Know Bill Nye? Well if you’re a NASCAR fan you’re about to cause he’s the one that just called NASCAR out and thinks it’s time for them to change. Bill Nye the Science Guy proposed to NASCAR on Jan 26, 2016 to switch to electric cars. That statement opened up a whole discussion on the possibilities. The two most important aspects seem to be a battle between the technology and green positives against the loss of senses – the smell and the sound.
Will Tesla be the first to offer NASCAR Electric? Pictured are two real electric racing cars. Tesla fielded a two-car team in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series in 2013, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and Duracell.
With Nye’s comments, the internet lit up. Twitter, Facebook, and news outlets pounded the statements in his post (See Nye’s Post). “Disrupters” as they are known are typically millennials that look to do things their way – aka the way they see the world to be. The classic business example is Uber and how it’s disrupted the way we livery cars. But the motorsports industry has been watching the trend for years and a few have taken steps to introduce new motorsports series. So the question is – no if, but WHEN will NASCAR offer the Nationa Association of Electric Stock Cars…
FIA Formula 1 offers Formula E Series in 2014
The Formula E Series, started back in 2014. Formula E is a ground-breaking FIA single-seater championship and the world’s first fully-electric racing series. Formula E aims to represent a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a framework for R&D around the electric vehicle, accelerating general interest in these cars and promoting clean energy and sustainability.
NHRA National Hot Rod Association offers the NEDRA – The National Electric Drag Racing Association
In the drag racing world, nothing is more powerful to the senses than a 10,000 horsepower burnout. Then comes the unimaginable flames out the headers, followed by an exhilirating pounding to the body as a top fuel dragster goes down the strip.
While the NHRA owns almost every aspect of american drag racing, including what tracks can and can’t offer, maybe they’re the ones that will offer the innovation (if they choose).
Before you go crazy, you have to look at what NHRA legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits has been playing around with.
Garlits and others are looking first to breaking the 200 mph threshold on batteries. So the challenge is on. So what’s the mission of the NEDRA? According to their site, “The National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) exists to increase public awareness of electric vehicle (EV) performance and to encourage through competition, advances in electric vehicle technology. NEDRA achieves this by organizing and sanctioning safe, silent and exciting electric vehicle drag racing events.”
Nye stated, “To address climate change in the medium and long term, we have to stop, completely stop, burning fossil fuels. How about NASCAR becoming NESCAR (National Electric Stock Car Racing)? The sooner NASCAR (or NESCAR) embraces electric drive trains, the sooner the US can be the world leader in automotive technology, and the sooner we can stop pumping carbon dioxide into the air every time we want to go somewhere to get groceries, pick up the soccer team, commute to work or watch a race.”
Thoughts and Comments
What do you think? Plenty to Debate. Maybe it’s time to start a new Wednesday NASCAR offering? And what about Dirt tracks? Feeder series?
