If there’s one thing the Tesla Model S has taught us is that electric cars can punch well above their horsepower rating when it comes to acceleration. However, it’s not the most relevant example, and for that we must go to the Netherlands , where a team of students from the Delft University of Technology managed to make an electric single-seater with only 135 hp go from 0-62 mph or 0-100 km/h in 2.15 seconds.
In doing so, they took the world record for the fastest accelerating EV , which originally stood at 2.68 seconds.
They made the job of beating the record easy for themselves, though, fitting the DUT12 with four independent electric motors, and only making it carry around a total weight of 320 lbs / 145 kg. It’s purpose-built to just shoot off the line with no real wheelspin if the tarmac is dry.
Chances are it’s probably geared for acceleration only, so it tops out very quickly, but we’d like to see that race car-like suspension system being put to good use, because when adding in the sticky tires, the DUT12 shouldn’t be half-bad around the corners either. Check it out in the videos below.
By Andrei Nedelea
Story References: tudelft
