The world is focusing on its zero carbon-emission transportation system to reduce climate change and promote a healthy environment for our future generations. Following the innovation, NASCAR is working to embrace electric cars in 2024 unveiling its first electric race car ABB Nascar EV prototype.
Yup, you heard it right, the well-known car racing American sanctioning body NASCAR took its first step to open the door for a new electric car race. With the reveal of the NASCAR electric car, The fans are surprised and there is also a curiosity among them regarding the extinction of combustion engine race cars in upcoming times. So, after the revolution of electric cars in motorsport, are combustion engine car races going to be extinct in the future?
Well, we will try to find out further about possible changes in motorsport after the NASCAR electric car race as well as the opinion of the fans whether they are excited or anxious regarding this but before that let’s talk about NASCAR’s first-ever electric prototype. What this electric monster is, and what’s the reaction of experts?
Nascar unveiled its first-ever electric prototype: ABB Nascar EV prototype
In Chicago’s downtown on July 6, NASCAR introduced its first-ever electric race car ABB NASCAR EV PROTOTYPE with the official partnership with ABB in electrification and innovation. Basically, the NASCAR electric car is an electrified stock car which means it’s just a sample to showcase its features and other specifications. It’s not intended to perform in the race yet or to be sold in the market.
This electric beast is designed with the partnership of three well-known car companies Toyota, Ford, and Chevrolet with the help of electrification company ABB and cost around $1.5 million which is way expensive compared to its average combustion engine race cars that probably cost around something between $125,000-400,000.
Interesting features of NASCAR electric race car: Design and performance of NASCAR electric car
The funky color combination of black, white, and red used in this electric beast gives it a sporty look that perfectly goes with its CUV body while the steel tube used in the front and rear bumper makes it look more chick and attractive. If we talk about its weight, it is 4000 pounds while its length is around 56 inches.
You will be surprised to know that apart from its electric engine, the body is also designed eco-friendly as it’s made of flax fiber composition material that not only assures its built quality but also makes it sustainable.
Now, let’s have a look at the power and performance of this NASCAR electric car. This electric prototype features a 78kWh cool liquid battery pack that produces 1000 kW in its peak power which is equivalent to 1340 hp. If we compare it, it is twice the combustion engine used in regular NASCAR car races.
The ABB NASCAR EV prototype has three STARD UHP 6-phase electric motors, one is front-wheel drive, and the rest is rear-drive. To make it smooth on small oval tracks as well as on road courses, it features a regenerative braking system and if we talk about its wheels, it has custom Goodyear racing Eagle tires that maintain a next-level experience on race track.
The Nascar electric car’s per-charge range is not yet clear. If we talk about its performance, it is fast, smooth, and less noisy but according to experts, it is two-tenths of a second slower than the gas-powered race cars of NASCAR while. As far as its acceleration rate is concerned, it’s impressive compared to the combustion engine NASCAR prototype.
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David Rangoon’s experience with NASCAR electric race car
The semi-retired NASCAR driver David Rangon got the opportunity to drive this ABB NASCAR EV PROTOTYPE for the first time and share its great experience. He took a drive around three times of this electric prototype (including the test drive program) where Rangaon shared his experience calling it “Wild” However, he mentioned that the smell and sound of this electric racing beast are different from the regular combustion engine that he has been experiencing in his whole career.
Are fans gonna accept the NASCAR electric car race or not?
Kavin Harvic (former NASCAR champion), said in a podcast “If it doesn’t make noise and smell like its burning gas, there’s no freaking way people will support it”.
The car race is all about the thrill, and that thrill comes from the rumbling sound of the combustion engine, the burning smell of gas flue, the noise of acceleration, and so on. And, it would not be wrong to say that these are the core elements of motorsport that most fans are crazy for.
So, replacing it with an electric race car (completely) is not something that can be thought about yet. Because it is a sport and it’s up to its fans. In motorsport, the thing that fuels fans’ excitement is “thunder” while on the other hand electric cars only “humph”.
Even if it’s not gonna replace the combustion engine completely, there is a space for the NASCAR electric car race in the future for sure that probably would create a different “fan base” for EV sports. NASCAR’s officials said they will make modifications to bring the thundering noise and thrilling elements to keep the excitement in this sport.
Apart from this, there is also a category of people who are excited about the electric car race in the future as per the survey conducted by NASCAR with its fans. So, it is better to wait and watch instead of focusing on people’s assumptions because whether there is innovation, there is revolution.
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