Why can an electric car respond so quickly when accelerating from a standstill?

Answer: Its motor can deliver strong turning force at very low speed

Its battery stores more energy per kilogram than petrol — Batteries store less energy per kilogram than petrol, not more. Stored energy helps determine range, whereas power describes how quickly energy can be delivered. The motor’s low-speed torque helps explain the immediate response, while battery power also limits how much acceleration the system can provide.

Its battery makes it lighter than a comparable petrol car — A battery does not make a car lighter; its mass often makes an electric car heavier than a comparable petrol model. More mass needs more force for the same acceleration. Quick response comes from the motor delivering torque promptly, not from a universal weight advantage.

Its motor can deliver strong turning force at very low speed ✓ — An electric motor can deliver strong torque, or turning force, from very low speed without waiting for an engine to rev up. This makes the response to the accelerator feel immediate. Actual acceleration still depends on motor output, battery power, gearing, vehicle mass and tire grip; an electric car is not automatically faster than every petrol car.