Once, when seeking the ultimate high-octane high, car enthusiasts would assuredly opt for the throaty petrol-powered roar of a V12 engine as it purred below the bonnet of one of the world’s super-specced supercars – a Ferrari, a Bugatti or, perhaps, a Lamborghini. Now, though, for many, such beasts are relics, with their gas-guzzling prowess deemed more sinful than salutary. In this very different era, fuel efficiency trumps Formula One flirtations and a low carbon footprint tops a stylish carbon fibre chassis. This, then, is the age of the highly environmentally-attuned electric hypercars.

In truth, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are far from a new invention. The first-ever battery-powered vehicle actually hit the streets of Scotland around 1837, the product of the fertile mind of Robert Anderson, a local inventor. While other innovators followed his lead, revising and refining his concept, none resolved the short battery life / restricted mileage issues that saw this current-powered conveyance swiftly overtaken by its petrol-reliant counterparts.

Fast forward the best part of two centuries though, and EVs are once more seen as the future of rapid, reliable, personal transportation. The lead here was initially taken by such doughty Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) as the Toyota Prius, a car that combined conventional automotive technology with planet-preserving alternatives. Of late, though, it is the more pure-play, all-electric contenders that have begun to surge to the fore.

As a sure sign that the sector is maturing, many luxury motoring marques have eschewed the utilitarian look and feel of earlier models, opting instead to bring a luxury ambience and aggressive performance to hitting the road without negatively impacting the biosphere. Of the many contenders keen to remain sleek and mean, while still unashamedly green, four electric hypercars, in particular, stand out as the clear frontrunners…

Volkswagen ID.R

Among the current crop of super-speedy EVs, one particular model truly towers above the pack – the Volkswagen ID.R. As initially conceived, its highly-innovative design was geared to deliver on one very specific goal – setting a new world record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, an insanely-challenging 20.8km track in Germany. It’s a target it achieved back in June, when it recorded the fastest lap time ever for an all-electric car, beating the previous record holder by a truly impressive 40 seconds. The ID.R then burnished its already impressive reputation by smashing two more records within a year, both at the Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado and at southern England’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Although the ID.R is undeniably the flagship of Volkswagen’s new all-electric ID range, it remains a prototype and has never been produced commercially. The German motoring marque has, however, announced plans to incorporate much of its top-line tech into the 20 electric-powered vehicles that are scheduled to arrive in showrooms over the next few years.

Pininfarina Battista

If the ID.R’s record-breaking performance is to be topped any time soon, it may well be Munich-based Automobili Pininfarina that does the topping. A well-established manufacturer of luxury EVs, its much-anticipated, high-specced Pininfarina Battista is set to roll off the production line later this year. When first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show back in March, its promised performance inspired oohs and aahs all around – 0-100kmph in under two seconds, a top speed in excess of 350kmph and an impressive per-charge range of 450km.

Its headline appeal, though, lies in the enormous thrust delivered by its 120kWh lithium-ion battery pack. All told, the Battista is said to be blessed with 1,900bHp, making it the most powerful road-legal car ever to go into production. Putting that figure into perspective, it’s almost a third more than the 1,341bHp that established the Koenigsegg Agera RS as the fastest production car back in 2017. Lovingly crafted from ultra-lightweight carbon fibre and with a production run of just 150, this four-wheel-drive sensation comes with 1969lb-ft of torque as standard and all the latest on-road technology from Rimac, Pininfarina’s sportscar-focussed stablemate. Speaking of which…

Rimac C_Two

When Rimac Automobili burst onto the super-luxury EV scene with its C_One electric hypercar back in 2013, it seemed the proverbial overnight success story. Spun out of the workshop of Mate Rimac, the brand’s Croatian founder, the C_One’s truly innovative design outshone the works of countless other more famous – and well-funded – marques. What’s more, thanks to this, the services of Rimac Technology are now regularly sought out by other would-be EV supercar brands.

Not one to rest on its laurels, though, the company is expected to launch its follow up – the C_Two – any day now. With an unprecedented 1,914bHp coming as standard, this upgrade is said to go from 0-60mph in just 1.85 seconds, while having a top speed in excess of 250mph. Sleek, streamlined and boasting an eye-catching matte carbon fibre finish, it is to be released in a limited edition of just 150.

Tesla Roadster 2020

No list of the world’s finest electric hypercars would be complete without a Tesla, with the soon-to-be-released 2020 Tesla Roadster more than meriting inclusion in its own right. With its name a nod to the 2008 model that first saw Tesla gain international recognition, hopes are high for this new addition to its roster.

While there’s no word yet as to its likely horsepower, Tesla’s prerelease publicity promises 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds and a top speed of more than 250mph. If these figures have a ring of familiarity, it’s probably because they are very similar to the specs of both the Pininfarina Battista and the Rimac C_Two. Although neither manufacturer is willing to confirm it, for many, it’s clear that the new Musk-driven EV hypercar is seen as very much the one to beat.

However, Musk still has one or two secret bonus features planned that could yet ensure it proves a true gamechanger. Most notably, there is the SpaceX thruster package, a refinement that has been the subject of several of the inventor’s most intriguing tweets. With the world’s foremost EV entrepreneur going as far as to hint that this under-wraps thruster technology could even see the new vehicle one day zoom skywards, it may be that the battle for supremacy amongst environmentally-friendly electric hypercars may truly be about to take off like never before.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Volkswagen, Automobili Pininfarina, Rimac and Tesla