NASCAR Shows Off First-Ever Electric Prototype, And It Might Be The Future Of Stock Car Racing

NASCAR is hitting the streets of Chicago once again this weekend, and they've brought along something that could be hitting the track in the years to come: an all-electric prototype.

This will go over really well with purists…

Like many leagues, racing series, companies, and organizations, NASCAR is on a quest to reduce its carbon footprint, and since the sport involves burning some of that sweet, sweet Sunoco racing fuel, the easiest way to do this is to go electric.

So, NASCAR showed off a new $1.5 million prototype electric stock car that it partnered with ABB — title sponsor of the all-electric single-seater series Formula E — to build.

According to a NASCAR press release, current OEM partners — Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota — were in on developing this prototype.

According to the Associated Press, the prototype did some laps at Martinsville with David Ragan behind the wheel and got around the Paperclip two seconds slower than current stock cars thanks to its slowness through the corners due to it being heavier than its gas-powered counterparts.

It looks neat, but it makes you wonder how quick to get excited about electric cars NASCAR fans would be. 

There are pros and cons to electric racing. The instant torque and acceleration are cool, but one thing fans tend to miss is the sound of an engine. That's been a common critique of Formula 1 since it adopted V6 turbo-hybrid engines about a decade ago. The cars simply aren't that loud.

However, electrification is the future of racing with the aforementioned Formula 1 being well into its hybrid era, while IndyCar debuts hybrid engines this weekend.

I don't know that I'd be too pumped to see the Cup Series ever go full electric, but I think looking into some kind of hybrid system might be interesting. However, I think creating a new all-electric stock car series would be extremely interesting, and would probably even draw interest from new manufacturers.

Manufacturers Would Benefit From A NASCAR Push Toward Going Electric.

Speaking of which, while environmental concerns are one reason for the push toward electrification, another is that consumers aren't adopting them. So, manufacturers are looking for ways to market them to more consumers.

Eric Warren, head of global motorsports competition for General Motors told the Associated Press that market research says NASCAR fans are more likely to go electric if there is a connection to racing.

Y'know, like that adage, "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday."

"We’re committed to electric vehicles," Warren said. "Racing gives a great platform to discuss a lot of those concepts and educate fans. It’s a laboratory for us to try some new technologies and learn as we educate."

We'll see where NASCAR decides to go in the future, as there are no plans to use this thing in competition. 

But if just about every other major racing series on the planet has gone in this direction, there's no reason to think NASCAR won't follow suit.