NASCAR recently showed off its new EV prototype at the Chicago Street Race highlighting its sustainability initiatives.
The NASCAR racing EV prototype is a concrete sign that the iconic event is aiming at introducing electrification into its DNA. Going forward, every aspect of the existing mobility is being attempted to be redone with electric vehicles. This is true for private, commercial and even racing applications. The EV wave is certainly strong which is why competitions like Formula E are gaining traction. Sure, they won’t be replacing the essence of the original NASCAR or Formula Racing anytime soon. But it is definitely a step in that direction in the long run.
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NASCAR Racing EV Prototype
NASCAR developed this racing EV prototype in collaboration with Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota and the Swedish electrification firm, ABB. As per the official announcement by NASCAR, this prototype contains 3 STARD UHP 6-Phase electric motors (one at the front and two at the rear) to produce a mammoth 1,000 kW (1,360 PS) of peak power. The electric motors draw power from a 78 kWh liquid-cooled battery. The power is sent to all four wheels which wear Goodyear Racing Eagle tires for appropriate performance.
Furthermore, regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into power. Consequently, the EV becomes ideal for road courses and short oval tracks. The electric car has a body made of sustainable flax-based composite. Also, the body uses a modified Next Gen chassis and the steering, suspension, brakes and wheels are derivative of the NASCAR Cup Series car. Remember, this car was designed by the NASCAR engineers who were responsible for the Next Gen car and the Garage 56 entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Speaking on the momentous occasion, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, Eric Nyquist remarked, “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. 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.”
Additionally, the ABB Executive Vice President, Ralph Donati commented, “ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, and we help customers globally to optimize, electrify and decarbonize their operations. The objective of the collaboration between NASCAR, ABB in the United States and the NASCAR industry is to push the boundaries of electrification technology, from EV racing to long-haul transportation to facility operations.”
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Learn Electric Cars Says
Now Formula E has been going on since 2014. We saw its debut in the grounds of the Olympic Park in Beijing, China. Today, it has gained some momentum. There have already been 8 successful seasons of this event. Similarly, the EVs are now entering the NASCAR race. This race came into existence back in 1948 in Florida, U.S. It is a top-ranked motorsports organization in the world. Hence, if it is attempting to adopt EVs into its ecosystem, clearly, it believes this could be the future.
We have also seen Hyundai Motor Group entering EV racing in Korea with multiple versions of its Ioniq 5. Recently, it even won in one category at the Pikes Peak race. Apart from that, we have been witnessing EVs smashing record after record at the legendary Nürburgring race track in recent times. All these point to the fact that there is evident potential in EVs to enter the racing scene. The inherent instant torque certainly suits well in such scenarios. Let us keep an eye out for further developments in this regard.