Sylvain Tornare

Aug 30, 20215 min read

Can One Have Fun Driving an Electric Car?

Updated: Jan 14, 2022

For some people, the car represents more than just a means of transportation. It is a source of pride, joy or emotion. Because of their lack of noise and mechanical elements, electric cars may seem more boring to this group of people. But are they really?

Carequest Sàrl car broker Switzerland, Sylvain Tornare looks at al Tesla Model S and a Ferrari F12

The transition to an electric car requires some adjustments to the driving style. The absence of a gearbox and noise, as well as regenerative braking, can be surprising. This can sometimes give the image of a boring vehicle due to the lack of connection with the road. However, it turns out that some electric cars have the potential to please the ayatollahs of the combustion engine.

Driving fun

Driving fun is often linked to the sportiness of a car. The term sporty can be defined in several ways. It can include acceleration, top speed or driving dynamics. Electric cars are particularly interesting in terms of acceleration. The absence of a gearbox or a limited number of gears means that power can be delivered consistently regardless of the cruising speed. Unlike combustion engines, torque is therefore available at all times. Also, electric cars tend to have a relatively high converted power output. This creates special, even surprising emotions and gives the vehicle a playful character.

Due to their battery, electric cars are relatively heavy. This negatively affects their dynamic characteristics due to the laws of physics. This is for example the case in curves, where a heavy vehicle will have a greater tendency to slide than a lighter one. Nevertheless, the battery packs are located in the floor of the vehicle in most cases. This has the advantage of lowering its centre of gravity, which compensates (partially) for the weight. The dynamics of the vehicle are therefore not necessarily affected as much as they might seem.

However, there are some aspects that can limit the pleasure of driving. Engine noise, vibrations, smells or gear shifting are all part of the driving experience. People who like these things will probably be reluctant to drive electric vehicles. Indeed, all these features are absent. Some manufacturers offer the possibility of activating a synthetic sound representing the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle to compensate for this lack. In general, the driver may feel less involved or disconnected from the road.

To sum up, electric cars offer a different driving experience from combustion engines. This does not mean that they offer more or less driving pleasure. It is up to each individual to try out what suits them best.

What are the sporty models?

Tesla

Tesla started its activity with a sporty model, the Roadster, before diversifying its portfolio. The current models are more practical than sporty, ranging from sedans (Model 3 and Model S) to SUVs (Model X and Model Y). But their performance defies logic. The most powerful version of the Model S has more than 1000 horsepower and a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration of about 2 seconds. In addition, a new version of the Roadster is expected to be released in 2022. So Tesla is not currently a sports car producer, but its vehicles can be fun thanks to their sporty and playful characteristics.

Porsche

How can we talk about sports cars without mentioning Porsche? The German manufacturer is a reference in this field. Porsche has gone electric with its Taycan and Taycan Cross Turismo. The performance values seem relatively low compared to Tesla, as the vehicles are competitors. Indeed, in its most powerful version, the Taycan has only 761 horsepower, but Porsche is known for developing efficient engines. Moreover, the models from Stuttgart are dynamically very interesting. In fact, the Taycan has the edge on the Model S when it comes to cornering. The driving position is also lower and therefore sportier. For those who like sound, the sport sound can be activated. The latter sounds more like a spaceship than a car. In conclusion, despite some journalistic criticism, the Taycan is a true Porsche and therefore one of the sportiest electric models.

Audi

Audi is also known for its sporty models wearing an RS badge. Both Audi and Porsche belong to the VW group. So it comes as no surprise that the Audi e-tron GT shares many components and features with the Porsche Taycan, which is a good sign. In its RS variant, the e-tron GT offers 646 horsepower and is, therefore, more closely related to the Taycan Turbo than to the Turbo S. Dynamically, the Audi is slightly less sporty than its cousin from Stuttgart, but the differences are only marginal. The e-tron GT is a more reasonable vehicle than the Taycan, but it can turn into a sports car.

BMW

Unlike Porsche and Audi, BMW does not offer an electric sports car. Nevertheless, with more than 540 horsepower, the recent I4 M50 comes close and should already be more than adequate for driving fun. Moreover, its dynamic characteristics make it a sporty vehicle. A more extreme M version could arrive within the next few months. So BMW has not yet shown everything it has to offer.

Carequest Sàrl car broker Switzerland, BMW I4 M50

Piëch

Piëch Automotive AG is based in Zurich. The company is developing an electric car that combines sport and comfort. The model was presented in 2019 at the Geneva International Motor Show and is expected to go on sale in late 2022. In recent months, little information has been released. Let's wait and see what the start-up has in store for us.

Hypercars

Hypercars are vehicles with unparalleled performance that are reserved for an extremely wealthy clientele. Indeed, these cars cost millions. The best-known manufacturer active in this segment is probably Bugatti, but the French company (now owned by Rimac and Porsche) does not yet offer an electric model. Other manufacturers do. Rimac is the reference. Its Nevera offers almost 2000 horsepower and a top speed of over 400 km/h. An alternative is the Pininfarina Battista, which is actually a Rimac with another body. Other examples are the Lotus Evija, the Aspark Owl, the NIO EP9 or the future MORAND Me41 which is developed and produced in Switzerland in the canton of Fribourg. In conclusion, these vehicles are extremely sporty, but still widely unaffordable.

Restomods

Restomods are old vehicles (oldtimers) that have been modernised or reimagined. The aim is to keep the charm of the past while introducing some modern technology. Some manufacturers electrify these cars. This is for example the case of AC Cars, Totem Automobili, Everrati or Electric Classic Cars. The problem? Exorbitant prices, generally running into the hundreds of thousands of francs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, yes, one can have fun at the wheel of an electric car. There are many alternatives with their advantages and disadvantages. For more information on this subject, we suggest you read our article Is the electric car for you? At the moment, the offer is still relatively limited, but it should grow with the arrival of new manufacturers and the diversification of product portfolios.

If you don't know which vehicle to choose or need more information, don't hesitate to contact us! At Carequest, we will find the car that suits you.

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