NASCAR, known for its stock car racing, is stepping into the electric vehicle (EV) arena. Earlier this month, NASCAR and ABB, a global leader in electrification, announced their partnership and revealed a new EV prototype at the Chicago Street Race.
NASCAR and ABB have joined forces under the ABB NASCAR Electrification Innovation Partnership. ABB is now the first Official Partner of NASCAR Impact, a platform aimed at promoting a healthier planet. This collaboration aims to advance NASCAR’s sustainability goals through electrification.
“ABB is a leader in electrification and helps customers globally to optimize and decarbonize their operations,” said Ralph Donati, ABB Executive Vice-President. “Our goal is to push the boundaries of electrification technology in racing and beyond.”
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-nyquist-9816a776Eric Nyquist, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, added, “ABB will help us decarbonize our operations as we aim for net-zero emissions by 2035.”
NASCAR is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and has set a target to achieve zero emissions by 2035. The partnership with ABB will support this goal by focusing on electrification and EV charging. The new EV prototype is a result of collaboration between NASCAR, Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. It features three STARD UHP 6-Phase motors powering all four Goodyear Racing Eagle tires and a 78-kWh liquid-cooled battery.
The car’s tunable powertrain can produce up to 1,000 kW of peak power. It also uses regenerative braking to convert kinetic energy into power. The car has an All-Wheel Drive system and a body made of sustainable flax-based composite, resembling both the Next Gen and Garage 56 cars.
The prototype was built by NASCAR engineers who worked on these previous models. While NASCAR remains committed to the traditional combustion engine, it is also embracing electrification. This move is part of a broader strategy to innovate and contribute to a sustainable future.
