Prototype EV NASCAR Racecar Unveiled with 1,300 HP Tri-motor!

NASCAR and ABB recently announced the ABB NASCAR Electrification Innovation Partnership. Borne out of which is a new EV prototype NASCAR racecar that bowed recently at the Chicago Street Race.

ABB has become the first Official Partner of NASCAR Impact, the sanctioning body’s platform dedicated to strengthening communities and promoting a healthier planet.  Together, they aim to advance NASCAR’s strategic sustainability ambitions, focusing on electrification.

Ralph Donati, ABB Executive Vice President, states “The objective of the collaboration between NASCAR and ABB is to push the boundaries of electrification technology, from EV racing to long-haul transportation to facility operations.”

As part of the partnership, ABB will assist NASCAR in achieving its sustainability targets related to electrification and electric vehicle charging.

While NASCAR remains committed to the historic role of the combustion engine in racing, it is equally dedicated to decarbonising. The series aims to have its core operations reduce their carbon footprint to zero by 2035 through electrification and innovative solutions.

NASCAR has made significant commitments to sustainable operations across its entire business. Transitioning operations from scope 1 (fuel burned) to scope 2 (electric) is a critical element of NASCAR’s sustainability strategy.

Eric Nyquist, NASCAR Senior Vice President and CEO says “There could not be a more optimal moment in time to announce our first Impact partner than in tandem with the debut of the ABB NASCAR EV Prototype at the Chicago Street Race.”

The ABB NASCAR EV Prototype represents the latest innovation from the NASCAR Research & Development Center. It also signifies NASCAR’s renewed dedication to product relevance, ensuring its race cars closely match production cars on the street.

Developed in collaboration with NASCAR’s OEM partners— Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota — the prototype was built by the NASCAR engineers responsible for the Next Gen car and the Garage 56 entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Throughout the development process, NASCAR and the OEMs worked together on the design and elements of the vehicle.

The track-tested, All-Wheel Drive (AWD) electrified stock car features three STARD UHP 6-Phase motors (one front, two rear). These directly power all four wheels, each shod in specially designed Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres.

A 78-kWh liquid-cooled battery powers the motors, with a tunable powertrain capable of producing up to 1,000 kW (1,340 HP) of peak power. Additionally, the car features regenerative braking, making it ideal for road courses and short oval tracks.

The race machine boasts a generic Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) body made of sustainable flax-based composite. It shares many similarities with both the Next Gen and Garage 56 cars—the body sits on a modified Next Gen chassis, and the steering, suspension, brakes, and wheels are all derived from the NASCAR Cup Series car.