Zero-emission race car boasts nearly double the horsepower of the current Cup car
The zero-emission racer was revealed today at the 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race, heralding the ABB NASCAR Electrification Innovation Partnership designed to explore high-performance electric racing and create strategic opportunities for electrification in the sport, including race vehicles, electrification infrastructure, and energy education. ABB is a 140-year-old company specializing in electrification and automation, and since 2018 has been the title sponsor of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
In addition, ABB becomes a founding partner of NASCAR IMPACT, a platform driving sustainability initiatives across the sport, including NASCAR’s stated goal of reducing its carbon operating footprint to zero by 2035. ABB will advise NASCAR as the race series evolves and modifies its office, track, racing competition, and long-haul transportation operations. Some of these initiatives include sourcing 100% renewable electricity at owned racetracks and facilities by 2028, expanding waste diversion efforts, and the development of on-site EV charging stations.
“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,” said ABB vice-president Ralph Donati.
The prototype shares many similarities with both the Next Gen and Garage 56 cars, with the body sitting on a modified Next Gen chassis, and the steering, suspension, brakes, and wheels all deriving from the NASCAR Cup Series car.
“There could not be a more optimal moment in time to announce our first IMPACT partner than in tandem with the debut of our prototype electric vehicle 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.”
So, does this mean that by 2035 NASCAR’s top tier will be using all-electric race cars? No, like many other global combustion-engine race series, it plans to continue to go racing with piston power, only with sustainable fuels rather than fossil fuels. But that’s not to say we won’t see a NASCAR EV support series at some point. And one look at this prototype, and its spec sheet, illustrates just how great that racing could be.
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