A leaked document from an unknown source states that demo races with prototype EVs will take place in February next year.
NASCAR is reportedly looking to introduce its electric competition series, and an exhibition competition will be held on at the 2023 Busch Clash in Los Angeles on February 5.
The electric NASCAR racers will reportedly sprint on a 900-volt architecture and have more than 1,000 horsepower thanks to a trio of electric motors. We can conclude as well from this that the cars will be fully-wheel drive.
A website intended to motorsport with a focus on NASCAR, Kickin’ the Tires, broke the report regarding this aligned electric racing series which said that it got hold of screenshots from a leaked file that announced the series would sprint for six races as well that would be associated to the NASCAR Cup Series.
Each competition would include two 30-minute legs. It would present 12 cars that would not be allowed to charge or change batteries during the competition. To add credibility to their claims, the source news quotes Chief Operating Officer of NASCAR, Steve O’Donnell, who stated in March.
“We are exploring some opportunities around an exhibition series in that space. As everyone knows, there is a massive push across all of our OEM partners and potentially new OEM partners, so it is important for us to explore that space.
I think there is a lot of interest from our current partners to be part of that, but we look at NASCAR as a place where in an ideal world, we’d be all things to all things to all people. So, if you went to a NASCAR event weekend, you could see whatever type of technologies you wanted throughout a race weekend so that we will take a look at an electric series.”
NASCAR officially announced it would be moving to hybrid powertrains beginning in 2024. The new race vehicle for this year, is known as the Next Gen vehicle. It has already undergone several significant changes. It now makes a lot more downforce, which means it has been designed to take a lot more energy than it recently has, so with the launch of hybrid (and eventually all-electric) powertrains, we could also see a bump in power.
The leaked file also referenced the fact that with more than 1,000 horsepower, NASCAR’s electric car would reflect the performance level of the major race car, which led us to believe the future hybrid NASCAR car could also have risen by 1,000 ponies. The Next Gen vehicle has already grown over the former generation, with its energy output rising from 410 horsepower to 670 horsepower.
