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

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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