Posted on: Oct 18, 2012 | 17,989 reads

Rimac e-M3 is World's Quickest EV

With 600 horses of pure electric power and the ability to sprint to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds, Rimac's retrofitted BMW has been certified by the FIA as the quickest EV in the world.

Innovation requires motivation. That was certainly the case with this green-colored, green-powered 1984 BMW 3 Series, which began its conversion process when its owner blew out the original engine when he was 19 years old. That owner is Mate Rimac, the man behind the enticing Rimac Concept One. But long before the electric supercar project made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year, Rimac had started the first of five conversion processes that made this classic 3 Series the fastest-accelerating EV in the world.

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The run that gave the "green monster" its title took place in April 2011 on a 2-mile-long runway near Zagreb, but was only certified by the FIA this week. The e-M3 broke the 1/8-mile record at 7.549 seconds and the 1/4-mile at 11.808. Records still pending approval include the half-kilometer (13.714 seconds), the full km(23.260) and the mile (35.347). "We had to wait over a year for FIA's official approval to publish the records," said Rimac. "But while we were waiting the spirit of inventiveness took us even further, so we made something even faster." That something faster is the million-dollar Concept One.

The supercar concept's four electric motors generate 1,088 horsepower and 2,800 lb-ft of torque to run from 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 195 mph. The e-M3 is no slouch, though, generating 600 hp and 663 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to send it to 62 in 3.3 seconds en route to a 174 mph top speed.

by Adam Lynton
Rimac e-M3 is World's Quickest EV

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Rimac e-M3 is World's Quickest EV

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