NASCAR Dips Its Toe Into The EV Trend

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The winds of change seem to be blowing once more in NASCAR and not everyone is excited about the possibilities. While the sanctioning body proudly unveiled the ABB NASCAR EV Prototype with much fanfare.

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Calling it the “electric dawn” for the sport, the battery-powered stock car is a first, but it might also be a last. After all, NASCAR was clear in its announcement that an EV series isn’t in the works and there’s zero “concrete plan” about how to use all-electric vehicles in future races, either on ovals or road courses.

The prototype comes with three motors, one driving the front wheels and two for the rear, meaning it’s an all-wheel-drive stock car. That alone is a huge departure from what fans have known since the beginning of NASCAR.

According to the official press release, the prototype is better suited for road courses instead of ovals, thanks in part to its regenerative braking capability. Top speed isn’t mentioned, but we wonder if that isn’t also a consideration, as well as the simple fact an EV would struggle completing hundreds of laps, especially since the pit stops to recharge would be incredibly long and boring.

Much of the media has been showering praise on NASCAR for stepping forward into the future, doing the right thing, etc. but there are some dissenters. For example, analyst Kevin Harvick who’s on Fox stated the obvious, that a silent racecar simply isn’t exciting.

Yes, the EV fanboys are hating that statement, but for most motorsports fans hearing the roar of a powerful engine as cars blast down a track is part of the fun. Take that aural experience away and you suck part of the joy out.

Harvick thinks there is zero future for EVs in NASCAR and we have to agree. While this prototype is putting a grin on the faces of media corps and people who don’t even like the sport, hardcore supporters are either meh on it or hate the idea. If such a thing were to replace gas-powered cup cars, we think there would be full revolt.

Images via NASCAR