Everybody knows that all-electric vehicles are quick, but some are just quicker than others. There's a big difference between a Chevrolet Bolt EV and the Pininfarina Battista; not every electric car is created equal. Like combustion-engined vehicles, EVs require power, only in this case, it comes from batteries instead of gasoline as well as a powerful electric motor. EV buyers need to know that four electric motors versus dual electric motors changes overall performance dramatically for any battery-electric car. Top speed and acceleration are determined by how many motors there are, and what these motors can do.
With competition being fierce among manufacturers striving to create the fastest electric production car, everyone wants to know who the top contenders are. Which is the fastest car, and what's the difference between a quick car and a fast one? Where fast refers to top speed, quick implies how rapidly it can hit the 60 mph mark.
So, which electric cars make the cut? We dug into the numbers and have come up with this list of the ten quickest accelerating EVs you can buy right now. Not all of them are affordable for the average person, but just knowing they exist is what's important. If you want to know what the fastest accelerating electric car is, then keep reading.
UPDATE: This article was originally published in April 2023, but has been updated with new information.
1. Rimac Nevera: 0-60 mph in 1.74 Seconds
For the princely sum of $2.2 million, you can buy yourself one of the 150 planned examples of the Rimac Nevera - the Croatian automaker's second model. It's worth every penny because drivers will be able to go from 0-60 mph in only 1.85 seconds, the quarter-mile in 8.6 seconds, and finally blast to a claimed top speed of 258 mph. Those were the original claims, but in May of 2023, Rimac smashed several of those claims to smithereens, setting 23 speed and acceleration records in one day. It still tops out at 258 mph, though.
The official data now reads:
- 0-60 mph: 1.74 seconds
- 0-100 mph: 3.21 seconds
- 0-124 mph: 4.42 seconds
- 1/4 mile: 8.25 seconds
Some of those records may have been beaten subsequently by the combustion-powered Koenigsegg Regera, but there's no denying the Rimac's intense performance. The Nevera has also subsequently gone on to set a new production EV record at the Nurburgring of 7:05.298.
This is made possible thanks to a 120-kWk battery pack and an electric motor placed at each of the four wheels, producing a combined total power output of 1,914 horsepower and 1,741 lb-ft of torque. The Rimac Nevera is currently the world's fastest production electric car.
2. Pininfarina Battista: 0-60 mph in 1.89 Seconds
First things first: the Pininfarina Battista utilizes the same platform and technology as the Rimac Nevera. So that means the same 120-kWh battery and electric motor setup. However, the exterior and interior have been designed by the legendary Italian design house, thus separating the Battista from its Rimac cousin style-wise.
Pininfarina claims a benchmark sprint time of 1.89 seconds and a top speed of 222 mph. Those numbers might be slightly less than the Rimac, but your head and neck will still be rocked backward thanks to that glorious instant torque. Also limited to only 150 examples, the Battista has starting price tag of around $2.4 million.
3. Tesla Model S Plaid: 0-60 mph in 2.3 Seconds
The Tesla Model S Plaid is certainly no stranger to anyone. While it may look like a regular Model S from the outside, the Plaid variant is the quickest accelerating series production sedan at present. Check out these numbers: 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 9.4 seconds, and a top speed of 200 mph. Its power comes from three motors - one up front and two at the rear - producing a total of 1,020 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of instant torque.
The price? $109,990, although it'll get more expensive with additional options. But compared to the first two electric vehicles on this list, the Model S Plaid is still an amazing bargain.
4. Lucid Air Sapphire: 0-60 mph in Less Than 2 Seconds?
As a direct rival to the Model S Plaid, the Lucid Air Sapphire has over 1,200 horsepower and a still unannounced torque output, but it's expected to exceed 1,000 lb-ft. This is made possible by three motors and torque vectoring at the rear axle where two of the three motors are located. Previously, the Air Performance was the most potent Lucid you could buy with 1,111 hp on tap; the Sapphire's rear dual-motor makes all the difference. Above all, the Air Sapphire will be ludicrously rapid. Lucid is claiming a 0-60 mph time of less than two seconds. Look out, Model S Plaid. Competition is coming soon.
5. Tesla Model X Plaid: 0-60 mph in 2.5 Seconds
Moving to the SUV side of things in the electric car world, the Tesla Model X Plaid is very much a force to be reckoned with, just like its sedan sibling. With a claimed 0-60 mph time of 2.5 seconds, the Model X Plaid is still wickedly quick and will easily outgun several non-electrified supercars. On top of that, the Model X Plaid can also serve as a family vehicle. Not everyone is a fan of its falcon rear doors, but the SUV's three electric motors provide a total power output of 1,020 hp and 752 lb-ft of instant torque. Top speed? Try 163 mph. Taking the kids to school will never be the same.
6. Porsche Taycan Turbo S: 0-60 mph in 2.4 Seconds
There was no way automakers would allow Tesla to have the high-performance EV sedan segment all to itself. Enter the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. The hottest Taycan you can buy will accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in a mere 2.4 seconds and cruise to a top speed of 162 mph. It's truly an impressive car, and combined with two motors - one at each axle - this all-wheel drive EV is proof Porsche can still be Porsche with full-on electrification.
It might tip the scale at 5,101 pounds, but the Taycan Turbo S is still a cruise missile with handling capabilities only Porsche can achieve. And it can be all yours with a starting price of $185,000.
7. Audi RS e-tron GT: 0-60 mph in 2.9 Seconds
The Tesla Model S received yet another serious rival from Porsche's corporate cousin brand Audi, and it's called the e-tron GT RS. With a total of 591 hp and a maximum torque of 612 lb-ft, the RS e-tron GT sedan blasts to 60 mph in a mere 2.9 seconds and has a quarter-mile time of 10.9 seconds which, on this list, might seem on the slow side; we can assure you it's not. It has two electric motors and standard all-wheel drive, but the RS e-tron GT also looks fantastic, inside and out.
And if you're concerned about top speed, don't be. Audi claims it will reach a maximum of 157 mph. Pricing begins at about $144,000.
8. Tesla Model 3 Performance: 0-60 mph in 3.1 Seconds
Can't afford the Model S Plaid's nearly $110,000 price tag? No problem. The Model 3 Performance is the solution. And yes, it's no less impressive, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds and a quarter-mile sprint of 11.5 seconds. It has twin electric motors - one at each axle - instead of its big brother's tri-motor design. This dual-motor setup helps contribute towards a better overall front/rear weight balance, which is something performance-hungry drivers desire. It also weighs less than the bigger Tesla (4,766 vs 4,250 pounds).
Owners will get the benefits of that fastback sedan design, a claimed range of about 290 miles, and all of the other advantages Tesla has to offer. Want one? Pricing starts at around $60,000.
9. Rivian R1T: 0-60 mph in 3.2 Seconds
If you want a truck for all of your electric vehicle sprinting desires, then the Rivian R1T is your answer. With a benchmark sprint time of 3.2 seconds, the R1T is currently the fastest production electric truck on the market. It has a total combined output of 835 hp and 908 lb-ft of torque courtesy of four motors, meaning there's one mounted inboard at each wheel. It can do the quarter-mile sprint in 11.9 seconds before blasting on to a top speed of 115 mph. Not bad for a startup automaker's first car, especially since this truck can outrun most supercars.
The fact that it's a truck makes it even more special, and when you factor in its insane performance and some pretty decent off-roading capabilities, the R1T rightfully earns its spot as one of the quickest EVs on the market. Prices start at $75,000.
10. Kia EV6 GT: 0-60 mph in 3.2 Seconds
If you're struggling to comprehend that a Kia made it onto a list detailing which is the quickest electric car, read on. The Kia EV6 GT will get to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, a fact the automaker rightly bragged about when the model debuted in 2021.
This electric car boasts a top speed of 161 mph and has a claimed output of 577 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque. It has dual electric motors and an official range of 206 miles. Think of it as the far more affordable Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, with prices starting at about $62,000. It may not be the fastest electric car in the world, but the EV6 GT is still right up there - and it has a pretty impressive price tag.
