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Forget Tesla 'D' - This Is The Fastest Electric Car In The World

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Andy Tully via OilPrice.com,

Grimsel

When we think of electric cars, probably the first thing that comes to mind is the Chevrolet Volt, which is smooth running but needs frequent recharging. Plus it’s no speed demon.

But if you think electric cars still deserve consideration, take a look at the “Grimsel,” the creation of the technical schools ETH Zurich and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. On Nov. 3 the students put the spurs to the car and got it to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in 1.785 seconds, using less than 30 meters of track.

That’s nearly twice as fast as Tesla’s fleet Model S P85D. And it’s record-breaking.

One of the 30 students from the two schools, all members of the formula Student team at the Academic Motorsports Club Zurich (AMZ), had the Grimsel roaring down a runway at the military airfield in Duebendorf to beat the old record of 0-to-100 kph in 2.134 seconds that had been held by an electric car built by the Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology.

The new record is awaiting ratification by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The car itself is a Formula Student vehicle designed and constructed in less than a year by students at both ETH and Lucerne. The record-breaking car, the fifth iteration of the students’ continuing research, packs 200 horsepower and its chassis is a one-piece carbon-fiber shell, strong and light. It weighs 370 pounds.

The rubber meets the road with tires measuring 7.5 inches in width attached to the hubs with one-piece, again made from strong, light carbon fiber.

Grimsel is a four-wheel-drive vehicle, though probably not meant for driving in inclement weather or over rough terrain, but for efficient speed. Each wheel hub is fitted with special electric motors which together generate 1,202 foot-pounds of torque. The car distributes torque individually to each wheel to optimize acceleration while minimizing wheel spin.

ETH Zurich says this is the strongest acceleration of any other production vehicle ever made.

This wasn’t the first success for the “Grimsel.” During the summer it also won several races at the Formula Student international competition. More than 500 teams are represented at Formula Student, the world’s largest such event for engineers held each year in a different country.

“Grimsel” managed three wins in the 2014 competition and racked up an average of 920 points out of a possible 1,000, making it so far the most successful car designed and built by AMZ. The car also had a victory each in Austria and Spain, and by winning both races it earned the highest scores in the European history of Formula Student.

 

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Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:51 | 5425018 Jameson18
Jameson18's picture

SO.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:04 | 5425073 SilverRhino
SilverRhino's picture

I think I saw that exact same spoiler on a Honda Accord.    

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:06 | 5425076 OW My Balls
OW My Balls's picture

Looks like a friggin go cart.

 

Where's my goddamned flying car? That's what I want to know.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:23 | 5425142 LetThemEatRand
LetThemEatRand's picture

So, oilprice.com doesn't bother to mention that it's a go cart and a little easier to accelerate than a full size car, and then slams all of the "real" electric cars for being lesser.  I wonder what the agenda would be there?

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:27 | 5425152 Hengist
Hengist's picture

They want to sell cars that burn underwater?


Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:12 | 5425310 Save_America1st
Save_America1st's picture

I'm pretty sure the Chevy Volt is the last piece of shit car on anyone's mind.  And those who own one know they're the biggest losers in the world too.  LOL

dumb bitchez...

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 20:05 | 5425700 Stackers
Stackers's picture

It's not just that amount of torque an electric motor makes but that it makes full torque instantly and at all rpms.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 20:49 | 5425881 Abitdodgie
Abitdodgie's picture

So everything industrial seems to be going hydraulic instead of using electric motors  could you convert it to hydraulic and out perform electric , just asking 

Sat, 11/08/2014 - 00:04 | 5426474 Publicus
Publicus's picture

We need to let students run the world, instead of polititian and the rich elites.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 21:12 | 5425962 PT
PT's picture

Yeah, it can get 0-100 in under 2 seconds, very good.  Now, what is its top speed?  How far can it go on a single charge?  How long does it take to recharge?  How long do the batteries last?  Show us a graph of battery deterioration over time.  What do the batteries weigh?  What do the batteries cost?  How well do the batteries handle a collision?  Or water?

Please, give us a story here.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:50 | 5426277 BlindMonkey
BlindMonkey's picture

Oh FFS. You can't get it all in one shot. Yes Tesla is a hype machine but their cars are great. This is pushing the boundary in the pure performance direction.

You want maximum value, utility etc? Go build a n electric bus or something.

Sat, 11/08/2014 - 12:15 | 5427178 PT
PT's picture

Fair comment but I still wanna know.

One of the many flaws in practical capitalism is the lack of information.  In theory the consumer is infinitely informed.  In reality every gain that is advertised is offset by a loss that one only discovers after buying crap.

For example:
Internet for the cost of a local call ( but we won't mention the $1200 per year ISP cost)
Cheap battery drill ( but it has no torque and the batteries take 13 hours to charge and are subject to memory effect)
Cheap stuff in general ( that breaks in the first two weeks and so is actually hugely expensive when costed on an annualized basis)>
Indestructible CDs that don't matter if they get scratched - oh, hang on!  That one was just a complete lie!  How come no-one was held accountable for that one?  'Cos the media said it, not the companies?  I don't know.
Synthetic CDOs rated AAA.

So yeah, while there may be a celebration somewhere up in that article, I still want to see a bit of context to go along with it.  Many people won't bother asking questions and will just get carried away with the excitement.  I won't get excited until I know how exciting it really is.

Sat, 11/08/2014 - 10:50 | 5427014 massbytes
massbytes's picture

I think you are the dumb bitch.  Drive one then shoot your stupid mouth off clown.  You don't know shiiite about a Volt.  I guarantee it is more fun to drive than whatever POS you drive.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:15 | 5425322 Save_America1st
Save_America1st's picture

I'm pretty sure the Chevy Volt is the very last piece of shit car on anyone's mind.  And those who own one know they're the biggest losers in the world too.  LOL

dumb bitchez...

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 21:15 | 5425973 californiagirl
californiagirl's picture

Still would love to take a spin in that!  It's a convertible and it goes fast, two things I love!

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 21:31 | 5426007 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Go on YouTube and search for 'gixxer kart'.  If you think this little science experiment sounds fun, you ain't seen nothing till you strap a GSX-R motorcycle engine to a shifter kart.  Costs a crapload less, too.  Neither is road-legal, I guarantee you.

Sat, 11/08/2014 - 00:37 | 5426540 Dolar in a vortex
Dolar in a vortex's picture

Closest thing on earth to Formula 1 performance.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:24 | 5425144 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

Michael Hastings had a flying car...

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:55 | 5425253 Utah_Get_Me_2
Utah_Get_Me_2's picture

And a physics defying engine that was magnetically repsulsive to trees at a minimum distance of 100 ft...

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:08 | 5426160 N0TME
N0TME's picture

That's frying car, not flying car. 

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:58 | 5425272 edifice
edifice's picture

And my hoverboard???

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:06 | 5426155 N0TME
Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:07 | 5425084 debtor of last ...
debtor of last resort's picture

And on the dollar.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 19:08 | 5425490 dirtyfiles
dirtyfiles's picture

no need for spoiler for 30m track unless to spoil the youngsters...

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 19:25 | 5425542 Jadr
Jadr's picture

Apparently you didn't actually read the entire article. It was used on race tracks as well.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 19:49 | 5425621 johngaltfla
johngaltfla's picture

A 1994 Accord no less!

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:50 | 5425241 stant
stant's picture

Tesla needs a model with T tops and a flaming electric chicken mural on the hood. And a fake sound track

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:30 | 5425362 Kirk2NCC1701
Kirk2NCC1701's picture

"SO."

So you know shit about the tech or relative (in)efficiency of gas engines and electric motors.

The former is horribly inefficient in covnerting energy into torque -- and is why you a monstrous engine to get power.  The latter is not.  Which is why hybrid cars are basically an electric car with an onboard gas-engine charger.  Gas engines are ok on gas usage when cruising, and that's when they're good at charging the battery of the hybrid.

Besides the fuel economy, the Torque of electric motors makes them ideal for drag racing, as shown in the example.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:45 | 5425429 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Indeed Jim,but  their weak spot was, and still is. the batteries.

IF they ever solve the deep discharge cycling problem ebdemic in all batteries of any type.

Mobody has yet, maybe in another 100 years they will, maybe not..

First they have to find out what causes it, instead of just observing the resultant battery death.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:50 | 5425442 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

A long cord solves that problem.  Remember, most races are roundy roundy....

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 19:17 | 5425506 knukles
knukles's picture

"They're butchers, Jim" was the appropriate answer.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:14 | 5426183 N0TME
N0TME's picture

Well hopefully graphene will solve that issue.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:14 | 5426178 N0TME
N0TME's picture

My god man. I'm a doctor, not a physicist  /maah 

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 19:10 | 5425493 Mercuryquicksilver
Mercuryquicksilver's picture

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/1309_2014_chevrolet_spar...

My Spark EV does 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds ..... and transports 4 people 100 miles between charges.

 

Thank you tax payers for subsidizing my costs by $10K.

 

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 19:32 | 5425562 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

See below and "you're welcome."

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:19 | 5426196 motor_angel
motor_angel's picture

my roomate's step-mother makes $75 hourly on the internet . She has been without a job for 5 months but last month her paycheck was $20377 just working on the internet for a few hours. Get More Info... www.Yelptrade.com

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:33 | 5426237 Antifaschistische
Antifaschistische's picture

so.....if any politician is serious about alternative locomotion, then make this swollen electric go-cart legal for me to drive around town!!!

NOOOOO...that won't happen, because, they aren't really that serious about it.   I'm fine, require a 10 foot illuminated antenna, and don't allow it on a freeway.   Just let us drive electric cars on the streets without having to pay an insane price.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:50 | 5425020 Honey Badger
Honey Badger's picture

yeah, but it only has a range of 300 meters.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:54 | 5425035 SandiaMan
SandiaMan's picture

Thats how long the cord is.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:58 | 5425052 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

So you have make out on the spoiler?

That seems a little..., public.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:09 | 5425090 aVileRat
aVileRat's picture

Can't fit a Victoria Secret girl and an overnight bag in the cabin. Will never sell to the jet set.

The upside to the Tesla is if you have the basics of systems engineering under your belt, you can stack dump the Model S power & drivetrain controllers and overclock your car, while still showing up as a standard retail to the telemetry sensors at ElonHQ. Imagine all the fun of 1960 tuner culture? Now imagine you get to not just change compression ratios, but reprogram the whole car right down to the ratios and drive assist controls. 

That is what will sell Tesla's going forward, when someone clues in the car basically allows for a whole OEM aftermarket with zero fabrication costs so long as you know a little C#.

This being said, do not fucking trade on that insight. Just buy one used and go on darknet to buy the Engineers SDK.

(hi Elon!)

 

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:44 | 5425218 Freddie
Freddie's picture

It would go even faster if you knew a little C++.

Switzerland is a nice place it not filled with a bunch of f***ing *******.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:51 | 5425024 ABG LINE
ABG LINE's picture

But is it equipped with a manual gearbox? 

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:51 | 5425025 chistletoe
chistletoe's picture

it'll never catch HFT.  Nanoseconds, man ....

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:53 | 5425029 pods
pods's picture

That's "I pooped a little" fast.

pods

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:52 | 5425032 IronShield
IronShield's picture

But where's da honeys supposed to sit?  I gots to be able to see.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:57 | 5425044 giorgioorwell
giorgioorwell's picture

Of course it's faster than the Tesla S series...the Tesla S is an actual consumer sedan with doors, roof, seats and all the other stuff you pack into a car.  The Grimsel is a tiny little race car built for one that weighs nothing...

Apples and Oranges, idiots!

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:58 | 5425053 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

     LMFAO,  I can just see 'Mini Me' driving that in the next Austin Powers movie.

  Does it come with the optional mini Louis Vuitton luggage and mini Ping golf club set options?

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:14 | 5425119 worbsid
worbsid's picture

No matter all the sarc's; the students did a fine job.  Not for American fat asses.  I hope it goes for a ways.  Electric car races just like the gas races of the early 1900's will get things optimized in a hurry.  Tesla is building a battery factory just outside of Reno NV.  It is the battery technology and brushless motors that are making these electric cars possible.  Of course, we live on a finite planet so not everyone can have there own lithium powered car but it is a pleasant dream.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:27 | 5425165 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

  Of course, we live on a finite planet so not everyone can have there own lithium powered car but it is a pleasant dream.

 Yes, I love crunching on ipad nanos and USB cables for breakfast.

 Normally aspirated cars with "real world" uses are running 0-60 (mph) 0-62(km/h) in under 3 seconds.

 These vehicles have trunks, boots, bonnets, and can travel for 300+ miles. That {mighty mite} Formula-1 "go-cart" is a fucking joke.

  I have an old set of 14"s off my 74 Pinto he might be interested in. /sarc

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:16 | 5425123 Bumbu Sauce
Bumbu Sauce's picture

Who cares?  THe electric and steam powered car is about 100 years old.

The idea that we NEED an electric car is predicated on fraud anyways.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:27 | 5425153 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Along with nearly the entirety of the so-called "Green Agenda."

Rent Seeking 101.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:47 | 5425233 Freddie
Freddie's picture

More like a bunch of f***ing Elon tards driving up and down Highway 101 through SilliCreep Valley in Teslars.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/highway-101-san-francisco-2

F***king geek retards packing hardware and software with En Ess Aye spy shit.  F em.

 

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 20:03 | 5425696 Rhetorical
Rhetorical's picture

The ignorant self validating circle jerk in about 90% of these threads is gold but those geek retards are responsible for the technology you are using right now. All of it. The fact is we are running out of economical fossill fuel energy. Even if it lasts for another 50 60 or a hundred years then what? Cant run on the shit your typing. and we need new systems of transport ready to go before the fact. While we can go up the charger cord and debate those electric cars power sources but those same sources are also in undergoing evolution albeit far to slowly. That being said. these technologies(electric cars) while a century old their modern and practical use is in its relative infancy and advancing fast.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:19 | 5425133 swass
swass's picture

Uhh.. I'm not sure that deserves the designation of "car".  It's more of a go-kart.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 23:02 | 5426305 fzrkid
fzrkid's picture

This electric car fad is putting horse before the cart so to speak.

 

The electricity to power these cars gets generated from hydrocarbon fuels, nuclear power and a small % of wind/hydro...

 

So what is the difference of burning your fuel at a huge industrail facility or in your car? THe car likely has stronger emission standards, so your not benefiting. In addition to that you have waste of transporting the electricity of thousands of miles of power lines..

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:25 | 5425150 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Record-breaking? More like neck-breaking!

Now, make a bicycle version so I can start riding on the trails.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:26 | 5425151 GeezerGeek
GeezerGeek's picture

It weighs only 370 pounds. Add in the typical WallyWorld shopper and you've doubled the weight. There goes the performance.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:29 | 5425171 perelmanfan
perelmanfan's picture

Meh. Electric motors have lotsa torque. That's why "diesel" freight train engines are diesel generators that power electric motors. BFD. To me, this is a much more interesting concept:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/01/pictures/140109-f...

Park it in the sun for eight hours, drive it 21 miles, never plug it in or fill it. Sign me up.

 

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:36 | 5425193 frankly scarlet
frankly scarlet's picture

very nice....very very fast...well done Grimsel engineers!

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 17:44 | 5425214 eurobug
eurobug's picture

1,202 foot-pounds of torque. Is that per hogshead or per furlong?

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:14 | 5425312 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 Del Mar just opened this week on the west coast. ( Hollywood Park closed) I'd like to see that go-cart run a few furlongs with a thoroughbred race horse.

 They don't call it horsepower for nothing, Bitchez.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:12 | 5425308 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

If you got it flaunt it.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:15 | 5425318 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 The driver of that  Go-Cart must have incredibly large  ~manhood~?

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:26 | 5425350 Downtoolong
Downtoolong's picture

Acceleration is all about torque and traction force per unit of weight. This car is actually an engineering marvel which sets the bar in this dimension of performance for a four wheeler.  

But, will a celebrity or a drug dealer or a balding retiree in Boca Raton who’s suffering an identity crisis actually want one and be able to drive one? That’s the real determinant of a super car’s commercial success these days.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 18:56 | 5425453 DipshitMiddleCl...
DipshitMiddleClassWhiteKid's picture

guys, its a competition car built by engineering students!!

 

They aren't trying to save the trees or wales, they're just trying to go fast.

 

 

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 19:21 | 5425524 knukles
knukles's picture

If they ain't "trying to save the trees or wales" then they get an A+++++ from me.
You, a D for "wales".  Wales is a country where grown me fuck sheep.  Whales is the fat fishies.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 20:02 | 5425688 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Only the ones with Wellies.

Come to think of it , last time I saw Queen Elizabeth she had her green Wellies on.

Does that mean something ?

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:16 | 5426186 RhoneGSM
RhoneGSM's picture

I think they be fat mammals

Sat, 11/08/2014 - 14:05 | 5427363 Mi Naem
Mi Naem's picture

Finally, knukles comes out of the closet:

"where grown me fuck sheep."

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 19:50 | 5425623 Bumbu Sauce
Bumbu Sauce's picture

ETH Zurich says this is the strongest acceleration of any other production vehicle ever made.

So one off projects from universities are now considered production cars?

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 20:25 | 5425777 WTFUD
WTFUD's picture

So!!! Yellen's Jizz can do 0-60 in 0.8 seconds of QE.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 20:28 | 5425789 Sirius Wonderblast
Sirius Wonderblast's picture

1) That ain't a production car; 2) there are bikes that would make it look silly 3) and the top speed and range?... oh dear!

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 21:12 | 5425960 Tachyon5321
Tachyon5321's picture

 

 

Video shows it is out of energy after the 2 second run. At least the Telsa can go 260 miles.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 21:18 | 5425982 JuliaS
JuliaS's picture

Forget Telsa D? I already D'd.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:21 | 5426198 N0TME
Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:40 | 5426249 Bumbu Sauce
Bumbu Sauce's picture

Now that is pretty cool.  Good car selection.

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 22:35 | 5426240 NOTfromSanFrancisco
NOTfromSanFrancisco's picture

 

 

I'll take 2 please... With extra batteries... And a quick charger...

Sat, 11/08/2014 - 12:37 | 5427222 quartshort
quartshort's picture

One for each foot?

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 23:03 | 5426303 fzrkid
fzrkid's picture

This electric car fad is putting horse before the cart so to speak.

 

The electricity to power these cars gets generated from hydrocarbon fuels, nuclear power and a small % of wind/hydro...

 

So what is the difference of burning your fuel at a huge industrail facility or in your car? THe car likely has stronger emission standards, so your not benefiting. In addition to that you have waste of transporting the electricity of thousands of miles of power lines..

Sat, 11/08/2014 - 02:54 | 5426692 joego1
joego1's picture

I bought an electric car because I make my own power through solar, bio diesel, kerosene, propane, gasoline or processor gas or just plug the sucker in and go. What are you going to do when the man pulls your petrol plug?

Sat, 11/08/2014 - 13:58 | 5427369 morongobill
morongobill's picture

Good luck hauling all that infrastructure with you when you want to make a road trip.

Sat, 11/08/2014 - 03:06 | 5426702 SmittyinLA
SmittyinLA's picture

Our students take classes in homosexuality, just last week USC hosted Daniele Watts busted for humping in public.

Sun, 11/09/2014 - 00:08 | 5428793 IronForge
IronForge's picture

BMW's new i8 is probably the car to keep an eye on. 

Also, the Chevy Volt's due for Power and Range improvements.

Toyota, Ford, Nissa, Honda, and now Volkswagon have EV and/or PHEV offerings.

Fisker has a new Buyer from CHN. 

Funny part?  Honda's pretty wise, offering their "specialty vehicles" via Leases. 

I don't think the GigaPlant's going to shake the World, nor do I think TSLA will stiick around much longer as is when sales already pale in comparison to the Volt's.

 

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