Although electric vehicles (EVs) have gained popularity, they are still in the early stages of development.

Various automakers offer EVs with different ranges, ranging from the Mazda MX-30’s low range of 100 miles to the impressive 516-mile range of the Lucid Air. However, there’s much room for improvement.

According to Driving.ca, a team of German students from the Technical University of Munich recently set a new world record for EV range. Their custom-made vehicle, called the muc022, traveled an astonishing 1,599 miles (2,573 km)  on a single charge of a 15.5 kWh battery. This is more than three times the range of the Lucid Air.

The record-setting German EV achieved this feat over a period of 99 hours. It now holds the Guinness World Record for the “Greatest distance by electric vehicle, single charge (non-solar).”

Although this achievement is remarkable, the muc022 is not a practical vehicle for everyday use. Its design is so unique that it has very little ability to be mass-produced or customized.

How they did it

So, how did the TUfast Eco-Team manage to achieve this record-breaking range? They focused on optimizing the vehicle’s weight and aerodynamics.

The muc022 weighs just 375 pounds (170 kg) and has an impressive drag coefficient of Cd=0.159, contributing to its outstanding performance. In comparison, the Lucid Air has a drag coefficient of Cd=0.197.

Although it would have been easier to boost range by using solar panels, the team opted not to do so. Testing was conducted indoors in an empty airplane hangar at Munich’s airport.

The muc022’s average speed was 16 mph (25.7 km/h). So while the test showcased the potential of EVs, nobody would drive like the test drivers in real life.

The muc022 also achieved an efficiency of 103 miles per kWh, an impressive feat.

Despite its impracticalities, the muc022 is an impressive vehicle. It demonstrates capability, potential, and the importance of precision over power (a lesson that the Hummer EV can learn).

It’s highly unlikely that we’ll see this exact model on the roads in the near future. However, the success of the German students’ design, aerodynamics, and attention to detail proves that these factors are more crucial than raw power in EVs. The tremendously efficient aerodynamics of the new generation Toyota Prius further proves this point.

For more information about the muc022 and the TUfast Eco-Team, please visit the TUfast website.

Image Source: Jalopnik, https://shorturl.at/bEV19