Rating of the coolest electric cars
The future of electric cars has long been debated by many people, but even the diehard skeptics have accepted their right to exist. In the past, eco-friendly vehicles were considered very expensive, and later they were accused for the short driving range. Some people found them unreliable. But electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular. According to the International Energy Agency’s report, there were more than 19.2 mln electric vehicles by the end of 2020 (the number of hybrid vehicles was even higher). Their number will grow to 230 mln units by 2030, which will be 12% of all vehicles in the world.
We have compiled a list of the coolest electric sedans and liftbacks. We are not going to assess their exterior, model or brand. Everyone has their own tastes. We will analyze the technical characteristics and make an overview of the best representatives of the electric automotive world. This is not a ranking of the electric cars offered in Israel, but the most powerful and efficient electric cars in the world. And it is up to you to choose the coolest. Don’t forget to leave your opinion below.
Mercedes-Benz EQS
The liftback is the top-end model in the Green EQ range, the world’s first executive car built on an electric modular platform. It has the lowest drag coefficient among the production models. There are two versions: 450+ and 580. Both are available in the Israeli market.
- The 450+ is powered by a 333 hp engine, 108 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. The maximum speed is 210 km/h, while the driving range reaches 680-700 km.
- The 580 is a top-end all-wheel drive model. The output of the powertrain reaches 523 hp, and the car accelerates to the first 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. The driving range is 627 km. It will take you 15 minutes to ‘refuel’ this car for another 300 km from a fast charging station.
Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT
The new electric Audi e-tron GT is available in two versions: the entry-level e-tron GT quattro and the RS e-tron GT. Both are sold in Israel. Regardless of the modification, the model is equipped with a twin-engine unit, an all-wheel drive system and a 93 kWh battery.
- The entry-level e-tron GT is equipped with a 238 hp electric motor at the front and 435 hp motor at the rear. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h occurs in 4.1 seconds. The maximum speed is limited at around 245 km/h. The driving range of this version is 488 km.
- The RS e-tron GT version has the same front electric motor (238 hp), but the rear one produces 456 hp. The car reaches 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, developing the maximum speed of 250 km/h. One charge can cover 472 km. It will take about 25 minutes to fully charge this car at super-power charging stations.
Tesla Model S Plaid and Plaid+
Not a single conversation about electric cars can do without Tesla. One of the coolest models of the brand is the Model S Plaid. The liftback is equipped with three electric motors with a total output of 1,020 or 1,115 hp (Plaid+ version). Such cars can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.99 seconds. However, this time is calculated at the rolling start. The maximum speed is 322 km/h. The Model S Plaid can travel 637 km on a single charge, whereas the Plaid+ offers 837 km.
Porsche Taycan
Depending on the modification, the Taycan’s powertrain can produce from 408 to 761 hp. The top-end Turbo S is equipped with two electric motors, a fully steerable chassis and a 93.4 kWh battery pack. The electric car develops the first 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds. The maximum speed is 260 km/h. The Taycan Turbo S can travel 390 km without recharging. All versions are available in Israel.
BMW i4
BMW is now focused on the development of electric SUVs. Thus, the company can offer only one new passenger car, the i4. It is clearly not a competitor to the Mercedes EQS (the Bavarian model is much smaller), but it still has some interesting characteristics. The five-door car has several versions: eDrive35 and eDrive40 (both are rear-wheel drive) and the top-end M50 (all-wheel drive). The latter features a powertrain with two electric motors with a total output of 530 hp and accelerates to 100 km/h in 4 seconds. The driving range reaches 590 km (WLTP cycle).
Lucid Air
The new model by Lucid Motors is a competitor to the Model S Plaid. The Lucid Air is built on its own platform and is available in three versions with an output of 670, 800 and 1,080 hp. The top all-wheel drive version is equipped with a 113 kWh battery and can reach the first 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds. The driving range is 832 km. The model can already be pre-ordered.
Nio ET7
Nio (China) has recently released a large ET7 electric sedan with a 653 hp twin-engine powertrain and a 70 or 100 kWh battery. The company promises that the top-end version of the model will be able to develop the first 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, and the driving range will reach 1,000 km. The price of the Nio ET7 ranges from 448 to 526 thousand yuan (from 69 to 81 thousand dollars). It will become available in 2022.
Lightyear One
An electric car from the Netherlands called the Lightyear One is powered by solar panels. Only it can compete with the Mercedes EQS in terms of the drag coefficient (both new cars offer 0.20). The model comes with four electric motors (one for each wheel) and a set of batteries (capacity is unknown), which allow you to drive about 725 km without recharging. Rooftop solar panels help recharge batteries on the go. More than 100 copies of the model have already been pre-ordered. The price is 150,000 euros.
