant synthetic engine sounds that mimic a petrol car with simulated gear shifts silly on paper, genuinely fun in practice, with enough settings to keep any car nerds happy while staying practical for daily driving.
This is the N division flexing its back catalogue of quick cars, and with 641bhp rubbing shoulders with supercars, a 0 to 62mph time of 3.4 seconds, and a 161mph top speed, the IONIQ 5 genuinely feels built for drivers chasing that old fun factor from internal combustion cars, all from a track-focused package.
Porsche Taycan Turbo S
People laugh at Porsche for slapping a Turbo badge on an electric vehicle that doesn’t actually have one, but after riding in a Taycan Turbo S, I get why they kept the name it’s tied as the third-quickest EV I’ve experienced, alongside its wagon sibling, the Cross Turismo, and its top speed is electronically capped at 162 mph.
This low four-door hit 60 mph in 2.4 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 10.3 seconds at 132 mph, numbers that fully justify the Turbo badge in my book.
As Porsche’s first purely electric model, the Taycan brings the same motoring enjoyment, build quality, and handling as its petrol-powered stablemates, and the 761hp Turbo S is more than capable of embarrassing Ferraris and Lamborghinis off the line thanks to its unusual two-speed gearbox, unlike most EVs that only get a single gear.
There are several versions worth knowing: a standard Taycan with 429bhp, rear-wheel drive, a 0 to 62mph time of 4.8 seconds, and a 143mph top speed; the Turbo S dropping that to 2.4 seconds with all-wheel drive and 939bhp; and the Taycan Turbo with the Weissach Package, packing 1020bhp for a 2.2 seconds sprint and a 190mph top speed proof that an internal combustion engine isn’t the only way to make a car feel this alive in terms of performance.
Audi RS e-tron GT
The RS e-tron GT isn’t the quickest or most powerful car on my list, but it’s still only the fourth electric vehicle I know of that dips under 3.0 seconds to sixty.
It shares its clever two-speed rear-axle transmission with the Porsche Taycan, though the RS version trails a Turbo S Taycan slightly, with dual electric motors making 637 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque, helped by all-wheel-drive traction to hit 60 mph in 2.9 ticks and complete the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds at 127 mph, with a governor-limited top speed of 156 mph.
Visually, this futuristic version of the RS7 looks incredible, and with powerful electric motors pushing 645hp against the RS7’s 599hp, it beats it to 60mph by a wide margin, even if the lower range of 283 miles versus 400 miles is a fair trade-off.
Like BMW, Audi offers plenty of electric alternatives to its internal combustion models, and while SUVs dominate that lineup, the RS e-tron GT’s sleek four-door coupé shape stands out among its versions the top 845bhp RS does 0 to 62mph in 2.8 seconds with a 155mph top
speed, the standard e-tron GT offers 576bhp and 4 seconds to sixty with a 152mph top speed, and the S variant sits between them with 671bhp and 3.4 seconds, also capped at 152mph. If none of that is enough, the Audi RS e-tron GT Performance tops the range entirely with 912bhp, hitting 62mph in 2.5 seconds.
Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 Performance got a serious glow-up with the Highland update for the 2024 model year, and the difference in acceleration is night and day it’s now three-tenths quicker to 60 mph, landing at 2.8 seconds, and it keeps pulling hard through triple-digit speeds, reaching 100 mph in 6.8 seconds and 150 mph in 18.3 ticks.
Compared to the 2019 Model 3 Performance, that’s 3.9 seconds and 8.7 seconds quicker respectively, and the refreshed 510-hp sedan ran the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds flat at 125 mph, with a governor-limited top speed of 164 mph, edging out the Model S Plaid.
I’ve always thought the Model 3 is Tesla’s smartest move for buyers who found the Model S too pricey, and this extremely impressive vehicle still offers class-leading range in 450hp Performance trim, it’s quicker than almost anything else in its price bracket.
Tesla Model S
The 1020-hp tri-motor Plaid variant gets all the headlines, but I was genuinely shocked by how super-quick the all-wheel-drive Performance model of the Tesla Model S is too, tying it with the Porsche Taycan Turbo S sedan and its wagon derivative as the third-quickest EVs I’ve come across.
With Cheetah mode engaged, it hit 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, shaving off a tenth, and ran the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds at 126 mph, with a top speed around 163 mph.
This electric saloon basically kicked off the EV revolution back in 2012, and comparing it to the Porsche Taycan now feels almost unfair the 1,020hp Plaid does 0-60mph in a staggering 1.99-seconds, an acceleration figure that destroys nearly every supercar out there, and it’ll keep pulling to 200mph on the Autobahn.
My one gripe is that Tesla stopped building right-hand-drive versions of the Model S, so if you want one new, the wheel sits on the left.
BMW i4
The BMW i4 M50 carries 544hp as the very first electric car to wear the BMW M badge, and the straight line acceleration genuinely surprised me with all-wheel-drive as standard, the electric immediacy is strong enough to steal your breath, even though it still trails the petrol M3 in outright pace.
Still, the i4 electric version of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé builds nicely on the legendary foundation set by the BMW 3 Series, giving buyers a genuine electric alternative without asking them to give up performance.
Across its versions, the popular M Sport trim stands out, with base models taking 5.7 seconds for 0 to 62mph and the range-topping i4 M50 dropping that to 3.6 seconds, reaching a top speed of 140mph.
BMW iX M60
I never expected a big, luxurious SUV like the BMW iX to show up on a fastest electric car list, but the range-topping iX M60 earns its spot with 619hp, matching the mighty BMW X5M Competition’s 634hp from 0-60mph.
With a claimed range of 357 miles and an overall battery range up to 426 miles, it might just be the ultimate family-sized supercar.
Genesis GV60
It’s hard not to hit the “boost” button on the Genesis GV60 Sport Plus every chance you get tucked on the steering wheel.
The other models are quick enough, but the Sport Plus is the one for anyone chasing a genuinely rapid EV, with a battery range up to 348 miles.
Jaguar i-Pace
Even a few years in, the Jaguar I-Pace still looks fresh to my eyes, and its 400hp electric powertrain delivers real performance without sacrificing composure through corners. That instant thrust the trademark of most EVs makes it a genuine joy to punch out of a bend, and with battery range up to 291 miles, it holds its own on longer drives.
Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
Purists will argue the Ford Mustang Mach-E isn’t a “real” Mustang, but this electric SUV drives with genuine sportscar-like performance. In 486hp GT guise, it’s nearly a second quicker to 60mph than the 459hp 5.0-litre V8 Mustang, and its mid range acceleration leaves most petrol-powered sports cars standing still, all while offering battery range up to 382 miles.
Lotus Eletre
Lotus built its name on lightweight performance and two-seater sports cars, so watching the brand launch an SUV felt strange at first — but the Eletre won me over fast. Sold as a hyper SUV in 600 and 900 guises, the 600 does 0 to 62mph in 4.5 seconds with a 160mph top speed, while the 900 drops that to 2.95 seconds with a 165mph top speed. Founder Colin Chapman famously said “simply, then add lightness,” and the Eletre proves Lotus has had to adapt that idea for a changing car world.
BMW i5
The BMW i5 gives you a 5 Series with an electric powertrain instead of a combustion engine, and you can even pick a Touring estate body if you want extra practicality.
Standard models take 6 seconds for 0 to 62mph, but stepping up to the i5 M60 xDrive drops that to 3.8 seconds thanks to 593bhp and all-wheel drive. It still delivers that crisp driving experience BMW is known for.
smart #1
I’ll admit I laughed when I heard a smart #1 could make a fastest-EV list, but the Brabus edition changed my mind, offering 428bhp and a 0 to 62mph time of just 3.9 seconds.
Even the standard Pure trim manages 268bhp and 6.7 seconds, while the middle Pro version sits at 5.8 seconds. If you want a compact car that’s genuinely quick, the Brabus badge on this little smart #1 is worth chasing.
Tesla Model Y
You can’t talk electric cars without mentioning the Tesla Model Y, the best selling model in the whole lineup and, remarkably, the world’s best selling car in both 2023 and 2024.
Across its versions, 0 to 60mph times range from a sharp 3.3 seconds in the Model Y Performance down to 5.6 seconds for the base rear-wheel drive version.
MINI John Cooper Works Electric
MINI has always had that go-kart feel, and the John Cooper Works Electric carries that spirit into the EV world it’s not the outright quickest here, needing 5.9 seconds for 0 to 62mph with a top speed of 124mph,
but the compact proportions and sharp handling matter more than raw numbers. City driving feels genuinely exciting, and on a country road you can feel real racing heritage baked into the internal combustion engine-era DNA now carried by the electric motor.
Lotus Emeya
One of the fastest electric car Lotus Emeya is another surprise from the brand, built as a hyper GT car in a five-door liftback shape think of it as a coupé-like saloon in the same lane as the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT.
It comes in 600 and 900 versions matching its SUV sibling: the 600 makes 603bhp for a 0 to 62mph time of 4.15 seconds and a 155mph top speed, while the 900 raises power to 905bhp, dropping the sprint to a seriously rapid 2.78 seconds with a 159mph top speed.
FAQs of Fastest Electric Car
What is the fastest electric car right now?
The Tesla Model S Plaid leads the pack, rocketing to 60 mph in an astonishing 1.99-seconds with a top speed near 200mph.
Which electric car has the quickest 0-60 mph time?
The Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance both deliver breathtaking acceleration, with the Plaid barely edging ahead.
Is a fast electric car also fast at top speed?
Not always the Rivian R1T is thrillingly quick off the line but capped at just 111 mph, proving quick and fast aren’t the same.
What makes electric cars accelerate so fast?
It comes down to instantaneous torque from the electric motor, giving instant, breath-stealing acceleration the moment you press the pedal.
What’s the fastest electric SUV with the best top speed?
The BMW iX M60 blends luxurious comfort with serious pace, matching the BMW X5M Competition while offering a claimed range of 357 miles.
