Dutch students today reset the Guiness world record for acceleration 0-100 km/h, in the category for electric cars. The Delft University of Technology Racing Team used their 2012 All-Wheel-Drive 148 kg Formula Student DUT12 to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 2.13 seconds at Valkenburg Airport.
The Formula SAE car has a four wheel drive powertrain with a 26 kw / 27 Nm motor driving each wheel giving a total peak power output of 104 kw. The front motors are out-board and drive through a 1:7 Planetary gear system. The rear motors are in-board and drive the wheels via a 1:13 two-stage spur gear system with carbon fiber half-shafts.
The Delft Team first prepared the ground by pouring a solution of sugar in water over the track, and heating it with a gas-burner. All rubble was removed and a plastic sheet was put over the track to keep it dry. Additionally, tire warmers were used on the car, the driver was the team's lightest member, Marly Kuijpers, and the the run was repeated ten times with traction control and tire slippage tweaked within the four motor controllers via the CAN bus ECU for each run.
The team says that rule changes make 2013 and 2014 Formula Student cars less likely contenders for future acceleration records. For one thing they will have high downforce wings, which add drag, and larger batteries, adding weight. The heavier machines are unlikely to reach a new record, so Delft may well hang on to the top spot longer than another student team, which held its record just over a year.
