The name NASCAR doesn’t necessarily conjure up any connection to electric vehicles. Rooted in the southern United States, the governing body that reigns over stock car championships is keen on its roaring V8s, which are part of the culture of this motorsport. However, that didn’t stop an exploratory approach that led to the unveiling of a prototype.
As part of a newly-formed partnership with electrification firm ABB, NASCAR has unveiled a prototype of an electric race car that could provide a taste of the future of the sport. Featuring a generic crossover body style to better fit current buying habits, the vehicle was developed in conjunction with NASCAR Cup manufacturers Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. The engineering team responsible for developing the latest generation of the championship car led the project.
Based on the architecture of this racing car called “Next Gen”, this electric vehicle has three motors – one at the front, two at the rear – producing a total of 1341 hp. A 78 kWh liquid-cooled battery acts as an energy reserve and can be recharged during each braking phase. To reduce the environmental impact, the body is made of a flax-based composite material.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NASCAR
To reduce the environmental impact, the body is made of a flax-based composite material.
Historically very conservative, NASCAR’s senior management has not specified whether such an initiative would eventually lead to a complete electrification of the discipline. That said, it is safe to say that there is a change in mentality that is slowly taking place. NASCAR had also specified in 2021, during the launch of the latest vintage of the NASCAR Cup car, that the latter had been designed with a view to possibly hybridizing it.