17 Quickest Electric Cars On The Market

What’s the fastest electric car on the market? I think you can guess, but what about #2–17?

First of all, let’s get a little perspective in here. A car’s quickness is generally rated by how fast it goes from o mph to 60 mph (or 0 km/h to 100 km/h outside of the USA and a few other places). But there are other ways to measure it — o mph to 30 mph, o mph to 15 mph, etc. The thing about electric cars is that they have instant torque, which gives them a huge jolt of power right off the line, something that conventional gasmobiles simply can’t match. To visualize that a bit, here’s a simple graph viaDesignNews (via the Union of Concerned Scientists):

That’s why a Tesla Model S P85D can smoke a Ferrari or Lamborghini off the line.

This instant torque and the many benefits it offers is one of two key reasons that I think electric cars will quite quickly take over the automobile market. (This is the other reason.)

But anyhow, a car’s 0–60 time is the the standard by which we typically measure how quick (or fast, if you’re not being precise with your use of language) a car is, so that’s what I’m using in this article to rank the top 10 quickest “electric cars on the market.” Just keep that instant torque thing in mind and be sure to share that graph with your uninitiated gearhead friends.

As one more intro point before jumping into the list, I put “electric cars on the market” in quotation marks like that because some cars are supposedly “on the market” but are basically unattainable. The$1 million Rimac Concept_One, for example. Wonderful car, and supposedly goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, but come one, we can’t have a $1 million car on this list.

Oh, and by the way, plug-in hybrid electric cars are a subset of electric cars in my eyes, so they are included in this ranking.

With those disclaimers out of the way, here are the 17 quickest electric cars on the market:

17. Chevy Volt = 8.8 seconds (Note: 2016 Volt will = 8.4 seconds)

I went beyond the top 10 quickest electric cars because I wanted to get a bit more into “every man’s” territory. The Volt is certainly in that realm, with a price tag (or MSRP) of just $33,995 before the US federal tax credit for EVs or other state and local incentives. It’s also a very sharp-looking car and has gotten a ton of love from its owners over the past several years. It seems to offer a good balance between performance, comfort, and price.

16. Fiat 500e = 8.7 seconds

The Fiat 500e is known for being a bit spunky despite its cute looks, and quite snappy off the line. Road & Track actually named it the best electric car of 2013. At $32,500 before incentives, it’s again very much in the “affordable” category. It’s definitely one of the electric cars I most want to test drive and haven’t yet… which is largely because Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne doesn’t really want to sell the thing, it’s mostly just been available in California, and I live all the way over in Poland. But maybe one day….

15. Ford C-Max Energi = 8.5 seconds

I was actually quite surprised to see the Ford C-Max Energi (and it Fusion sibling) so high on the list. I mean, I saw the number when updating this comprehensive electric car page a few months ago, but I really didn’t remember it beating out so many other electric models. It’s very much a family car, in my eyes, and doesn’t scream “fast.” Perhaps the decent acceleration is one of the things that keeps it sales quite steadily in the top 6 or 7 in the USA. The affordable $31,635 MSRP doesn’t hurt either, I’m sure.

14. Renault Zoe = 8.2 seconds

I love the Renault Zoe. I realize it’s not the response that many have to such an affordable, simple car, but I really love the thing. And finding out that it has a decent 0–60 time of 8.2 seconds just makes it that much better. Naturally, it would be hard to choose the Zoe over the Tesla Model S or some of the other more expensive cars on this list, but if you want to save money, the Zoe is an awesome choice. Of course, it’s not on the US market, but it is the 3rd most popular electric car in Europe so far this year, and the quickest of those top three. By the way, the price in its home country of France is €21,900 and the price in the UK is £13,443, not including the leasing of the battery.

12. Ford Fusion Energi = 7.9 seconds

Like with the C-Max Energi, the Fusion Energi is another surprise “family car” that I was surprised to see so high on the list. It was the 5th best-selling electric car in the US in the first half of 2015, and 4th in June, due to its many benefits. Fast, quite spacious, quite affordable, good looks — what more do you need (other than a bit more all-electric range, ahem)? Price = $33,900, btw.

12. Mercedes B-Class Electric = 7.9 seconds

With some Tesla organs and a Mercedes badge, it’s not surprising to see the B-Class Electric show up on this list. However, it’s by far the most expensive we’ve seen so far, with an MSRP of $41,450. For much more detail on the B-Class Electric, I recommend this thorough review: 2014 Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive Review — 1st Month (Exclusive).

11. Cadillac ELR = 7.8 seconds

Expensive? What was I talking about? For an extra 0.1 second (… and, admittedly, a few other things…), the Cadillac ELR adds about $25,000. Granted, that’s a big reason why its sales are pretty lousycompared to other models on this list. But hey, it almost broke into the top 10, and the truth is that it does offer quite a bit of luxury.

9. Volkswagen Golf GTE = 7.6 seconds

Getting back into the realm of cars an average man can afford (well, the price is still a bit above average), the Volkswagen Golf GTE starts at £33,755 in the UK. If you haven’t guessed by now, it’s not yet on the US market. But it is selling like hotcakes in Europe. It was #6 for the first five months of 2015, but rose to #2 in May. As you can see in the video reviews above, it’s quite well loved.

9. Audi A3 e-tron = 7.6 seconds

The Audi A3 e-tron is tied with the VW Golf GTE because it is basically the same car, just with a different cover. It also comes in at basically the same price. Essentially, if you like the features of these plug-in hybrids for the money you have to fork over for them, the deciding factor is basically whether you prefer Audi or Volkswagen. Sort of like choosing between a Chiquita banana and a Dole banana, you know? The good news is the A3 e-tron should hit US shores in October (I’m guessingCalifornia).

8. Chevy Spark EV = 7.2 seconds

With more torque than a Ferrari 458 Italia, the Chevy Spark EV didn’t have too much trouble landing on this list… or impressing test drivers and owners. Yeah, 7.2 seconds to 60 mph isn’t amazing, but remember that graph at the top of this page. You have to adjust. And considering that the car comes in at just $25,995 before incentives (after a recent price cut), the Spark EV is by far the cheapest on this list that is available in the US, and comes in several thousand dollars below the average new-car price, not even counting the $7,500 US federal tax credit for EVs or the $2,500 ZEV rebate in California. You’d think it would be selling like crazy… unless GM wasn’t actually producing the car to meet demand or advertising it.

7. BMW i3 = 7.1 seconds

Credit: Zachary Shahan / EV Obsession / CleanTechnica (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Full disclosure: I love the BMW i3. Agreed, the looks aren’t like those of a Rimac Concept_One or BMW i8, but the car drives wonderfully, has impressive acceleration off the line, is comfy and spacious, is themost efficient car on the US market, and is green as all get-out. With almost the same price as the Mercedes B-Class Electric, that’s likely its closest competitor. The i3 obviously crushed the B-Class Electric off the line (well, is 0.8 seconds faster to 60 mph), but there’s plenty of debate which car is better. See this comparison vs this comparison. Heck, even the tweets on those competing articles are almost the same.

6. Mercedes 350 e = 5.9 seconds

The Mercedes GLC 350 e 4MATIC Plug-In may be an SUV, but this beast knows how to get up and go, reportedly hitting 60 mph faster than your mom can say “ouch.” It has just hit the European market, so we’re yet to see much of it, but in the plug-in-hybrid-loving Netherlands, it was the 4th best selling electric car in June. I haven’t searched out the price yet, but I’m sure it’s not cheap.

5. Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid = 5.7 seconds

The luxurious, high-performance Volvo V60 PHEV is a close competitor to the 350 e in many respects, and barely inches it out in the drive to 60 mph (or 100 km/h). It’s high price tag certainly scares away many buyers, but it has enough to offer that it has a solid grip on the #9 sales spot in Europe. It’s not available in the US, btw.

4. Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid = 5.4 seconds

Ah, hard to have a “fastest cars” list without Porsche strutting its stuff. Another SUV/crossover, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid is all about the mixture of performance and luxury. At a cool $77,200, it’s not for the 99%, but what can you expect with the Porsche logo on it. For the record, I think it is my favorite SUV/crossover (until the Tesla Model X arrives), but I do wish Porsche had squeezed more than 14 miles of electric range into the vehicle.

3. Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid = 5.2 seconds

Credit: Zachary Shahan / EV Obsession / CleanTechnica (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ah, and sharing much of the same technology, the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid steals the bronze medal from the Cayenne S E-Hybrid. The Panamera S E-Hybrid actually accounts for about 10% of Panamera sales last I heard. I think it deserves even more, but whatev — people are slow to catch on to new trends. (Btw, Porsche, I have’t driven this thing yet — drop me a line.)

2. BMW i8 = 4.4 seconds

Credit: Zachary Shahan / EV Obsession / CleanTechnica (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Eating Porsche’s lunch this time, the BMW i8 is not just a beauty of a car that pulls in people who know nothing about it — it’s a vehicular cheetah. The only problems? Its $135,700 price tag and its quite minimal 15 miles of electric range. But still, look at that beauty. (Btw, BMW, I have’t driven this thing yet — drop me a line.)

1. Tesla Model S = 3.2–5.9 seconds

Credit: Zachary Shahan / EV Obsession / CleanTechnica (CC BY-SA 4.0)

You knew it all along, of course. The Tesla Model S is the best mass-manufactured car on the planet, the best of all time according to many of us. Motor Trend recently named it one of the top 10 American cars of all time (come on, just call it #1 of everything), while the oil industry is pissing its pants about it. It makes most of the other cars on the road look like golf carts, and as I noted at the top, it burns Ferraris or Lamborghinis off the line. At a reasonable price, it’s no wonder the Model S is the top-selling car in its class in the USA.

Unfortunately, after test driving the record-breaking Tesla P85D, I’m ruined for all other cars.

2017 Chevrolet Spark: Photos Of Updated Minicar Leaked In Korea

next-generation 2017 Chevrolet Spark testing in South Korea [photo: BobaEdream.co.kr]

The Chevrolet Spark minicar, among the smallest five-door hatchbacks sold in North America, has been an unexpected success for General Motors.

The company has boosted imports a couple of times, and managed to sell almost 40,000 of them last year--and 34,000 the year before.

Now, the first spy shots of the next-generation Spark have emerged, from Korean car site BobaEdream.

The major changes to the new Spark, which will likely arrive in the U.S. as a 2017 model, are largely forward of the firewall.

next-generation 2017 Chevrolet Spark testing in South Korea [photo: BobaEdream.co.kr

The Korean site (via Indian Autos Blog) shows three photos of the revised Spark, although as of this morning, the page on which they were posted had been taken down.

The Chevy Spark was the only one of 11 small cars to earn an "Accceptable" rating last fall on the new small-overlap frontal crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Four other cars earned a "Marginal" rating, and the rest were rated "Poor"--so the Spark is already ahead of the game.

But with GM rolling out a new range of small three- and four-cylinder engines globally, the Spark was clearly going to be updated anyhow.

The new nose may also give it better performance on European pedestrian-crash safety requirements that do not exist in North America.

ALSO SEE: Very Small Cars Fail New IIHS Small-Overlap Frontal Crash Test

The Spark has been a global success for General Motors, under both the Spark name and in some markets (India included), as the Chevrolet Beat.

It was first launched overseas in 2009, though it didn't arrive in the U.S. until the 2013 model year.

2014 Chevrolet Spark, Catskill Mountains, Apr 2014

If the usual rollout pattern persists, the car will launch in other markets as a 2016 vehicle, and arrive in the U.S. a year or so later--likely sometime next year--as a 2017 model.

The next-generation Chevy Spark will likely not include the low-volume Spark EV electric car, however.

That role will be filled instead by the upcoming Chevrolet Bolt, a battery-electric vehicle with a 200-mile range that will use some of the underpinnings of the Chevy Sonic subcompact, one size larger than the Spark.

Still, with bracket creep occurring in all vehicle segments, it's worth noting that the Spark isn't that much smaller than subcompacts of 10 or 15 years ago.

And with its new and longer nose, it's likely to be perceived as slightly larger than it actually is--likely a good thing, at least in North American markets.

New Lithium-Ion Battery Uses Peroxide To Boost Energy Density By 7 Times: Report

Chevrolet Spark EV at CCS fast charging station in San Diego.

All electric vehicles currently in production use some form of lithium-ion chemistryin their battery packs.

Finding ways of improving that chemistry is therefore very important--the aim being to make future electric car batteries cheaper, more stable and more energy-dense for longer range.

Researchers from the School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo have found a way to develop a lithium-based battery with seven times the energy density of current lithium-ion batteries, according to Nikkei Technology.

This has, at least theoretically, each of the major benefits you'd expect should it be introduced in production form--lower cost, greater capacity and increased safety.

Led by Professor Noritaka Mizuno, the team have used a new material on the positive electrode in the battery, formed by adding cobalt to the lithium oxide crystal structure. This aids an oxidation-reduction reaction during which peroxides are produced, and electrical energy is generated.

The researchers claim energy density of 2,570 watt-hours per kilogram. That's actually a little less than the theoretical density of lithium-air technology (3,460 Wh/kg, and a current leader in lithium battery developments) but as a sealed design it's more stable (and therefore safer) than lithium-air.

The team also proved that there are no unwanted byproducts in the battery's acceptable charging and discharging cycle--no excess oxygen or carbon dioxide is produced during the reactions.

Tests at the university have also shown it's possible to repeatedly charge and discharge the battery at a large current, boding well for faster charging.

In theory, at least. As with all current battery research projects, there is still some way to go before the technology can be applied in a practical format--one that could be used in electric vehicles.

While the team mentions no apparent drawbacks, such a concept would require more thorough testing before it's applied inn the real world. As ever though, it's evidence that battery technology is still progressing behind the scenes--and that one day, electric cars should be able to travel much further on a charge.

Source: Green Car Reports

Chevy Spark: Park it on the Sidewalk

A few weeks ago, I got to drive around Chicago and Oak Park with two things that got me very excited. The first was a baby girl that had just aced her first physical, and the second was a 2014 Chevy Spark. Said Spark, I’ll have you know, was especially exciting because it was on the short list of “second cars” that the wife and I were, you know, actually considering buying with our own money. Now, I know that’s past tense – but that doesn’t mean we didn’t utterly fall for Chevy’s little bulldog microcar, and I’m going to spoil the ending for you now: if you live in a major city and you’re looking for cheap, fun, reliable transportation for a small family, you should absolutely buy a Chevy Spark.

Of course, the one-sentence review (made popular by Chris DeMorro) isn’t my thing. I like to hear myself talk watch myself type, so the whys and hows of my “definitely you should buy” conclusion in re: the Chevy Spark will be laid out in greater detail, below. Enjoy!

Chevy Spark | Smaller on the Outside

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See that up there? That’s a standard sized parking space here in Oak Park, IL … and you can probably fit two Chevy Sparks in it. Maybe 3, if you angle ‘em right, and – when about 2/3 of your fellow citizens have almost zero conception of how to effectively parallel park – that’s a huge plus in terms of practicality. Time and time again in the week that I drove the Spark, I found myself gleefully wheeling it into parking spaces that I wouldn’t even try to get into in a Jeep Cherokee.

Did I say, “gleefully”?

Gleefully is an understatement. I was giggling and laughing literally every time I cranked the wheel into a turn or alley or changed lanes into the space left by two other cars. The 2014/5 Chevy Spark is very much a road-legal golf cart in the best possible way, and it makes otherwise nimble-feeling cars feel massive and sluggish. Like steamships. Simply put, if you can drive a Chevy Spark without cracking a smile, you’re probably boring.

Chevy Spark | Bigger on the Inside

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The most surprising thing about the Spark, however, isn’t the car’s tiny size (that’s it’s gimmick, along with its 39 MPG highway rating) and it’s not the car’s IIHS Top Safety Pick status (which is huge). Instead, the biggest surprise was how much the Chevy Spark feels like an actual car.

I know that sounds like an obvious thing. I mean, it’s a car, right? Well, yes – but so, too is the Smart ForTwo and so, too is the Mitsubishi Mirage CVT. Both of those, however, require a little bit of suspension of disbelief on the part of the driver. They’re not real cars, they’re little urban runabouts that are also, technically cars. Unlike those two examples, the Spark’s chassis and 84 HP, 1.2 liter 4-cylinder engine feel rock solid at highway speeds. The chassis absorbs Chicago’s bumpy roads and potholes with an isolating competence that somehow eluded the larger, heavier Scion tC I tested the week before, too, and the engine doesn’t have the same raucous buzz as some of the 3 cyl. cars I’ve tested.

Also surprising was how roomy the Chevy Spark actually is. The (heated!) seats are high, so you sit in the thing like you’re in a dining room chair, with knees more bent than normal. It’s surprisingly comfortable, with more than enough rear seat leg room for the kiddos and even your adult friends, for short trips (say, 20-30 minutes).

Chevy Spark | Will it Baby?

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All that talk about legroom brings me to this – which, as I said, was a mission-critical question for us as prospective Chevy Spark buyers. As you can see in the pictures, Chicco’s rear-facing travel system fits well enough behind the driver’s seat, and the folding stroller deal fits snugly in the rear, along with a decent diaper bag. Not much else fits back there, however – but that’s not what took the Spark off our shopping list.

Frustratingly, the same thing that makes the Chevy Spark impractical for us as a “second car”, is the same thing that makes the Chevy Volt totally impossible to justify as a “primary car” for our family: it only has four seats.

As it is, we have 2 kids and retired (or semi-retired) parents. A third child would render both cars immediately useless, as would one of the kids wanting to bring a friend home from school or wanting to head to dinner with even one of the available parental units, you know? The four seats thing is disappointing in the Spark, but it’s understandable. In the Volt, it’s an unforgivably stupid product-planning choice that makes Chevy’s own Cruze Eco and Diesel look like no-brainers, even at $29,000.

Chevy Spark | Final Thoughts

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So, all that said, the Spark wasn’t for us. We’re breeders, and two kids is just a start. Despite that, with a price tag under $15,000 (in real-world pricing) and Chevy’s excellent MyLink infotainment system featuring the safety and convenience of OnStar, the fun, economical Chevy Spark is a great choice for young urbanites and their families. If you’re a one-child family that’s going to remain a one-child family, the Spark may even ascend to “primary car” status. It’s that good – and the marine-grade vinyl seating in our tester was a fun change of pace in the entry car market that you won’t really see in cars like the Nissan Versa or the aforementioned Mitsubishi. You won’t convince anyone it’s leather, probably, but it’s going to be easier to clean than cloth, and that’s something.

What do you think, dear readers? Is the 2014 Chevy Spark exactly the kind of forward-looking city car that will make up America’s driving future, or is it just another throwaway subcompact that no one will remember fondly in a couple of years? You know what I think – let us know what you think in the comments, below.

Source: Gas 2.