NASCAR showed off a new EV prototype stock car today at the Chicago Street Race as part of a presentation on its sustainability initiatives, which include a new partner in Swedish electrification company ABB. The car, which looks more like a performance crossover like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, is in many ways a stark departure from the traditional stock car. But don’t expect the ABB NASCAR EV Prototype to replace the gasoline-burning V8 anytime soon.
According to NASCAR, the car has three electric motors — one in the front and two in the rear — powered by a 78-kWh liquid-cooled battery pack capable of generating 1,000 kW “at peak power,” according to today’s announcement.
NASCAR says the EV is built on a modified version of the Next Gen chassis NASCAR introduced in 2022, designed to handle the transition to alternative fuels. Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota helped develop it, the organization said.
Before its unveiling, the $1.5 million prototype was driven solely by NASCAR driver David Ragan, according to reports The Associated Press. Ragan told the outlet that his fastest lap at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia was “two-tenths of a second slower” than a typical racer, despite accelerating nearly twice as fast. Not surprisingly, weight was a big factor, slowing him through the corners.
Traditional stock cars aren’t making their final left turn, though there are rumors it will introduce hybrids in a few years. Still, it could do something similar to the ABB-sponsored, all-electric Formula E series; NASCAR says it is “potentially exploring opportunities around high-performance racing,” according to NBC News.