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NASCAR's EV prototype: How it differs from the Next Gen Cup car

The car isn't likely to ever see actual competition, but it part of the “NASCAR Impact” initiative, which is the sanctioning body’s platform to advance sustainability in electrification. The series plans to reduce its own carbon footprint to zero across its core operations by 2035.

John Probst, NASCAR’s senior vice president and chief racing development officer, said of the EV project: “As you know, we look towards net zero operating emissions for us by 2035, so at this point, I’m not sitting here saying we’re going to announce a series. That’s not what this is about.”

Instead, Probst said, the EV prototype is about “exploring what our future could be.”

“We built this car. We put it on track. That is our point, is to learn,” he said. “We’ll have a story tell as we learn. And we’ll be in the driver’s seat wherever our future takes us."

Here's a look at how the EV compares with the current Gen 7 (originally called Next Gen) car utilized in NASCAR Cup Series competition since 2022.

ABB NASCAR EV Prototype -- NASCAR Next Gen Cup car

ABB NASCAR EV Prototype (Photo by: NASCAR Media)
-- ABB NASCAR EV Prototype NASCAR Next Gen Car Cup
Length / Width / Height 185.5” / 78.6” / 56" 193.4”/ 78.6” / 50.4”
Wheelbase 110” 110”
Weight About 4,000 lbs About 3.485 lbs
Body  Generic CUV body styling made of flax fiber composite Composite symmetric body featuring integral flap systems, camera mounts and OEM-specific design elements
Chassis Steel tubing w/bolt-on front clip and front/rear bumpers Steel tubing with bolt-on front and rear clips and front/rear bumpers
Powertrain  3x STARD UHP 6-Phase motors (AWD: 1x Front and 2x Rear) Chevrolet R07 cast iron small block V8

Voltage Level

756 VDC max N/A
Energy Content 78 kWh N/A
Cooling  Water glycol  Air exits radiator through hood louvers
Steering  Rack and pinion Rack and pinion
Suspension  Double wishbone billet aluminum control arms w/adjustable coil over shock absorbers Double wishbone billet aluminum control arms w/adjustable coil over shock absorbers
Brakes  Six piston monobloc front calipers / four piston monobloc rear calipers – heavy duty disc package Six piston monobloc front calipers / four piston monobloc rear calipers heavy duty & light duty disc packages
Wheels 18” x 12” forged aluminum 18” x 12” forged aluminum
Tires Goodyear Racing Eagles Goodyear Racing Eagles
ABB NASCAR EV Prototype (Photo by: NASCAR Media)
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