World’s Top 10 Fastest Electric Cars
4. L1X-75: 0-60 in 3.1 Seconds
The carbon-fiber, 600hp L1X-75 is a confusing case because we’re not sure it really exists. Apparently, Popular Mechanics writers discovered it at the 2007 New York auto show, quoting pickup of 0-60 in 3.1s and a top speed of 175 mph. They even had a video to prove it, which is (sadly) no longer available.
According to Motor Authority, the car was developed as a joint venture between Hybrid Technologies Inc. and Mullen Motor Company, which makes a gasoline version ranked as the 7th fastest American production car.
But if you take a look at the Hybrid Technologies website, all you’ll find is something called the LiV RUSH, which would be knocked off this list for taking 5s to get to 60mph. Mullen Motor’s website shows a GTEV with 0-60mph acceleration time of 4.5s.
If you know what happened to this car, please let us know. Otherwise, I’m going to exercise my creative license and leave this phantom at #4.
5. AC Propulsion tzero Roadster: 0-60 mph in 3.6s
The tzero (pronounced tee-zero) only needs 200 horsepower to rocket from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, due to a light-weight body. Built by San Dimas, CA-based AC Propulsion, the car has apparently owned both Porsche 911s and Corvettes, and even a Ferrari F355 in 1/8-mile drag race.
AC Propulsion has apparently manufactured the car since 1997, starting with lead-acid batteries and then moving to lithium-ion which extended the range from 100 to about 300 miles per charge.
Don’t expect to see this one on the street: it’s a $220,000 prototype that probably won’t ever be more than a proof-of-concept.
6. Tesla Roadster: 0-60 mph in 3.9s
Tesla has been the darling of electric car afficionados for some time, mostly because they’ve produced a great car that is both available and, to some, affordable. Even though the Roadster’s top speed is electronically limited at 125 mph, it’s great to see it make a strong showing on this list with an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds.
Besides the roadster, Tesla has a sedan in the works (the Model S), which just debuted last week.
Check out the 248 peak horsepower output in this video (thanks Huddler):
7. Eliica: 0-60 mph in 4s
While it looks like something out of a bad scifi movie, the Eliica—even with 8 wheels—accelerates faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo. The Eliica (which stands for Electric Lithium-Ion Car) was built by a team at Keio University in Tokyo under the direction of the inventor, Hiroshi Shimizu.
Looks aren’t everything: the 640 hp eight-wheel drive hits 60 mph in 4 seconds and has been clocked at Italy’s Nardò High Speed Track at an impressive 230 mph. Under the right conditions, the Eliica team claims it could clear 250 mph.
Don’t expect to see this one anywhere. Price tag: $255,000 US
Thank you for featuring White Zombie, but please correct the stats, as it runs 0-60 in 2.95 seconds, and its ‘trap speed’ at the end of the 1/4 mile is 114.08 mph. The car’s ‘top speed’ is in the neighborhood of 130 mph if given more than just 1320 feet to stretch its legs! Since the outrageous price tags are mentioned with some of the other cars shown, the Zombie’s ~$35,000 price (when using expensive lithium cells) should be included as well, to keep things in perspective.
You might want to change this title from ‘World’s 10 Fastest Electric Cars’ to ‘World’s 10 Quickest Electric Cars’, since you specify “All cars are simply ranked by the time it takes them to get from 0-60 mph.” 0-60 is an acceleration parameter, while’Fastest’ refers to top speed, not acceleration. Also, hybrids are not electric cars, so they should be left out of this comparison… unless you do a third name change to ‘World’s 10 Quickest Electric and Hybrid Cars.
-Our thanks to John (the owner/builder of the White Zombie) for taking the time to expand on some of our choices and correct the information about the White Zombie. We’ll be making the changes shortly. — Nick Chambers
Good catch. We’ve covered that one before: http://gas2.org/2008/07/23/bmw-mini-electric-cars-available-in-us-from-summer-2009/
I really don’t understand why these automakers are focusing so much time on these vehicles instead of finding ways to lower prices or lengthen the amount of miles between charges.
It is really too bad that you usually feel that it is necessary to denigrate existing cars rather than just promote “Green” cars on their own merits.
This is not necessary and it is counter productive for many people. The presentations in this issue should be your example for how to present all of these issues. The use of performance specifications and comparisons is the correct way to go.
That list is wrong and confusing. most of the models are not even in production and very likely won’t make it there.
Fun article. Honorable mention-the beautiful Tesla Model S. 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, seats 5+2 and 57,000 before the 7,000 tax refund. Can’t wait until the range hits 600 and the charge time 6 minutes. A123 apparently has a battery that charges to 95% in 6 min. I wonder what the range is if put in a Model S?
@Author RE Tango: “I’m not sure how this thing would bank sharp turns”
If you read the first page of their website it says that the Tango tips the scales at 2-3,000 pounds i.e., the weight of a “mid-sized Sedan” And the “low CG” means that the bulk of that weight is located 6-12″ off the ground between the 4 tires.
So the size of a Goldwing, the weight of a Camry = it doesn’t need to bank, as the weight is low enough it is much more likely to “slide” off the turns, not go on two wheels. It’s essentially a “sled” of batteries/motor/wheels with a passenger cab on top — the 2-400 pounds of passenger weight is negligible compared to the 2-3,000 pounds, compared to the same 1-300 (rider-plus one) pounds on a motorcycle that has a high CG and low weight (250-600 pounds)
@Allie: Because the Big Car manufacturers still don’t get it ;-p — 80% of Americans travel 50 miles or less a day (50% of us travel 25 miles or less), and judging by the cars I see going to work, a significant number of these miles are single passenger. Current EV ranges are just fine, when you figure half that is to get you to work, the other half back home, and you’ve got a 6-9 hour charge time while you’re at work… I’ve put over 6,000 miles on an EV with a 30-40 mile range per charge.
In general, high-speed electric vehicles are brought out because manufacturers feel the public has the misconception that electric vehicles are slow. In truth, they will blow the socks off gas cars BUT they won’t get you back and forth to work very well. Most in-town commuters will do quite nicely with an Electric Vehicle that gets between 30-50 miles per charge when they’re driven between 30-50 mph — it’s worked for me for the past two years…
The average American male is being forced to give up his insane notion that the length of his penis is related to low ET’s and splashy car bodies and take up the European notion of personality, skill and manners in seduction - not taught in newer American movies but obsessed on in the earlier black and whites. The great republican depression with its hard times and cash shortages combined with the end of the “cheap oil era” will force this enlightenment on us and make us whole again. Cars will no longer be an “extension” of the manliness, but simply a comfortable means for either sex to get from point A to point B, much to the chagrin of the advertisers who recently put female sex into every sales pitch to a mostly male consumer. Times have changed, Expect little pink and mauve electric commuters soon! GM’s downfall - a Double Y ex-marine, possibly raised by his father, a masochistic sicko, for a CEO - not good for sales to the ladies!
@ allie
Most innovations in automobile technology have been paid for by racing and tested on the grueling conditions of the track.
SO! Instead of the government bailing out Chrysler or GM AGAIN AND AGAIN, maybe the hundreds of millions to billions should be given to these companies designing and building electrical vehicles instead! Wouldn’t that make a lot of sense with regard to fulfilling Obama’s other goal of changing energy sources? GM & Chrysler will undoubtedly fail anyway… We’re just kicking the can down the road until later this year…