Electric cars are a great eco friendly option with reduced emissions, but they don’t often tip the list of fastest cars, often being thought of as slow and clunky.
As technology is improving though, electric cars are also getting a revamp, with some models now able to travel 100 miles without a charge at top speeds of over 100 mph.
So are electric cars now capable of rivalling petrol and diesel cars? We look at some of the models available and what they’re capable of.
Tesla Model S
Tesla are the fastest electric cars on the UK market. The P85D model can get from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. The Model S is a high-performance saloon car at the top end of the electric vehicle (EV) range.
The sleek design, coupled with high performance, also comes with self-driving capability. There’s little to rival this one in the EV market.
Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is a hatchback EV which has been on the market for a while. It can get from 0-60mph in around eight seconds, with top speeds of 89.48 mph.
The Leaf has a range of about 107 miles for the model with a 30kwh battery. The Leaf is a good all-rounder and is more at the affordable end of the market.
Jaguar I-Pace
At the top end of high-performance EVs, the Jaguar I-Pace is the first all-electric Jaguar on the UK market, and one of the first electric SUVs.
Going from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds, it’s a fast accelerator, with top speeds of 124 mph. Battery range is 298 miles largely due to its 90kwh battery.
Volkswagen e-golf
The sporty E-Golf is very much an EV version of its original petrol model. Don’t be fooled though, with 0-60mph speeds in 9.6 seconds, it’s 0.3 seconds faster than the diesel version.
Top speeds come at 93 mph, and the car itself handles well. It’s a good eco-friendly alternative to Volkswagen’s original model.
BMW i3
The BMW i3 and i3s are BMW’s B class hatchbacks, with the i3s being the sportier version that sits slightly lower and wider.
The BMW i3 offers 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds with speeds up to 100 mph and a range of around 195 miles. The inside of the i3 is where the BMW comes into its own. With lots of light and a futuristic interior, it stands above some of its competitors.
Hyundai Ioniq
The Ioniq reaches its 0-60mph speed in 9.9 seconds putting it behind most of the models here, but it’s a good middle of the range option. You can buy the Ioniq as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or a fully electric version. This can give you reassurance if you’re someone who tends to take longer journeys.
The Ioniq is an ideal family saloon, with plenty of space. The electric version promises 178-mile range at top speeds of 75mph so not a high-performance EV but a good all-round option and a great compromise if you want to try electric but want the reassurance of a hybrid.
