WILL NASCAR EVER GO ELECTRIC? FORD PERFORMANCE THINKS IT MIGHT, CREATES MACH-E NASCAR PROTOTYPE
Ford Performance has just added another electrifying creation to its growing lineup of high-performance demonstrators. Enter the all-new Mustang Mach-E NASCAR prototype - a 100% electric racer designed to push the limits of what’s possible in stock car racing. This monster EV follows in the tyre marks of other Ford experimental builds like the SuperTruck, SuperVan 4.2, and the Super Cobra Jet 1800 - EVs that play where EVs are not seen yet. Unveiled at a preview event for Ford’s 2025 motorsports program, this prototype may carry the Mach-E badge, but it's far removed from the road-going version, instead, it blends Mach-E-inspired bodywork with a full carbon fibre tub chassis and a host of components borrowed directly from a current-generation NASCAR Cup Series car. Suspension, brakes, steering, and wheels all come from the same DNA as today’s thunderous V8-powered stock cars, but the powertrain is a whole different story. Underneath, three electric motors supply power - though Ford has yet to disclose exact output figures. If the Mach-E 1400, Ford’s previous seven-motor electric experiment, is anything to go by, this prototype is packing some serious electric power. The NASCAR Cup Series sits atop the stock car racing pyramid, with a legacy dating back to its inaugural season in 1949. Originally a battleground for modified production cars, the series has evolved into a high-tech spectacle featuring purpose-built race machines that merely resemble their showroom counterparts. Today’s Cup Series cars are engineered for maximum performance within NASCAR’s regulations, typically featuring naturally aspirated V8 engines that roar past 800 horsepower, producing symphonic noise and a signature raw, visceral racing experience.
Despite being a modern motorsport powerhouse, NASCAR has yet to introduce hybrid or electric race cars to its main series. A hybrid powertrain was announced years ago, but its implementation has been delayed until at least 2027. Meanwhile, NASCAR has taken small steps toward sustainability, such as adopting a carbon-emission reduction goal in 2023 and exploring the possibilities of electrification. The Mach-E prototype aligns with NASCAR’s gradual exploration of electric racing. It shares its three-motor setup and 78-kWh battery pack with an electric stock car prototype first revealed by NASCAR in 2023. That vehicle featured sustainable flax-based bodywork, signalling a potential push toward greener racing. While NASCAR has yet to confirm any plans for a fully electric series, leaked documents from 2022 hinted at discussions about a standalone EV championship. For now, the Cup Series remains a battleground for V8-powered machines, with manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota supplying cars that resemble their best-selling SUVs - the Mustang Mach-E, Blazer EV, and bZ4X, respectively. However, if Ford’s latest prototype is any indication, the transition to electrification might be closer than many expect. While there’s no set timeline for electric vehicles in NASCAR, Ford’s Mach-E race car stands as proof that EVs can be just as thrilling as their combustion-powered counterparts. Whether this is a one-off experiment or a preview of NASCAR’s future remains to be seen, but one thing is certain - electric racing isn’t coming; it’s already here. And with the Mach-E prototype lighting up the track with clouds of tyre smoke, Ford is making sure it arrives in style.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off a few scenes with the electric Mustang Mach-E while chatting about the possibility of electric-powered things in one of America's most beloved racing institutions - NASCAR: Ford's New Nascar Fighter | Ford Mustang Mach-E NASCAR Prototype | Vision Effect TV
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