This ranks right up there with digging up a football stadium……
**********************
Steve O’Donnell said Wednesday NASCAR is “exploring some opportunities” to produce an exhibition series featuring electric cars.
O’Donnell, in a teleconference following his promotion as NASCAR’s chief operating officer, emphasized that Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota have all displayed significant interest in moving toward electric cars in competition.
“We are exploring some opportunities around an exhibition series in that space,” O’Donnell said. “And as everyone knows, there’s a huge push across all of our (original equipment manufacturer) partners, and even potentially new OEM partners. So it’s important for us to explore that space. I think there’s a lot of interest from our current partners to be part of that.”
Last year, 6.5 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide, according to research published in February from market research company Canalys. The report stated that was a 109% growth from 2020. Canalys’ research reported that the total global passenger car market grew 4% in 2021.
O’Donnell, who previously served as the sanctioning body’s executive vice president and chief racing development officer, also noted NASCAR has no set timeline toward going fully electric. His hope is for both forms of motorsport to coexist as manufacturers look to exhibit their road technologies at the racetrack.
“We look at NASCAR as a place where, in an ideal world, we’ll be all things to all people,” O’Donnell said. “So if you went to a NASCAR event weekend, you could see whatever type of technologies you wanted throughout a race weekend.”
O’Donnell also noted NASCAR fans are “very open, which is surprising to some” in regards to going electric. Other power sources, like hydrogen, are being looked at by NASCAR executives as well.
“But for us, the race has to be entertaining,” O’Donnell said. “Our fans, they love noise. They love the sound, the feel of racing. So if we’re going to get into the electric space, I promise you, it will be entertaining, and it’ll be something that fits into our portfolio and something our fans will be proud of.”
Talks of moving to a hybrid model with the current Next Gen car are also in play. Ahead of the 2021 Daytona 500, one year before of the Next Gen’s debut, NASCAR President Steve Phelps said he “would be surprised if a new OEM came in without some type of electrification.”
“I’m not talking about all-electric. I’m talking about a hybrid system,” he continued. “I think it’s something, obviously something that we’re exploring now with our existing three OEMs. The question is, what is it? What’s the timing of it?”
The Next Gen car is built with both hybrid and electric capabilities in mind. NASCAR has yet to announce any concrete timeline to take the necessary steps to shift away from its traditional gas-powered power supplies.
ALL ELECTRIC RACING SERIES…..
- Ashley.S.
- Race Fan
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2017 8:39 am
- Location: Falmouth, Cornwall, UK
- Has thanked: 12 times
- Been thanked: 7 times
- Contact:
Re: ALL ELECTRIC RACING SERIES…..
ForumulaE and ExtremeE are good examples of electric racing. I believe IndyCar is going Hybrid in the next few years as F1 showcases how well hybrid racing can work. F1 will switch to 100% synthetic fuels from 2026, after switching to E10 this year
Last edited by Ashley.S. on Sat May 21, 2022 1:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Kind Regards,
Ashley.S. [ Your friendly customer rep ]
Ashley.S. [ Your friendly customer rep ]
- alenigma
- Colossal Race Fan
- Posts: 9017
- Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:21 am
- Location: W. Columbia, SC.
- Has thanked: 690 times
- Been thanked: 121 times
- Contact:
Re: ALL ELECTRIC RACING SERIES…..
It's great to see that you're still above the sod, Ashley. Thing is, my biggest draw toward racing was the speed, the competition, the roar of the engines, and the fine aroma of racing fuel. I would hate to see that go away!
Even when I raced motocross, the exotic blends of oil and petrol for 2 strokes was a delight to the nostrils.
If Nascar decides to go this way, I hope they can use a small V-8 and a hybrid system...otherwise, I can sense a ton of un-sold tickets. - Alan.
Even when I raced motocross, the exotic blends of oil and petrol for 2 strokes was a delight to the nostrils.
If Nascar decides to go this way, I hope they can use a small V-8 and a hybrid system...otherwise, I can sense a ton of un-sold tickets. - Alan.
Let the Next Generation Emerge!
- Ashley.S.
- Race Fan
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2017 8:39 am
- Location: Falmouth, Cornwall, UK
- Has thanked: 12 times
- Been thanked: 7 times
- Contact:
Re: ALL ELECTRIC RACING SERIES…..
There was a lot of uproar over F1 switching to V6 Hybrid engines in 2014, claiming they don't have any noise and weren't the same. They are actually really really loud when they get fired up as you can't hear the presenters talking over the noise! It's also nice that you can also hear the tyres screech when drivers make a mistake and you can hear the crowd react to it. This chatter seems to have died down a bit as I think they made changes to the exhaust systems to make them slightly louder. I also gather fully electric cars are having noises added to them so those who have issues with sight can actually hear them approach on the roads. While this doesn't help the smell of the fuel, as long as the cars are still fast and can race at speed (I assume fans go to watch a motor race?) does it really matter what formula they take (electric, hybrid, petrol, etc.)?
Kind Regards,
Ashley.S. [ Your friendly customer rep ]
Ashley.S. [ Your friendly customer rep ]
- alenigma
- Colossal Race Fan
- Posts: 9017
- Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:21 am
- Location: W. Columbia, SC.
- Has thanked: 690 times
- Been thanked: 121 times
- Contact:
Re: ALL ELECTRIC RACING SERIES…..
Motor race? I recall the F1 cars from 15 years ago. Those cars had engines! 2 litre V-10 engines turning 19 thousand rpms. The sound was incredible!
Ashley, I have watched Formula E and I am not as impressed as I am watching F1.
Hopefully, we can agree to disagree.
Ashley, I have watched Formula E and I am not as impressed as I am watching F1.
Hopefully, we can agree to disagree.
Let the Next Generation Emerge!