Dutch students break electric car acceleration record

Delft University of technology students and their DUT13 electric car (Image: Delft University of Technology)

With a blistering 0-100 km/h time of just 2.15 seconds, the ultra-light single-seater car is not only more than half a second faster than the existing record holder, it's faster than any production car -- including the Bugatti Veyron.

The car, called the DUT13, was built by a group of Delft University of Technology students and, thanks to a generous helping of carbon fibre in the construction process, the finished car, which looks like a Formula One racer that's been put on too hot a rinse cycle in the washing machine, weighs in at just over 320lbs.

To give it sufficient ‘oomph' to get off the line it uses not one, but four individual electric motors, one at each wheel -- just like Mercedes-Benz's all-electric supercar, the SLS AMG Electric Drive.

However, unlike its luxury, day-glow yellow counterpart, it can accelerate much more quickly, thanks to a better power-to-weight ratio. The Super Merc's 0-100 km/h time is just 3.9 seconds, but in its defense it has a roof, a luxury cabin, with all the trimmings and space for both driver and passenger.

As well as blitzing the existing electric record, the Dutch students' time is also faster than that of the Ariel Atom V8 (2.3 seconds) and the Bugatti Veyron (2.46 seconds), currently the world's fastest-accelerating gas-powered production cars.