In a field such as NASCAR, there is definitely something very masculine about the entire approach. Thinking back to movies like “Days of Thunder,” it certainly has put forth the notion of high-speed races and high-performance engines at the center. But that was 30-odd years ago. Now, the power of the vehicle is slowly being eroded by an environmental mindset.
(Featured Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images/NASCAR Media)
While certainly, gearheads can feel like their precious vehicles are being taken away, only to be replaced with puny Teslas with even punier engines, there has been a big debate as to whether electric cars are worth the hype. While Toyota has said that working towards reducing carbon emissions in the NASCAR Cup Series through electrification is a “work in progress,” will electric cars live up to the hype in every single way?
Is It a Fashion Choice More Than a Lifestyle Choice?
We can’t deny the fact that climate change is happening, but so many people are looking for vehicles that look the part as well as benefit the planet. A sleek electric vehicle like VinFast’s VF 8 looks like a stylish modern vehicle; the appeal of NASCAR is partly down to its rough and ready vehicles. The fact is that there is a major change going on on the streets.
Electric vehicles are evolving all of the time, and electric cars are, in fact, delivering on the hype in terms of torque and acceleration. Even Tesla’s Ludicrous mode, an “easter egg” performance-enhancing upgrade that increased peak torque by approximately 60%, became a little industry secret. For those looking for neck-bracing acceleration and speed, electric cars are able to deliver on the hype. But does this mean that it will translate to sports racing such as NASCAR?
Will Electrification Electrify the Racing Industry?
There are a few things to consider here. There is still the desire for the sights, sounds, and smells of traditional endurance racing. While Formula One already has an electric offshoot, Formula E, there was the debate that Formula One could be all-electric by the year 2035. Formula E has undergone a much more radical change since its inception in 2014.
The Gen 2 Formula E car provided improvements in power and speed, but Formula 1 Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali says that they will never go electric. This certainly brings a few questions into play. Notably, will Formula 1 ever become a clean sport and operate with a zero-emissions ethos?
While the 2026 season will see the introduction of a clean synthetic fuel that’s currently in development, there is still the desire for anything and everything traditional. An integral part of the NASCAR experience is the car screaming down the straightaway. Will people adapt to a newer, potentially more silent racing industry?
What Is the Future of NASCAR and Electric Technology?
As NASCAR looks toward the future, it’s very clear that change is coming. NASCAR is already testing hybrid technologies with the hope of it being a hybrid sport, which can introduce fans to the idea of electric power gradually. In sports like Formula 1 and NASCAR, the roar is such a distinctive part of the experience. This is also something that translates into the real world.
There are many concerns about hybrid and electric vehicles purely because of the sound. Hybrid vehicles famously emit very little noise, as well as in many models, very little power. There have been instances of pedestrian accidents occurring because they had not listened out for a vehicle. There are so many parts of society that are now looking to embrace sustainability in all of its forms, but there’s still a pull to the past.
While this is typical of those who are set in their ways, the demand for effective sustainable solutions, not just in everyday cars but in the motorsport industry in general, means that sustainability needs to secure a place in the sport’s evolution. Formula E is a good example because it already embraced electrification, but also the sport has evolved because of the lengths of the races. Electric cars compete in sprint races, which provide a new dimension to the sport in general.
There’s no denying NASCAR’s abilities on the race track, but so many of us can look at electric cars as being all hype and no substance. In a world where horsepower and loud engines can position you as a force to be reckoned with, the reality is that, in fact, the hype surrounding electric vehicles in motorsport and life may not be so overblown after all.
