A NASCAR EV has been in the works for quite some time now. In fact, an illustration of an concept race car was leaked late last year, indicating that the future of stock car racing might take the form of an electric crossover. Turns out, that’s exactly what’s in store, as NASCAR finally pulled the sheets off its prototype crossover race car at the Chicago Street Course on July 6th, 2024.
Don’t worry – there aren’t any plans to race the NASCAR EV crossover in any existing national series like the Cup Series or Xfinity Series (yet). It’s likely going to get its own spec series or a handful of exhibition races. Regardless, the prototype was developed in conjunction with ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation. Its testing has been heavily shrouded thus far, but NASCAR says that it has seen some track time, and that it was developed with cooperation from all of the national series’ manufacturers: Chevy, Ford, and Toyota.
This prototype was built as a generic body, and doesn’t bear resemblance to any particular manufacturer’s product. For power, it harnesses three STARD UHP 6-Phase motors, with one mounted to the front axle and two mounted to the rear. Power is routed to all four wheels, which are wrapped in specially designed Goodyear Eagle tires. A 78-kWh liquid-cooled battery provides the juice, and the crossover race car is capable of a whopping 1,000 kWh at peak power. It also utilizes regenerative braking, turning wasted braking energy into power, making it “ideal for road courses and short oval tracks,” according to a press release.
This all-wheel-drive race car features a crossover-style body with a sloping rear end, aligning it more closely with the “crossover coupe” segment. Its body is made of flax-based composite, and features technology similar to the current NASCAR Next Gen race car and the Garage 56 entry, which was raced by Chevy in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. The body rides on a modified Next Gen chassis while the steering, suspension, brakes, and wheels are from Cup Series race cars.
“There could not be a more optimal moment in time to announce our first Impact partner than in tandem with the debut of the ABB NASCAR EV Prototype at the Chicago Street Race,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer. “ABB is an industry leader and will help in efforts to decarbonize our operations as we pursue achieving net-zero operating emissions over the next decade.”
NASCAR reiterated its commitment to the “historic role of the combustion engine in racing,” but stated that it is committed to reducing its carbon footprint to zero across its core operations by 2035. Whether that means ditching ICE racing within the decade has yet to be confirmed.
While there aren’t plans to kick ICE-based race cars to the curb anytime soon, The Blue Oval could very well take the Ford Mustang Mach-E to the track as its competitor in NASCAR in the future. However, it’s worth noting that Ford Performance isn’t currently pushing for the electrification of motorsports, acknowledging racing fans’ “emotional connection” to the spectacle of ICE-based race cars.
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Comments
It looks more like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and that is an excellent idea.
I think that NASCAR going electric would be a huge mistake because the would lose thousands of fans including myself and you would understand what I’m saying if you have ever watched or been to a race because the cars would be basically silent and nobody wants that
Electric car races would be much safer amd healtier for the live audience.
I have been to actual gas car races and the noise is terrible!
also the car looks terrible
The end of Nascar is on the horizon.
We have seen the future and it is kind of scary!!
Ford Owner do have any idea about all the downsides to electric
This is more about the fact that GM will soon have no ICE car body to race in NASCAR now that they have canceled the Camaro. NASCAR believes, right or wrong, that they cannot survive without GM’s money and that always has been and always will be reflected in their rules changes.