From Volvo to Ferrari, EVs show that outrageous speed isn’t just for supercars anymore

EVs are no longer just about efficiency and sustainability, as they’re now competing head-to-head with traditional supercars when it comes to raw speed.

What used to be the territory of hand-built exotics is quickly becoming accessible in family-friendly electric cars.

Horsepower figures that once belonged on glossy posters of Italian coupes are now being advertised in compact SUVs.

It raises the question: has the horsepower race gone too far?

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EVs are getting seriously powerful

Take Volvo’s EX30 Twin Motor Performance AWD, a compact electric SUV aimed at younger buyers.

Despite being marketed as an entry-level model, it produces over 420hp and rockets from 0-60 mph in around 3.4 seconds.

For context, that’s about the same as a Ferrari Roma, a gas-powered sports car with 612hp and a top speed of 199 mph.

When a ‘starter’ EV can keep pace with a Ferrari off the line, it shows just how dramatically the performance landscape has shifted.

The same story plays out across the industry.

Tesla’s Model S Plaid drops below the two-second 0-60 mph mark, while Mercedes and BMW have revealed electric concepts with more than 1,000hp on tap.

Hypercars like the Rimac Nevera and Lotus Evija now exceed 1,900 and 2,000hp, respectively, dwarfing even the most extreme gasoline-powered supercars.

In just a decade, EVs have taken performance from niche bragging rights to mainstream expectation.

Critics debate whether the power is necessary

But while the technology is breathtaking, it prompts an uncomfortable reality check.

Do everyday drivers really need Ferrari-level speed in a small family crossover?

Experts argue that instant torque and extreme acceleration can overwhelm inexperienced drivers, especially in vehicles weighing well over two tons, thanks to their large battery packs.

More power also brings new engineering challenges.

After all, heavier brakes, reinforced suspension, and complex software systems are required to manage the physics of such speed.

Ultimately, outrunning a Ferrari in traffic serves little purpose beyond bragging rights.

EVs have already proven they can deliver efficiency and lower emissions than an ICE car, but whether they need to double as supercars is another question entirely.

For now, it seems the industry is betting that bigger horsepower numbers will sell, even if they’re more than what most people need.

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