Why are gas vehicles faster than electric vehicles even though electricity is faster?

Answer 1

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Problem with the question - one type of engine is not intrinsically faster than another - the electric car gets this unfair rap because many electric car makers choose not to include a transmission in their cars.
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Since electric motors have very wide powerbands (unlike gas engines) the electric motor can be connected directly to the wheels, with no transmission necessary. This saves the manufacturer money, but limits the top speed of the electric vehicle. To show that an electric vehicle can compete with a gas vehicle, take a look at the Tesla electric sports car:
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http://teslamotors.com/performance/performance.php
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The Tesla has beaten a Ferrari in a head-to-head race. In order to be able to compete like this, the Tesla has to have a transmission. The transmission only has two gears.
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Answer 2

Your premise is wrong. Electrics are faster than gas powered for a given energy consumption, because electric motors are more effecient. The problem is that the weight of batteries makes the entire system bulky and heavy. Where electricity is supplied from the outside, such as overhead train wires, railroads prefer it.

Answer 3

Gas vehicles are usually faster because gasoline is very energy dense, batteries aren't. Gasoline is fairly light, batteries aren't.

You can make an electric car as fast as you want ... you just won't get very far.