admin NASCAR revealed its first electric racecar in Chicago. The top motorsports series in North America has partnered with Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, and ABB to showcase this high-performance electric vehicle. This collaboration aims to gauge fan interest in electric racing.
Part of the NASCAR experience is the engine roar. However, the electric racecar hums rather than thunders. NASCAR’s head of sustainability, Riley Nelson, believes electric vehicles can be cool, fun, and accessible.
NASCAR allowed the Associated Press to preview the $1.5 million prototype. Semi-retired driver David Ragan noted the distinct sound and smell. Unlike gasoline-powered cars, this electric vehicle lets drivers hear squealing tires and smell brakes without engine noise. After hundreds of laps, Ragan’s ears weren’t ringing.
The electric racecar is a crossover utility vehicle with a huge wing for aerodynamics. It accelerates faster than top gas-powered racecars but takes corners slower due to its weight. Ragan suggested it could go even faster with more testing.
Market research showed more than half of avid NASCAR fans would consider buying an electric vehicle after seeing it race. Eric Warren, head of global motorsports competition for General Motors, emphasized that racing educates fans about electric vehicles and new technologies.
Burning gasoline produces carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. Electric cars offer a quieter and cleaner alternative. NASCAR aims to introduce sustainable racing fuel, recycle at all events, and use 100% renewable electricity at facilities by 2028. By 2035, it plans to achieve net-zero emissions.
ABB will install electric vehicle charging stations at NASCAR’s 15 tracks. These stations will be available for public use. The new electric racecar, with the number 35, symbolizes NASCAR’s 2035 net-zero emissions goal.
NASCAR is also exploring hydrogen-powered cars. Its sports car series switched to hybrid engines in 2023. Formula 1 will use sustainable fuel by 2026. Ford Performance has built eight electric demonstration vehicles in four years.
Fans are increasingly interested in electric racing. Electric vehicle sales in the U.S. rose by 7% in the first half of the year. ABB’s Executive Vice President, Michael Plaster, hopes kids will be inspired by the electric racecar and pursue careers in electrical products.
NASCAR’s electric racecar marks a significant step towards a sustainable future in motorsports. The transition to electric racing can help reduce emissions and educate fans about clean energy.
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