A look behind the scenes: Swiss students achieve world record run: Huge effort to run in 0.956 seconds

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

About 30 students from ETH Zurich and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences HSLU are nervously preparing for their first record attempt at the disused military airfield in Dübendorf ZH: On this wonderful late summer day, the electric car they built, Mythen, was tested in ideal outdoor conditions during several measurement runs. set a new, official acceleration world record. Thus, I brought back to Switzerland the prestige record that my fellow students from Stuttgart (D) had lost last autumn.

The origins of the current acceleration record attempt go back more than a decade. In that time, almost three dozen students from the Zurich Academic Motorsport Association (AMZ) transformed an electric racing car built for Formula Students (see box) into a super-light, high-tech device with extraordinary acceleration capabilities. The go-kart-like bolide practically consisted of only four wheels and a strong carbon fiber rear wing and therefore weighed only 168 kilograms. However, thanks to four wheel hub electric motors, the single-seater produced over 200 hp and an impressive maximum torque of 1,630 Newton metres.

First Swiss world record in 2014

In the first acceleration world record attempt in 2014, Swiss students needed just 1,785 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h with their little electric winged monster called Grimsel, thus gaining the desired entry into the “Guinness Book of World Records”. Two years later, the AMZ team reduced the world record to 1.513 seconds with a further improved record car. This official sign lasted until last September. Exactly one year ago, Green Team students from Stuttgart broke a new record of 1.461 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.

And Swiss ETH and HSLU students, primarily in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, want to break this record once again by collaborating with industrial partners. Dario Messerli (25), who has successfully completed his degree in mechanical engineering, looks nervous but confident ahead of his first record attempt with official timing, cameras and representatives of Guinness World Records Limited from London. “Our final tests yesterday give us good prospects,” promises the team’s aerodynamicist. “But of course something can always go wrong. All it takes is a small software bug or a mechanical flaw of a five centimeter particle and we can recover.”

Suction cup instead of rear wing

Compared to the Grimsel record car from ten years ago, the current ETH car Mythen is no longer recognizable. The powerful rear spoiler has disappeared. Instead, a massive plate under the vehicle provides the necessary grip when accelerating from the 326 hp (240 kW) hub electric motors. The underbody developed by the students works on a similar principle to that used in Formula 1 in 1978, when a fan provided negative pressure behind the racing car. Shortly before the start, the license plate is lowered and the little car pulls itself up the slope like a suction cup with up to 180 kilograms of pressure. This technique, called the apron technique in Formula 1, was banned again after a short time because it was so effective. Dario Messerli and technical manager Ben Weber (28), also a former ETH mechanical engineering student, believe that they will achieve the targeted acceleration world record thanks to the new “vacuum cleaner technology” as well as new motors, batteries and inverters.

Electrical engineering student Chiara Lenz (22) gets behind the wheel for her first record run. He himself helped develop the car and, with his slender build, was ideally suited as a pilot. “We are four drivers; “They all weigh under 50 kilos,” Chiara explains. Of course, the pilot’s weight also plays an extremely important role in the vehicle, which weighs only 140 kilograms. “No, I didn’t diet specifically for today’s record run,” Chiara Lenz replies with a laugh. To do this, she pierced the seat shell, which is made of feather-light construction foam like Emmental cheese. Really, every gram counts. Does it take courage to drive this missile? “More like patience,” she replies. Of course, the acceleration is incredible and the ride is over so quickly it’s a surreal experience. But days of testing and often hours of waiting for just two or three short missions required more stamina than courage.

First try is already successful

There are no high demands on driving skills. The connected pilot activates the vehicle’s starting procedure by simultaneously pressing the controls behind the steering wheel and the accelerator pedal. If the steering wheel releases its paddles, the launch electronics take over the acceleration process. After reaching the 100 km/h limit or after traveling 15 meters at the latest, the electronic system interrupts the acceleration process; The pilot releases the gas and uses the brake pedal to brake the vehicle to a stop.

After the first try, the group burst into cheers. The 1.123 seconds achieved represents the new world record that has already been targeted. But AMZ students want more. “We hope to lower the record to under one second,” Messerli said. Minor changes will be made in subsequent runs. Kate Maggetti (24), who is a little lighter, takes the wheel instead of Chiara Lenz. In addition, thanks to the old electric blankets donated by the Sauber F1 team, tire temperatures are increased before the start and shock absorbers are made softer. More running follows. And on the ninth attempt it was indeed completed: The official time measurement reads 0.956 seconds. The joy and pride of the students in this wonderful period is immense. The official acceleration world record, which will soon be included in the Guinness Book of Records, once again belongs to AMZ. And it probably won’t sell for much any time soon.

Source: Blick