I take my old Peugeot 207 and go. Just like that, on impulse, because I feel like it. I leave from Naples and go straight to Manchester, or maybe Copenhagen, or even Warsaw. Without stopping, yes sir. Because I feel like it. No, huh? Impossible. Yet, a group of German students turned my dream into reality by designing a electric vehicle capable of traveling 2500 kilometers (1.600 miles) without ever recharging.
And indeed Muc022, this is the name of the prototype, has broken the world record for distance traveled by an EV on a single charge and perhaps even opened a new frontier in sustainable mobility. Have you heard of it?
The genesis of a record
The story of this extraordinary achievement begins in Munich, in the laboratories of Technical University of Munich. There a team of students, guided by a passion for engineering and sustainability, started working on an ambitious project: create the most efficient electric vehicle in the world.
A technological challenge, of course. But also visionary, beyond the current limits of EV technology. The muc022, with an appearance reminiscent of a Smart car with even more optimized aerodynamics, represents the culmination of years of research and experimentation. Any data? It weighs just 170 kilograms, and surpassed the previous world record by 1.609,34 kilometers in four days, continuing for another two days until stopping after covering 2.573 kilometres. A result that left the team, the scientific community and… me speechless.
The technology behind the success
The secret behind the exceptional efficiency of the muc022 lies in its ability to consume only 8,5 kWh per 100 kilometres: one of the most economical vehicles in terms of energy consumption ever made. In comparison, Tesla Model Y, considered one of the most efficient electric SUVs, offers fuel economy of approximately 17 kWh per 100 kilometres.
A future to recharge. Actually no.
The success of Muc022 goes beyond just a world record. It's a real scream: it embodies the immense potential of electric mobility and serves as inspiration for future developments in the automotive sector.
What will remain of this enterprise? Maybe a new standard for electric vehicle efficiency, or maybe just a lot of motivation. I'm sure Muc022 will be much more than a yardstick, though. And perhaps we will realize this sooner than we think.
