Electric and hybrid cars have been around for over two decades, but never before have they been the flagship models of the major automotive manufacturers. The stigma surrounding electric cars stems from underwhelming performance in their early days – insufficient battery life and poor power ratings caused the automotive world to become skeptical of the technology.
Within the last few years, however, electric and hybrid vehicles have shocked the world with their incredible capabilities. As much as die-hard internal combustion engine aficionados would hate to admit it, electric motor powered vehicles are the mode of transportation the future. With awesome amounts of torque and effortless horsepower, electric vehicles put up astonishing numbers on the track.
The two fastest accelerating cars in the world are both EVs. The Tesla Model S Plaid, a fully electric car with three motors, accelerated from 0-60 mph in just over two seconds – barely behind the Swedish supercar builder Koenigsegg for the fastest accelerating production car. The Koenigsegg Germana is a hybrid performance car with a 2.0 L twin-turbocharged engine and three electric motors.
Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are not the only ones producing performance cars. The big three American automakers either have plans to or are already churning out electric versions of their flagship sports car models – a huge leap for the automotive industry. Ford released the Mustang Mach-E crossover in 2019, and though it was initially disappointing to Mustang fans, it was an important first step. Less than two years later, Dodge announced they would be producing electric muscle cars by 2024, with body styles paying homage to classic late ‘60s designs.
Most recently, General Motors announced via Twitter a hybrid, all wheel drive version of the Corvette for 2023. Unlike the Mach-E Mustang, the Corvette will retain the same platform and its mid-engine V8. A fully electric version will follow. Arguably the most famous sports car in history, the Corvette will continue to garner much excitement as its release date approaches. Junior Aden Anderson was thrilled about the announcement. “From what I hear about electric cars, their power output is instant. In a car like the Corvette, instant power along with the Corvette’s handling ability would be a blast to drive.”
The world is amidst a paradigm shift in automotive technology, and the car community is beginning to realize it. The modern, electric versions of legendary American cars are essential in bringing the technology mainstream, by capturing the interest of the populace. Even though the transition to EV manufacturing will take years and many changes will need to be made to achieve this goal, the cost is worth it – for the general consumer and for the environment.
There will always be a niche for gasoline combustion engines. Classic cars will continue to be an inspiration for hobbyists and tinkerers. No one will ever forget the muscle cars of the late ‘60s and ‘70s or the European supercars of the ‘80s and ‘90s, nor will they forget the sounds of those growling engines. Nonetheless, the daily driver vehicle and performance cars will certainly become electric in the near future. They are more convenient for the average driver, and mechanically, their simplicity lends itself to reliability.
Electric cars are the way of the future, and there is no doubt about it.
Kris Basnet • May 6, 2022 at 8:18 am
This was a great article! Just as Aden is excited for the future of cars so am I. I am a big of the Tesla cars and think they are super cool and very efficient for the environment.