Electrified vehicles used to have a reputation for being slow and boring. Just ask the first-gen Toyota Prius. But, today's EVs are the farthest thing from the original Prius you can possibly imagine. The fastest vehicles on the road today are performance EVs, and this trend isn't stopping anytime soon.
EVs like the Tesla Model S Plaid absolutely destroy everything in their paths in terms of performance. The trend also extends across segments, as even EV pickups are faster than most sports cars. So the question is: why are EVs so fast?
Instant Torque
Torque is the rotational force that allows your vehicle to move. In a gasoline engine, torque is produced by the combustion of the gasoline/oxygen mixture pushing down on the piston head, which creates a rotational force that spins the crankshaft. In order to achieve this rotational force, many moving parts have to join the equation. If you've seen a model of how an internal combustion engine works inside, you'll immediately notice how many parts have to move to spin the driveshaft.
Gasoline engines are also usually attached to transmissions and differentials, further slowing down the process of moving a gasoline-powered car forward.
The great thing about EVs is the fact that the electric motors produce 100% of their torque immediately, with no hesitation. Not only this but there aren't many moving parts that get in the way of forward momentum. Many EVs are connected to single-speed gearboxes, so your forward progress won't be hindered by gear changes.
No matter how fast the quickest transmission can shift, it will never be faster than a transmission that doesn't need to shift. Some EVs even have four separate electric motors, one for each wheel. This system is one of the most advanced drive units on the road today, and the technologically advanced Rivian R1T is available in this configuration.
When you have an electric motor driving each wheel, you can do away with locking differentials, which means off-roading potential will be superior to a vehicle that relies on lockers. If you have an electric motor for each wheel, you can also do without differentials entirely, as well as a heavy driveshaft that connects the rear wheels to the transmission and engine. The tangible result of this instant torque is that you feel the power as soon as you touch the accelerator pedal, and you end up glued to your seat.
Insane Traction Equals Great Performance
Performance EVs are taking over the automotive world. Their numbers are absolutely ridiculous, and even the most expensive internal combustion vehicles have trouble keeping up with the fastest EVs.
In fact, even EVs that aren't supposed to be sports car rivals end up embarrassing high-performance ICE vehicles from time to time. The fact that electric motors can produce their torque instantly, and produce such high RPMs, means that these vehicles are destined to be performance juggernauts. Not only this, but EVs are masters at getting off the line quickly.
This is mostly due to their immense traction, the implementation of dual motor AWD, and their significant mass. The combination of AWD, instant torque, and a heavy weight with a low center of gravity is a recipe for insane. Why? Because the vehicle can put tons of power down thanks to the combination of all of these beneficial factors.
More Motors, Faster Acceleration
This is even more pronounced when a vehicle has three electric motors (Tesla Plaid vehicles) or four electric motors (Rivian vehicles). The prime example of this is the Tesla Model X Plaid, a family SUV that will obliterate any supercar that stands in its path.
The Model X Plaid will do 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds (quicker than basically any supercar) and will destroy the quarter-mile run in 9.9 seconds. These numbers are absolutely outrageous and position the Model X Plaid as one of the quickest vehicles on the road. The funny thing is that while the Model X Plaid beats exotic cars with price tags upwards of half a million dollars, at its core, it's a simple people hauler that will get you to the supermarket in supreme comfort. For context, a Lamborghini Aventador will launch from 0 to 62 mph in approximately 2.9 seconds, according to Lamborghini.
What this means is very simple, if you happen to own a Lamborghini, please stay away from any drag races involving a Tesla if you value your pride.
The Model S Plaid is in another universe altogether and is actually the quickest accelerating production vehicle, so nothing needs to be said here. However, earth-shattering numbers are absolutely commonplace for this innocuous-looking EV. The Model S Plaid even obliterates the numbers of its Model X brother with a 0-60 mph time of 1.99 seconds (with rollout) and a phenomenal quarter mile time of 9.23 seconds.
The Model S Plaid isn't just quicker than supercars; it's quicker than many race cars. Moving on, pickup trucks like the Rivian R1T also have insane acceleration numbers that will rival the very best of the internal combustion-engined supercars while being infinitely more practical. The R1T can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately three seconds when properly equipped.
This is also thanks to the instant torque of the electric motors and the fact that this truck has four electric motors (one for each wheel), ensuring that the truck will always have optimum traction at all times. Rivian is a pioneer in this area, but adding an electric motor to each wheel is a trend that will likely continue. The possibilities are endless when adding electric motors to control each wheel, from torque vectoring to insane off-roading potential. Rivian themselves have demonstrated this with their "tank turn" feature on the Rivian R1t.
EV Performance Dominance Won't Stop
The current performance of EVs is only the tip of the iceberg. Electric vehicles have so much more to offer once the technology that powers them keeps evolving. It's scary to think about how fast these vehicles will become once battery technology continues to improve.