Electric vs. Gas: Which Is Faster?

Electric is quicker in most real-world acceleration (0–60 mph, quarter-mile), while gas still holds the edge in ultimate top speed and sustained high-speed runs. The right answer depends on whether you mean rapid acceleration, maximum velocity, lap-time endurance, or how fast you can refuel.

What “faster” really means

Speed can mean different things: how quickly a vehicle launches from a stop, its highest attainable speed, how long it can maintain pace on a race track, or the time it takes to get back on the road after a stop. Distinguishing these dimensions clarifies where electric and gas vehicles excel.

Key dimensions of speed

Below are the main ways people measure “faster,” each emphasizing different strengths of electric and gas powertrains.

• Off-the-line acceleration (0–60 mph, 0–100 km/h, quarter-mile)
• Top speed (absolute maximum velocity)
• Track performance (lap times and consistency over multiple laps)
• Turnaround speed (refueling or recharging time)

Thinking in these categories helps separate headline-grabbing sprints from real-world performance and usage.

Acceleration: Electric dominates the launch

Electric motors deliver instant torque and seamless, single-gear thrust, which is why many modern EVs are among the quickest-accelerating production cars ever made. Flagship EVs can routinely hit 60 mph in under 2 seconds under ideal conditions, and several run the quarter mile in the 8–9 second range. High-performance gas cars are still ferociously quick, but most road-legal ICE models sit a few tenths behind the very quickest EVs in short sprints.

Why EVs launch so hard

These factors explain the EV edge in quick bursts of speed.

• Instant torque: Full torque from zero rpm eliminates lag.
• All-wheel torque vectoring: Multiple motors can precisely distribute power for optimal traction.
• Simplified drivetrains: No gear changes reduces interruption in acceleration.
• Weight distribution: Batteries low in the chassis improve grip at launch.

Together, these advantages make EVs exceptionally effective at short, high-intensity acceleration, often outpacing equivalently priced gas cars from a standstill.

Top speed: Gas still holds the crown (for now)

When it comes to the highest verified production-car top speeds, internal combustion cars still lead. Hypercars like the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ have exceeded 300 mph (over 480 km/h) in verified runs, a level no production EV has matched as of 2025. The quickest EVs—such as the Rimac Nevera—have cracked well past 200 mph, but are typically limited by motor rpm, gear ratios, and thermal constraints rather than raw power.

Why ICE cars go faster at the top end

Top-speed supremacy relies on characteristics where ICE cars keep an edge.

• Gearing and motor rpm limits: Many EVs are optimized for acceleration rather than sustained ultra-high rpm.
• Thermal management: Prolonged high-speed runs can overheat motors, inverters, and batteries.
• Energy density: Gasoline’s higher energy density supports long high-speed pushes without rapid mass gain.
• Aerodynamics and stability: Extreme top-speed tuning remains a specialty of ICE hypercars.

EV top speeds are rising as multi-speed gearboxes, more robust cooling, and improved power electronics develop, but the verified absolute record remains with ICE.

Track performance and endurance

EVs have made rapid progress in circuit racing. High-end models like the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT have set production EV lap records at demanding tracks such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife, while dedicated track software and improved cooling have reduced power fade over multi-lap stints. Still, the overall production-car lap record at major circuits is held by combustion-driven or hybridized ICE cars (for instance, the Mercedes-AMG One at the Nordschleife), reflecting the advantages of lower mass, rapid refueling, and thermal resilience over extended runs.

What matters on a circuit

These are the ingredients of sustained lap-time performance.

• Thermal stability: Consistent power delivery without heat-induced throttling.
• Weight and balance: Lower mass benefits braking, cornering, and tire wear.
• Energy turnaround: Fast pit stops favor liquid fuels over current charging realities.
• Brake durability: Regeneration helps EVs, but curb weight still taxes friction brakes.

As battery cooling, chemistry, and charging tech advance, EVs are closing the gap in multi-lap consistency, though ultimate, record-setting endurance remains a combustion stronghold today.

Practical speed in daily life

For everyday driving—merging, passing, and short sprints—EVs feel faster and more effortless thanks to instant torque. On highways with legal speed limits, the top-speed advantage of ICE cars rarely matters. However, for long trips without access to fast chargers, gas cars “feel” faster overall because refueling is minutes versus a typical 20–35 minutes for a substantial DC fast charge (and longer in cold weather or on congested networks).

Everyday considerations

Assess these real-world factors when deciding which is “faster” for you day-to-day.

• Charging vs. refueling time on your typical routes
• Availability and reliability of high-power DC chargers
• Climate impacts on EV charging speed and range
• Performance needs: quick overtakes vs. track days vs. top speed bragging rights

In routine use, EV acceleration often delivers the most tangible sense of speed, while ICE refueling keeps overall trip time competitive on very long journeys absent dense charging infrastructure.

Bottom line

If you care about the quickest jump off the line and short-distance sprints, electric wins. If your benchmark is the highest verifiable top speed and sustained high-speed or endurance performance, gas still has the edge. For most drivers living within speed limits, EVs feel faster more of the time; for extreme performance benchmarks and rapid long-distance turnarounds, ICE remains ahead.

Summary

Electric vehicles are generally faster in acceleration thanks to instant torque and advanced traction control, while gas-powered cars retain superiority in ultimate top speed and multi-lap endurance. Daily driving favors the EV “quickness” advantage; extreme top-speed records and rapid refueling favor ICE. Your definition of “faster” should guide the choice.

Is electric faster than gas?

Are EVs as fast as fuel cars? Many people associate power with the deep sound of revving engines and mistake EVs’ silence to mean they are lacking in speed and performance. In fact, the opposite is true. EVs accelerate faster than gas-powered cars and have more than enough speed for every-day usage.

Is it cheaper to fill up gas or electric?

Charging at home will impact your electric bill, but it is still more cost-effective than gasoline. That $15.50 sounds much more cost effective than $74 to fill up a Honda Civic at a gas station. Electricity costs can vary by location, but even at higher rates, charging an electric vehicle is cheaper.

Is gas more powerful than electric?

Consider the power demand
When reading a power tool buying guide, you’ll quickly learn that gas-powered tools generally deliver more power than electric ones.

Can an electric car beat a gas car?

The reality: EVs require much less energy to operate than gasoline-burning vehicles. In fact, with the nation’s current electricity blend, an EV requires only about half the energy needed for a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine.