Electrifying Autos – Comparing The Latest Top Electric Cars
In a world of increased environmental awareness and renewable energy, the car world is trying its best to fit in. There is a rush to create an electric car and so far car manufacturers have delivered. So what are these new, futuristic, electric cars? The best three are the Tesla Model S, the BMW i8, and the Rimac Concept One. These cars are the best of the electric world, but which one is the top electric car?
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Tesla Model S
By far the most famous of the three, the Tesla Model S is Tesla’s best car out on the market. It is easily one of the fastest accelerating cars on the market with a 2.3 0-60 mph acceleration. It does, however, have a limit. It does have a top speed of 155 mph, but its superior acceleration only lasts to around 130 mph. Other than acceleration, the Tesla doesn’t have much. It’s easily the heaviest, at 4,941 lbs, almost 900 pounds heavier than the next heaviest (the Rimac). All in all, the Tesla is a good car, but it focuses more on the electronics and acceleration, at the cost of speed and handling.
BMW i8
The i line is BMW’s electric cars. The top model in this line is the i8. Although it is technically a hybrid, it can function as only an electric car and is therefore included. The i8’s advantage over the Rimac, Tesla, and most other straight electric cars is its ability to charge the battery while driving. The BMW has the same top speed as the Tesla, 155 mph, but gets to it a lot slower with a 4.5 second 0-60 time. The i8 was given a lot of hype when one was tuned by AC Schnitzer and then scored an 8:19.80 on the Nurburgring. This was a record with the i8, but it still is slower than the lap time from the Honda Civic type R (The racing version of the normal Honda Civic). The BMW i8 looks like a sports car, but in reality, it isn’t.
Rimac Concept One
Rimac is one of those obscure brands that make one or two different cars but then makes it very well. Rimac is a Croatian company, and their Concept One is the first truly all-electric supercar. The Concept One doesn’t beat the Tesla in acceleration, but it is still quick with a 2.9 second 0-60. After that, it easily beats the Tesla with a top speed of 221 mph. That’s no surprise when it’s built with 1,200 horsepower through hundreds of sets of batteries. This can be a disadvantage, as when the Grand Tour’s Richard Hammond was driving one. When he crashed the car, the batteries were set on fire. Those fires lasted more than three days, with each battery successively catching fire. Since a limited number were made, Concept Ones are currently unattainable unless an owner now wants to sell.
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In the end, it’s obvious that the electric cars aren’t nearly as varied as gasoline-powered ones. The Rimac has the fastest car but is unavailable to the public. The Tesla can accelerate fast but is really a one trick pony. The BMW is economical but lacks competitive speed or acceleration. If you are looking for an electric car, the BMW probably makes the most sense. And, depending where you live, the government might throw in a little bonus.
