Say what you want about performance EVs, but they will demolish any internal combustion vehicle in a sprint to 60 miles per hour. Electric vehicles are ready-made for insane acceleration numbers. The most obvious factor helping EVs is the immediate torque from the electric motors.
Instant torque allows EVs to rip off the line with zero lag. In addition, electric vehicles usually lack the need to shift gears, which eliminates the delay associated with a conventional transmission. Lastly, EVs use advanced AWD systems to make the most of the available traction. These factors combine to crown EVs as the automotive acceleration champs.
1. McMurtry Spéirling: 1.4 Seconds
The McMurtry Spéirling has a very interesting name, but what's most important is the performance of this EV hypercar. If you think about a fast EV, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the super-quick Model S Plaid.
But, even the mighty Plaid will be thoroughly embarrassed if it ever crosses paths with the wickedly fast McMurtry. This hyper-electric race car features fans that suck the Spéirling to the ground, producing wicked amounts of downforce, even at a standstill.
The benefit of this is that you don't need additional elements to create downforce, creating additional drag in the process. The result is a super slippery vehicle that doesn't notice the wind.
The great aero positively impacts its range, but even more important is how quickly it can accelerate. According to McMurtry's official blog, the McMurtry Spéirling completed a blistering 0-60 MPH run of 1.4 seconds while being tested by members of the YouTube channel carwow.
It's almost unfathomable to think a vehicle can accelerate this fast, and the 1/4 mile time is no less bonkers. During the same testing, the hypercar gobbled up the 1/4 mile in a ludicrous 7.97 seconds.
No other electric vehicle comes close to what the full-carbon fiber McMurtry Spéirling can do, not even the mighty Rimac Nevera. In fact, the McMurtry makes the Rimac seem lethargic in comparison.
McMurtry wants to produce a street-legal version of its amazing creation, and if the performance is anywhere near what the racing version delivers, it will sell well.
2. Rimac Nevera: 1.85 Seconds
The Rimac Nevera was the most brutal EV before the McMurtry Spéirling appeared, but it's still a killer performer. A Rimac press release says the EV powerhouse is the fastest EV in the world in terms of top speed.
The Nevera is delivered to customers with a limited top speed of 219mph (352kph) but can achieve the 412kph (258mph) top speed in special customer events...
The Nevera isn't just extremely fast at the top end; it's also lightning quick on its way to 60 MPH. With the help of its (four!) electric motors, the Rimac Nevera will catapult from 0-60 MPH in an astonishing 1.85 seconds.
If the McMurtry Spéirling didn't exist, the Rimac would certainly occupy its own realm. Regardless, the Nevera is still the king of road-going performance EVs because the McMurtry Spéirling is a full-on race car.
It's difficult to say anyone needs a 1,914 horsepower electric hypercar, but it must be awfully nice to have a car that can drive you to the mall and also destroy the Model S Plaid on a whim. The Rimac also looks like a true hypercar, something that not many other EVs can brag about.
3. Lucid Air Sapphire: 1.89 Seconds
According to Lucid's press release, the Lucid Air Sapphire can complete the sprint to 60 miles per hour in 1.89 seconds. The world of super-performance electric vehicles is beginning to reach its boiling point, and Tesla better have an answer for Lucid's Plaid-smashing super sedan.
The Lucid Air Sapphire can also beat the Tesla at the top end, with a top speed of 205 miles per hour. The fact that the Lucid only beats the Tesla by a tenth of a second to 60 MPH and the 5 MPH at the top end adds to the astounding pettiness of this rivalry.
It's awesome, and you can bet that the competition between these two automakers will push other EV makers into building performance monsters of their own. But, at the present moment, the Lucid Air Sapphire reigns supreme over the performance EV sedan segment.
4. Tesla Model S Plaid: 1.99 Seconds
Finally! It's almost unbelievable there are three cars quicker than the Plaid on this list, but that's the crazy EV world we live in. The Plaid truly is an engineering marvel; it's a family sedan that can demolish most supercars without flinching.
It's also a great daily driver, transporting you and your passengers in comfort. Yes, the Plaid is a complete vehicle that does everything well. But, on this list, taking 1.99 seconds to 60 miles per hour is an eternity.
One thing the Plaid has going for it is price. It's the cheapest car on this list and probably offers the most performance for your dollar. The thing is, at this level, price isn't that big of a deal.
Bragging rights reign supreme and this is part of the reason that Lucid decided to dethrone the Model S Plaid by a hair. Winning is winning.
5. Tesla Model X Plaid
The incredible Model X Plaid is a big hulking SUV, and it will light up the road for a 0-60 MPH time of 2.5 seconds. Admittedly, this isn't as fast as its sedan stablemate, but it's still a monster in its own right.
Imagine pulling up to the dragstrip in the Model X, obliterating the competition, and then driving off to the nearest supermarket. It's a truly breathtaking SUV and an all-out acceleration machine. It's also super roomy and features the coolest doors of any vehicle on the market.
6. Porsche Taycan Turbo S: 2.6 Seconds
The Taycan Turbo S is the slowpoke of the group, which is almost comical for a car that can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in 2.6 seconds. Not too long ago, that time would have been considered otherworldly, but in this company, it's good enough for last.
The Taycan doesn't really have much going for it. The styling is bland, the acceleration lags behind the Model S Plaid, and it's more expensive than the Tesla sedan.
Its range is also lackluster, which is unacceptable when considering the Tesla costs less and has better performance. Nonetheless, Porsche does have an avid fanbase, so if you're a Porsche diehard, you're not even thinking about any other EV.
Electric Vehicle Performance Doesn't Seem To Have a Ceiling
Electric vehicles used to be perceived as slow vehicles meant to save the environment. But now the quickest accelerating cars on the road are electric.
There aren't any regular production cars that can keep up with the likes of the Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire when it comes to all-out acceleration. However, car aficionados don't need to worry; the future of performance vehicles is heading in the right direction.