In the past, electric cars were often associated with slow, small vehicles with limited range. However, this image is now outdated as engineers are competing to create the fastest electric race cars. Recently, a team of 30 students from ETH Zurich and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts developed and built an electric race car called “grimsel” that set a new acceleration record of 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.513 seconds. The car was entered into the “Formula Student” competition, which is the world’s largest competition for engineering students with over 500 teams. Since 2010, electric vehicles have been able to compete in their own category.
The grimsel’s success is due to its unique design, which prioritizes weight reduction. The car is made almost entirely of carbon fiber and weighs only 168 kilograms. The students also developed their own wheel hub motors, which provide a total of 200 horsepower and 1700 Newton meters of torque. The car’s all-wheel drive system and traction control allow for quick acceleration without losing control. Additionally, the car is energy-efficient, with regenerative braking that recovers about 30% of the energy used.
The grimsel’s record-breaking acceleration time of 1.513 seconds is a significant achievement, especially considering that no combustion engine vehicle has ever achieved such a feat. The car’s success is a testament to the potential of electric vehicles in the racing world. As technology continues to improve, it is likely that we will see more electric race cars breaking records and pushing the limits of what is possible.
