9 Electric Supercars Racing To Be The Best

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Concept cars, especially supercar concepts, are more for looking at than actually driving — made to spark discussion, rather than reach any destination. However, electric supercar concept vehicles show that the electric engine is going mainstream. They herald a new era of electric vehicles and present some exciting prospects of what that future might be. Here’s a rundown of some new electric supercars that have some astonishing specs. Consider this light entertainment — and let us know in the comments of any cars we forgot to add.


Rimac Concept One

Year: 2013
Price: POA
Top Speed: 220 mph
Range: 205 miles
0–62 mph: 2.5 seconds

Rimac is a name in EVs that gets everyone excited because of cars like the Concept One. Any criticisms of its ergonomics or interior design are left shrinking in the rear-view mirror as soon as a foot hits the accelerator. A top speed of 220 mph saw this car smash the EV speed record earlier in 2017 at its Goodwood Festival of Speed debut, and reports unanimously agree that the Concept One is hugely entertaining to drive. Rather than an electric supercar, this is a supercar that happens to be electric, with power that speaks for itself.


NIO EP9

Year: 2016
Price: €1 million
Top Speed: 194 mph
Range: 265 miles
0–62 mph: 2.7 seconds

Among its many impressive credentials, the NIO EP9 stands out for its self-driving capabilities. It set the record for the fastest lap driven by an autonomous vehicle at the Circuit of Americas track, planting itself as a speed demon for the future. This car is made to dominate the track, producing 24,000 newtons of downforce at 150 mph. That’s 200% more than the average Formula 1 car, allowing the EP9 to corner at a breakneck 3Gs.


Vanda Dendrobium

Available From: TBD
Price: TBD
Top Speed: 200 mph
Range: ~249 miles
0–62 mph: 2.7 seconds

The Vanda Dendrobium is a design-led concept propelled by some serious power. Inspired by nature, its doors and roof are designed to look like a Dendrobium orchid flower when opened — hence the name — and the interior is made to put the driver at the center of attention. Under the bonnet, advanced engineering accelerates Singapore’s first electric supercar to a top speed of 200 mph. A production run of this vehicle is likely set for 2020, so expect more tech details to come.


Mercedes-Benz Maybach 6 Cabriolet

Year: TBD
Price: TBD
Top Speed: 155 mph
Range: 310 miles
0–62 mph: <4 seconds

Luxury is front and center of Mercedes’ Maybach 6 Cabrio concept vehicle, a follow-up to the extra-large Maybach 6 Coupe. What the Cabrio lacks in speed — topping out at 155 mph — it makes up for in elegance. It’s a member of the couture-class of hand-finished luxury cabriolets, and it looks like it’d be more than at home on the Riviera. Its acceleration looks sadly lacking at 0-62 mph in four seconds, but that’s just more time for bystanders to admire the structure and detail of its design. An impressive range of 310 miles sets this big beauty apart from the rest, and a quick-charge function can give you an extra 100 miles in just five minutes.


Renault TREZOR

Year: 2020 (expected)
Price: TBD
Top Speed: 155 mph
Range: 100–125 miles
0–62 mph: <4 seconds

Marrying a sporty driving experience with forward-thinking connectivity, the Renault TREZOR is packed with nods to classic racing vehicles, from its all-red interior with headrests that move automatically as if to invite you in, to its customizable touchscreen OLED cockpit interface. As a far-off, ‘beyond 2020’ concept, its design strikes as somewhat indulgent, but the TREZOR’s 350hp give it a respectable top speed of 155 mph. Let’s just hope that the battery technology Renault employs will improve the range of this car before it hits the streets.


BMW i8

Available From: 2014
Price: €126,000
Top Speed: 155 mph
Range: 23 miles (all-electric), 330 miles (total)
0–62 mph: 4.4 seconds

Unveiled as a concept in 2011, the hybrid petrol and electric BMW i8 went into production in 2014 with very few changes. It’s considered by many to be BMW’s first supercar, and has enjoyed great early sales in many markets. It has a gasoline consumption of 0.1 gallons (US) per 100 miles and an energy consumption of 43 kWh per 100 miles with its 7.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. BMW has previously announced plans to add 11 fully-electric vehicles to the lineup by 2025, and an i8 roadster has been announced for 2018, so watch this space.


Porsche Mission E

Available From: 2019 (expected)
Price: ~€75,000
Top Speed: 150+ mph
Range: 300 miles
0–62 mph: 3.5 seconds

With low, 911-like design, the Porsche Mission E will get an easy approval from those who enjoy classic Porsche styling. The interior, too, is likely to be a big hit thanks to a futuristic gesture-controlled interface. On release it will be Porsche’s first fully electric car, driven by two electric motors that will produce over 440 kW. Porsche also claims that with its Porsche Turbo charging system, the Mission E’s battery will charge to 80% in just 15 minutes, giving this supercar an edge in both looks and performance.


Tesla Model S P100D

Year: 2016
Price: €114,000
Top Speed: 155 mph
Range: <381 miles
0–62 mph: 2.4 seconds

High-performance and far more accessible than many cars on this list, the Tesla Model S P100D is one of the fastest-accelerating production cars ever produced. Where many of the cars on this list are lithe two-seaters with little space for luggage or passengers, this all-electric, all-wheel-drive vehicle seats as many as five adults and two children, and has cargo capacity to boot. Its 100 kWh battery delivers 605 hp, giving this full-size, practical vehicle the performance of a thrill-a-minute sports car.


The Owl

Year: TBD
Price: TBD
Top Speed: TBD
Range: TBD
0–62 mph: <2 seconds (claimed)

Aspark’s The Owl is all aesthetic with some bold performance claims. It aims to be the fastest EV in the world. But in fact if this beautiful carbon fiber creation, which will be powered by an all-electric 1000 bhp drivetrain, can reach the 0-62 mph in under two seconds that its creators claim, that would make it the fastest accelerating road car of any kind. Having just been unveiled at Frankfurt 2017, details about this concept are scant, but its design has sparked a lot of discussion, so we can’t wait to see how the development of The Owl progresses.


 


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