According to the US branch of Swiss technology group ABB, the aim of the collaboration between the two parties is to “create strategic opportunities for electrification in the sports sector, including racing vehicles, electrification infrastructure and energy education.” The two partners unveiled a prototype they jointly created at the 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race over the weekend. Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota also participated in the development of the prototype.
ABB says the vehicle is a track-tested electric stock car with three engines and 1,000kW peak power, one at the front and two at the rear. The adjustable powertrain is powered by a liquid-cooled 78 kWh battery. The tires are four “specially developed Goodyear Racing Eagle units.” And with regenerative braking converting kinetic energy into electricity, the company continues, making the car ideal for road courses and short ovals.
ABB will also be a founding partner of NASCAR Impact, a platform that promotes sustainability efforts in motorsport. NASCAR’s goal is to become carbon neutral by 2035. As a result, ABB will also support the association’s electrification away from the racetrack.
“ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation. We help our customers around the world optimize, electrify and decarbonize their operations,” said Ralph Donati, executive vice president of ABB. “The goal of the collaboration between NASCAR, ABB in the U.S. and the NASCAR industry is to push the boundaries of electrification technologies in everything from electric car racing to long-haul transportation and facility operations.”
“There couldn’t be a better time to announce our first IMPACT partners, coinciding with the debut of our prototype electric vehicles at the Chicago Street Race,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR senior vice president and chief executive officer of IMPACT. “ABB is a leader in the industry and will help us decarbonize our operations (…)”