EV breaks distance record

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【Summary】A student-built electric vehicle from the Technical University of Munich has set a new world record for distance on a single charge. The car, muc22, traveled 1,599 miles (2,574 km) in a six-day test at Munich airport. Despite its small battery capacity of 15.5 kWh, muc22 achieved an impressive 103.2 miles/kWh, equivalent to 3,815 miles per gallon of gas. The EV features extreme specifications, including a top speed of 26 mph and a weight of just 374 lbs.

FutureCar Staff Sep 14, 2023 4:21 PM PT

It seems to be the season for student-led world records. Just recently, a team of student engineers from Switzerland set a new world record for the fastest electric vehicle acceleration. Now, we have another impressive feat accomplished by students, this time from the Technical University of Munich.

Their creation, named muc22, may not have the same sleek appearance as the Swiss speedster, but it was built with efficiency in mind. In a six-day test at Munich airport, muc22 achieved a new distance record on a single charge for a non-solar electric vehicle. It traveled an astounding 1,599 miles (2,574 km) with a battery capacity of just 15.5 kWh, which is less than many plug-in hybrids.

While muc22's specifications are extreme, they are on the opposite end of the spectrum compared to high-performance hypercars like the Pininfarina Battista. This streamlined electric vehicle has a top speed of only 26 mph (42 km/h) and weighs a mere 374 lbs (170 kg) without a driver. Its aerodynamic design, with faired-in rear wheels and a drag coefficient of 0.159, contributes to its efficiency. Additionally, its small frontal area, measuring just 39.4 inches/1,000 mm tall and 47.2 inches/1,200 mm wide, further enhances its performance.

Initially, muc22 was equipped with a pair of 440 W electric motors when it was unveiled in 2022. However, for this record-breaking run, it relied on just 400 W of power. To put that into perspective, it is 268 times less powerful than the least-powerful electric vehicle available for purchase today, the Mazda MX-30. The motor in muc22 is a permanent magnet design, and it features a gallium nitride inverter, which is less common than the silicon carbide inverters found in most production cars.

The record-setting run took place in an empty hangar at Munich Airport, ensuring that weather conditions did not interfere. The team of seven drivers surpassed the previous record of 999 miles (1,609 km) in just four days, and since the battery was not yet empty, they continued driving.

In the end, muc22 shattered the existing record by 60 percent, achieving an astonishing efficiency of 103.2 miles/kWh or 0.6 kWh/100 km. To put it in perspective for those accustomed to measuring fuel efficiency in miles per gallon, it is equivalent to traveling 3,815 miles on a single gallon of gas.

It is worth noting that the most efficient electric vehicles currently available for purchase, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Lucid Air, can achieve around 4.2 miles/kWh (14.8 kWh/100 km).

These impressive records are likely to be surpassed in the near future. Mercedes plans to launch an electric CLA next year, utilizing the powertrain technology showcased by the Vision EQXX concept. Last year, this concept vehicle traveled 747 miles (1,202 km) on a single charge, although it had a larger battery and was driven on public roads. During testing, Ars had the opportunity to try out the EQXX on a track, but it is worth mentioning the efficiency of its test mule, a boxy B-Class SUV, which was equally remarkable despite its less dramatic appearance.