A group of Swiss students has just redefined what we thought was possible in the world of electric vehicles. Imagine this: going from 0-100 km/h in just 0.956 seconds. This isn’t a Hollywood stunt; it’s a reality crafted by the Academic Motorsports Club Zürich, a team of students from ETH Zürich and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences.
The team named their groundbreaking electric vehicle Mythen. Mythen is built with a lightweight honeycomb of carbon and aluminum. The car weighs only 140 kilograms but packs a punch with 326 horsepower, thanks to its four hub-mounted electric motors and boasts a power output of 240 kilowatts. What sets Mythen apart is its innovative vacuum fan system, which provides unparalleled grip by literally sucking the car to the ground.
The Record-Breaking Moment
On September 1, 2023, the team took Mythen to an airbase strip in Dubendorf, Switzerland. With Kate Magetti at the wheel, the car shattered the previous acceleration record of 1.461 seconds set by a German student team named Greenteam. Mythen covered a distance of 12.3 meters to set the new record of 0.956 seconds, making it the fastest accelerating electric car in the world.
Dario Messerli, the head of aerodynamics at AMZ, emphasizes that effectively transferring that power to the ground is equally crucial. While conventional Formula One cars rely on rear or front wings to maintain ground contact at high speeds, this aerodynamic effect only kicks in after the car has reached a certain velocity.
The AMZ team, however, took a different route. They engineered a sort of “vacuum cleaner” mechanism that keeps Mythen glued to the track. This innovative system ensures optimal traction from the moment the car starts moving, allowing it to utilize its immense power output to the fullest. This is a game-changer in the world of automotive engineering, as it not only helps in achieving record-breaking speeds but also sets a new standard for what electric vehicles can accomplish in terms of performance.
This isn’t AMZ’s first rodeo. The club has a history of setting acceleration records, with previous wins in 2014 and 2016. Founded in 2006, the club comprises around 30 members and builds a new race car every year. They’ve also participated in various international design contests, known as Formula Student in Europe.
The Impact on the EV Industry
This achievement is more than just a notch on a belt for the AMZ; it’s a game-changer for the electric vehicle industry. The EV industry is often criticized for not matching the performance of traditional cars. This record-breaking feat shows that electric cars are not just about being eco-friendly; they’re about raw, unbridled speed. It’s a major step forward for the EV industry and will likely inspire other teams to develop even faster and more efficient electric vehicles.
So, the next time someone questions the potential of electric cars, just remember Mythen and its sub-one-second sprint to 100 km/h.
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