The Nürburgring Nordschleife is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, stretching out over 20.832 km (12.9 miles) of Eifel mountains.
Taking in 73 corners, with a mixture of sharp and sweeping bends, steep drops and climbs, banked hairpins, and both famous and infamous corner names, the Nürburgring Nordschleife has the deserved nickname of Die Grüne Hölle - the Green Hell.
As such, it’s a favourite of car manufacturers to help develop their vehicles over a wide range of different terrains in a compact environment. And clearly, this gets competitive, with “ring times” the mark of prestige.
We look at the fastest electric vehicles to navigate the challenging circuit. The Nürburgring only started collating and officially publishing record times in 2019, but times have been released and generally verified long before then. As such, only two production electric vehicles are currently listed in the official table, Porsche’s Taycan and the Tesla Model S. However, we have collated the fastest times before and since.
Production car records:
Porsche Taycan Turbo S - 7:33.35
Fitted with the optional Performance Kit on the Taycan Turbo S, Porsche has seized the lap record from Tesla for the fastest production electric car to get around the Nürburgring's 20.8 km Nordschleife circuit.
The performance saloon is one of the fastest cars around on real roads, but it has also proven to be lightning quick on the track with Porsche development driver Lars Kern behind the wheel. Things were helped by ultra-sticky Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres, and an update to the car’s chassis control system to work optimally with the new increased grip levels.
However, everything is available factory-fitted from Porsche, currently only in Germany but that still makes everything legitimate enough for the official Nürburgring lap time sheet, while TUV Rheinland was on hand to confirm that the Taycan was a standard production model - other than the required roll cage and racing seats for safety purposes.
Date record set: 11/04/2022
Tesla Model S Plaid - 7:35.579
Tesla’s high-performance version of the best-selling Model S previously held the lap record for the Nordschleife. A time of 7:35.579 set by driver Andreas Simonsen proved the potential of Tesla’s 1,020 hp super-saloon.
Plaid models are yet to arrive in the UK, but the latest flagship version of the Model S features three electric motors for its colossal power output.
As with all record attempts, the record is set on a flying lap and the vehicle is both scrutinised before and after the lap, as well as monitored independently for timekeeping.
Date record set: 09/09/2021
Tesla Model S P85D - 8:50
Prior to the Model S Plaid taking the Nürburgring production electric vehicle lap record in 2021, a previous iteration - the P85D - held the record.
With the dual motor 85 kWh Performance model lapping in just under nine minutes, it was a clear indication as to the potential available from the American saloon.
Date record set: 2015
Tesla Model 3 Performance - 9:00
More recently than the Model S, Tesla’s Model 3 Performance has set a time around the ‘Ring, with nine minutes a solid lap by anyone’s standards.
Featuring less power than the Model S, the then-new Model 3 Performance still features dual motors for a hefty power output.
Date record set: 2019
Prototype electric vehicles:
Volkswagen ID. R - 6:05.336
Volkswagen’s moving test-lab holds a number of hillclimb records around the world, and even held the Nürburgring lap record for a time. Fettled specifically for an attempt at the ‘Ring, Volkswagen’s electric time-trialist wasn’t far off dipping beneath the six minute mark.
It remains the second fastest time behind the electrified Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo, a car based on the last version of the Stuttgart marque’s Le Mans and World Endurance Championship conquering 919 Hybrid car. Freed of constraints, a lightened, improved-aero 919 Hybrid Evo is the only car to go faster at the Nordschleife than VW’s ID. R, which set its time driven by racing driver Romain Dumas.
Date record set: 03/06/2019
Nio EP9 - 06:45.90
Chinese manufacturer Nio built an EP9 prototype to help boost its recognition worldwide, and set a Nürburgring record at the time for an electric vehicle with its supercar.
Driven by Peter Dumbreck, the lap was one of the earliest examples of a manufacturer seriously chasing a Nürburgring electric lap record.
Date record set: 12/05/2017
Toyota TMG EV P002 - 7:22.329
The Toyota TMG EV P002 is a hillclimbing car, developed for the famous Pikes Peak event, which starts at high altitude and just gets higher. In recent years, electric cars have been taking the climb records, because internal combustion engines like oxygen-rich air, which is in scarce supply at altitude. Electric motors just don’t care.
With 400 kW of power and a lightweight structure, the TMG EV P002 was taken to the Nürburgring to set its own time. Although not designed to tackle a circuit, the Nordschleife is about as close to a hillclimb course without actually being one, and it performed brilliantly.
Date record set: 02/10/2012
Porsche Taycan - 7:42
Before the full production version of the Taycan was released by Porsche, a pre-production model was tested around the Nordschleife, drumming up excitement for the electric performance saloon.
Although not listed in the official production model list, the Taycan was effectively stock, though a more basic version of the now record-holding Taycan Turbo S.
Date record set: 26/08/2019
Electric RaceAbout - 8:42.72
Designed by Finish students at the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, the road-legal one-off lapped the Nordschleife in less than nine minutes. Considering it had no backing from a car giant and could technically be driven to and away from the circuit, it’s an impressive feat for the student project.
Date record set: September 2011
Peugeot EX1 - 9:01.3
Clearly looking at what an electric car can do, and with a concept car kicking around its storage warehouse with little to do, Peugeot’s engineers decided to take the EX1 concept around the ‘Ring.
The result was surprisingly good, with a light body and twin electric motors getting the EX1 around in a very respectable time - especially considering this is not a specialist, ‘Ring focused model.
Date record set: May 2011
Mini E Racer - 9:52
The Mini Electric is a great little EV, but back in 2010, there were a small number of Mini E electric models based on the first generation hatch. Mini’s engineers grabbed one of these, and took it to the Nordschleife.
With lower suspension, stripped out weight, a roll-cage, racing tyres and brakes, and the same 150 kW motor that powered the prototypes, the Mini E Racer completed a sub-10 minute ‘Ring time.
Fettled software and a lengthened gear ratio made sure the Mini E Racer didn’t top-out too soon on the long back straight.
Date record set: April 2010
