The Fastest Accelerating Electric Vehicle Built by Students

In a groundbreaking achievement, a group of students from Academic Motorsports Club Zürich, ETH Zürich, and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts have set a new world record for the fastest 0 to 62 mph (0–100 km/h) time for an electric vehicle. Forget the Teslas and Rimacs; the student-engineered marvel named "mythen" achieves this feat in under one second!

How Does Mythen Compare to Market Leaders?

Tesla's Model 3 can achieve 0–60 mph in 3.5 seconds, priced under $50,000. The high-end Porsche Taycan Turbo S and Tesla Model S start their timers with a 2.x, astonishing even the most experienced road testers. However, these vehicles come with a hefty price tag.

For those who have $2 million to spare, Rimac’s Nevera did the dash in an awe-inspiring 1.74 seconds. Pininfarina Battista, at $2.5 million, reaches the mark in 1.85 seconds.

Breaking Barriers on a Budget

What sets "mythen" apart from these giants of speed is its modest build. While hypercars like Battista and Nevera boast over a MW of power, mythen humbly generates 326 hp (240 kW) through four hub-mounted electric motors. Despite the modest horsepower, the vehicle shattered existing records, reaching 0 to 62 mph in a jaw-dropping 0.956 seconds!

Power to Weight Ratio and Aerodynamics

It's not just about power; it's about how you use it. Dario Messerli, head of aerodynamics at Academic Motorsports Club Zürich, notes that the secret sauce lies in effectively transferring power to the ground. Although mythen doesn't generate significant downforce at 62 mph, its unique ground-effect generating underbody optimizes power deployment.

The car tips the scales at a mere 309 lbs (140 kg), which dramatically helps in its rapid acceleration. Student Kate Maggetti, who drove the car, could've practically set the record in a basketball court—the car needed just 40.3 feet (12.3 meters) to reach the record speed.

Key Takeaways

• World Record Set: Students from the Academic Motorsports Club Zürich, ETH Zürich, and Lucerne University built the fastest accelerating EV, named mythen.

• Affordable Engineering: Mythen breaks speed records with a fraction of the horsepower found in multi-million dollar hypercars.

• Aerodynamic Design: The ground-effect generating underbody and minimal weight play crucial roles in achieving the record-breaking speed.

Conclusion

The stunning achievement of the Academic Motorsports Club Zürich showcases not just the limitless potential of electric vehicles but also the ingenuity of student-led initiatives. While industry giants continue to push the boundaries of what's possible, these students have raised the bar, all while keeping sustainability and affordability at the core of their design philosophy.

In the ever-accelerating world of electric vehicles, mythen serves as a testament to what passionate minds can achieve, irrevocably altering our perception of speed and engineering. It is, undeniably, a monumental step forward in the realm of automotive innovation.

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