In a remarkable display of engineering prowess, students from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts have set a new world record with their electric racing car named "mythen."
This innovative vehicle accelerated from a standstill to 100 km/h in a mere 0.956 seconds, leaving the previous record of 1.461 seconds in the dust.
The record-breaking event took place on the race track in Innovationspark Dübendorf, where "mythen" covered a distance of 12.3 meters in its rapid acceleration.
Watch the record-breaking drive below.
The Guinness World Records has officially recognized this achievement, noting that the students' electric racer surpassed the previous record by over a third.
The journey to this monumental achievement was not a short one. Members of the Academic Motorsports Club Zurich, representing both universities, dedicated almost a year to perfecting their electric racing car.
Yann Bernard, the head of the motor at AMZ, shared his experience, stating, "Working on the project in addition to my studies was very intense. But even so, it was a lot of fun working with other students to continually produce new solutions and put into practice what we learned in class."
Every component of "mythen" was meticulously developed and optimized by the students. Weighing in at only around 140 kilos, this lightweight electric racing car boasts an impressive power of 240 kilowatts.
However, as Dario Messerli, head of aerodynamics, points out, raw power isn't the sole determinant of acceleration records. The effective transfer of that power to the ground is equally crucial. Traditional racing car mechanisms, such as the rear or front wing, only become effective at certain speeds. To address this challenge, the students ingeniously developed a device reminiscent of a vacuum cleaner. This device ensures the racing car remains firmly grounded through suction, optimizing its acceleration capabilities.
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts are renowned institutions, known for fostering innovation and producing groundbreaking research in various fields. Their collaboration on projects like "mythen" showcases the potential of academic partnerships in pushing the boundaries of what's possible in technology and engineering.
