Which car is faster: petrol or electric?

Electric cars are generally quicker in short bursts—think 0–60 mph and quarter-mile runs—thanks to instant torque, while petrol cars still dominate ultimate top-speed records and often sustain performance longer on track. In practice, “faster” depends on what you measure: acceleration, top speed, or lap-after-lap consistency.

What “faster” really means

Speed can refer to different metrics, and each favors different technologies. Acceleration measures how rapidly a car reaches a target speed, top speed shows the highest velocity achievable, and track performance highlights consistency over time, heat management, and handling.

The list below outlines the main ways enthusiasts and engineers define “faster,” which shape why electric and petrol cars excel in different scenarios.

• Standing-start acceleration (0–60 mph, 0–100 km/h)
• Rolling acceleration (e.g., 50–70 mph, highway overtakes)
• Quarter-mile and half-mile times
• Top speed (V-max) and how long it can be held
• Lap times and consistency over multiple laps

Taken together, these measures explain why EVs often win drag races yet petrol cars can still reign at v-max and in endurance-style efforts.

Acceleration: EVs’ instant win

Modern electric cars deliver peak torque from zero rpm and can route power to all four wheels with fine-grained electronic control. As a result, production EVs have set staggering acceleration benchmarks: hyper-EVs like the Rimac Nevera have posted sub-2-second 0–60 mph launches and sub-9-second quarter-miles, while high-performance sedans such as the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire commonly run 0–60 mph in around 2 seconds and quarter-miles in the 9–10 second range. Comparable petrol supercars typically need more engine speed, traction, and shifting to achieve similar times.

These are the core reasons EVs launch harder and more consistently than petrol cars with similar power.

1. Instant torque delivery with no need to rev or shift
2. All-wheel drive with millisecond torque vectoring for traction
3. Single-speed (or 2-speed) transmissions minimizing shift delays
4. Predictable repeatability in similar conditions

In short sprints and real-world overtakes, EVs’ immediate torque and traction control almost always translate to quicker results.

Top speed: petrol still rules the extremes

When it comes to absolute v-max, petrol hypercars still hold the most eye-widening records. Bugatti’s Chiron Super Sport 300+ famously exceeded 300 mph (one-way run), and top ICE contenders continue to chase ever-higher verified two-way averages. High-end EVs are catching up—Rimac’s Nevera has a top speed north of 250 mph—but batteries, motor RPM limits, gearing, and cooling impose practical constraints at very high sustained speeds. Pulling megawatts for extended periods heats components and drains energy fast, making it harder for EVs to maintain their fastest velocities as long as their petrol counterparts.

Track pace and staying power: a nuanced picture

Track performance blends power, weight, thermal management, braking, and chassis balance. EVs have set eye-catching lap records in their classes—Porsche’s Taycan Turbo GT, Tesla’s Model S Plaid with track upgrades, and Rimac’s hypercar have all posted benchmark laps—yet weight and heat remain hurdles for long stints. Petrol and hybrid track weapons can often repeat fast laps with fewer thermal limitations, and the overall production-car lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife is held by the hybrid Mercedes-AMG One, underscoring the endurance advantages combustion-based setups (and hybrids) still retain.

Below are the biggest factors that influence lap-by-lap consistency for both powertrains.

• Thermal management: batteries, motors/inverters, and ICE cooling systems
• Mass: EV battery packs increase weight, affecting tire and brake wear
• Energy density: petrol stores more energy per kilogram than current batteries
• Braking: regen helps EVs, but repeated heavy stops still demand robust friction brakes
• Powertrain control: software strategies to prevent heat soak or power fade

Advances in cooling, higher-voltage systems, and lightweighting are narrowing the gap, but repeated hot laps still tend to favor lighter, combustion-based or hybrid setups.

Everyday “speed” and usability

Outside of record books, how fast a car feels day to day is about response and access to performance. EVs deliver instant shove for urban sprints and highway merges. Petrol cars, meanwhile, refuel in minutes and maintain pace at unrestricted Autobahn speeds with less concern for range drop-off.

This rundown shows where each powertrain most often feels “faster” in typical use.

• City sprints and on-ramps: electric—instant torque and seamless thrust
• Long, sustained high-speed cruising: petrol—stable temperatures and quick refueling
• Drag strips and short blasts: electric—repeatable launches and traction
• Track days: depends—EVs can post sensational laps; petrol/hybrids often hold pace longer

For most drivers, EV acceleration advantages are the most noticeable, while petrol strengths emerge on very long, very fast journeys or extended track sessions.

What’s changing fast

Technology is reshaping the answer. EVs are moving to 800–1000V architectures, silicon-carbide inverters, sophisticated liquid cooling, and in some cases multi-speed gearboxes (like Porsche’s 2-speed rear axle) to improve both launch and high-speed efficiency. Brake-by-wire and advanced torque vectoring are also improving lap consistency. Petrol performance is increasingly hybridized for both power and efficiency, blending electric boost with combustion stamina. Battery chemistry and thermal breakthroughs—plus potential future solid-state cells—could further close the top-speed and endurance gaps.

Bottom line

If you define “faster” as the shove you feel from a stop or the number on a quarter-mile slip, electric wins today—and often by a large margin. If you define it as ultimate top speed or the ability to pound out lap after lap with minimal fade, petrol (and petrol-hybrid) machines still have the edge. The right answer depends on which kind of speed you value and how you’ll use the car.

Summary

Electric cars are typically quicker in short sprints and real-world acceleration thanks to instant torque and precise traction control. Petrol cars still dominate the highest verified top speeds and often sustain performance better over long, hot sessions. Both are evolving rapidly, but as of 2025, EVs are quickest off the line, while petrol retains the crown for extreme v-max and endurance.

Which car is better, electric or petrol?

Electric cars are more eco-friendly and cheaper to run, but petrol cars offer more convenience with widespread fueling stations and a lower upfront cost.

What is the fastest accelerating car?

The fastest accelerating production car is currently a contested title, but the Aspark Owl is a strong contender, holding Guinness World Records for its 0-1/8 mile and 0-1/4 mile times, with the Rimac Nevera R accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in a remarkable 1.8 seconds, and the Koenigsegg Gemera and Pininfarina B95 also achieving sub-2.0-second 0-60 mph times. Non-production or specialized vehicles, such as the McMurtry Spéirling, are even quicker, with claims of 0-60 mph in as little as 1.4 seconds. 
Fastest Production Cars

• Aspark Owl: This hypercar, designed in Japan and manufactured in Italy, holds Guinness World Records for the 0-1/8 and 0-1/4 mile, making it the fastest-accelerating production car. 
• Rimac Nevera R: The Rimac Nevera R can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.8 seconds, a testament to its 2,170 horsepower electric motors. 
• Koenigsegg Gemera: This four-seater hybrid can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds. 
• Pininfarina B95: An open-top hypercar, the B95 also achieves 0-60 mph in under 2.0 seconds. 

Specialized & Non-Production Cars 

• McMurtry Spéirling: This lightweight electric track car has achieved a 0-60 mph in just 1.4 seconds, making it one of the fastest-accelerating vehicles in the world, according to some sources.

Why the Title is Contested

• Different Categories: The title of “fastest” depends on whether you are looking at production cars, electric cars, or specialized track cars. 
• Rapid Technological Advancement: New technology is constantly emerging, with electric and hybrid powertrains pushing the boundaries of acceleration even further. 
• Conditions: Claims for extremely quick acceleration, like the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170’s 1.66-second 0-60 mph time, often require highly specific conditions like a “one-foot rollout” and a heavily prepared surface. 

What are three disadvantages to an electric car?

Electric Cars – What are the downsides to electric cars?

• Their batteries need rare metals.
• Making electric cars creates more emissions.
• They are only as green as their power sources.
• Electric cars can be expensive to buy.
• You can’t drive as far in an electric car.
• There aren’t enough charging points.

Is an electric car faster than petrol?

In fact, the opposite is true. EVs accelerate faster than gas-powered cars and have more than enough speed for every-day usage.