Electrified hypercars that shocked us in 2017

It is an inevitable electric future and it is coming sooner than we know it. Major manufacturers are mulling over the electrification of their production car line-up. Whereas niche manufacturers want to leave their mark on the world. And one assertive method to do so is to come up with an inconceivable, spaceship-esque hypercar with a colossal electric powertrain. Here are few of the electrified hypercars of 2017 that gave us a glimpse of the electric future.

Vanda Dendrobium

Meet the Dendrobium, an ambitious nature-inspired electric hypercar from Singapore. The mouthful name is derived from a fully-opened Dendrobium flower native to Singapore. The unique name is called that since the hypercar’s unique roof and doors resemble the flower. The Dendrobium targets at a top speed in excess of 325kmph and a 0-100kmph time of 2.7 seconds. The two inboard axle-mounted electric motors are powered by a lithium-ion-battery which was developed in-house by Vanda Electrics. The first model is expected to hit the road by 2020.

RAESR Tachyon Speed

Another Southern California-based tech company named Rice Advanced Engineering Systems and Research (RAESR, pronounced "racer") showcased something that looked otherworldly. Their first ambitious project is called Tachyon Speed; named after tachyon, a hypothetical particle that always moves faster than light. The Tachyon Speed looks like a spaceship of a different galaxy or something which could qualify as a Bat mobile in the year 2030. RAESR says the hypercar makes use of six direct drive electric motors that deliver a combined output of more than 1,250 horsepower and an earth-shattering torque of 4,948Nm. Weighing just 1,338kg, the Tachyon can take off to 200kmph in less than seven seconds, while quarter mile is dusted in under 10 seconds, claims RAESR. All the aerodynamic and mechanical wizardry is present to prevent the car from reaching outer space.

Lamborghini Terzo Millennio

This is what the Raging Bulls would look like before the end of the world. The Lamborghini Terzo Millennio is a design study which the petrolheads (if they still call themselves that) of the third millennium would stick on their bedroom walls. The powertrain is not the mainstream batteries that the whole world is using. Instead there are supercapacitors powering motors on each wheel. The body is a monocoque shell of forged composites for aerodynamic purposes. The carbon body can act as an accumulator to store charge. How shocking is that? And to top it all, the Terzo Millennio showcased a self-healing property. It can automatically detect cracks and damages in the carbon structure and repair them through micro channels in the bodywork filled with ‘healing chemistries’. It is autonomous as well, but it would self-drive a hot lap on a racetrack instead.

Aspark Owl

You cannot talk about cars without mentioning a Japanese one. Aspark Owl is a performance EV that ought to shatter the 0-100kmph time in under two seconds. Standing at just 990mm from the ground, the Owl looks like a LeMans prototype developed for the year 2030. It took the Frankfurt stage with its massive rear wing, diffusers, louvres and splitters encapsulating the two-seater cabin. The track-only beast is reportedly powered by 40kW motors that offer 429bhp and phenomenal 764Nm giving tractions to all-four wheels since the Owl tips the scale at mere 850 kilograms.

Tesla Roadster

Elon Musk took everyone’s breath away by unveiling an all-new version of its electric Roadster. Promised to hit the roads sometime in 2020, the Roadster moniker has come a long way from being the first Tesla road car back in 2008. The Tesla Roadster claims to be the fastest accelerating vehicle on the planet. With an earth-shattering 10,000Nm of turning force (yes you read that right), the Roadster will reportedly hit a ton in mere 1.9 seconds. It will tear down the drag strip with a standing quarter-mile run in 8.8 seconds. The 200kWh is the biggest battery pack ever fitted to a road car and lends the Roadster a range of 1000km.