NASCAR introduced its first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) prototype at the Chicago Street Race held at Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois, on July 7. Featuring bodywork made from flax, the vehicle is a significant innovation in sustainable motorsport technology.
The BEV prototype is the first major US motorsports project to use flax-based composites, developed by Swiss lightweighting specialist Bcomp. The high-performance bodywork incorporates Bcomp’s ampliTex technical fabrics and powerRibs (the latter inspired by the vein structure of leaves) to benefit from the natural advantages of flax fiber.
NASCAR says this project aligns with its broader commitment to sustainability under the NASCAR Impact initiative, in which the organization pledged to achieve net zero operating emissions by 2035 and set various five-year sustainability targets.
Bcomp’s composites are designed to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional carbon fiber. The manufacturer says they can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 85% while maintaining similar stiffness. Additionally, these composites enhance safety in motorsports due to their breaking behavior, which avoids sharp shattering – a crucial factor in bumper-to-bumper racing scenarios.
Johann Wacht, key account manager of automotive and motorsports at Bcomp, added, “This collaboration is Bcomp’s first major US motorsport project, and we are excited to demonstrate together with the NASCAR Impact team how racing can pave the way for sustainable innovations, enabling benefits for wider society further down the road.”
Larry Perko, Bcomp US motorsports business development (North America), said, “Building on our global leadership in high-performance composites, we are excited to introduce our Race to Road strategy to the US, ushering in a new era for American motorsports. Our commitment to innovation and sustainability empowers forward-thinking American companies like NASCAR to achieve new heights in efficiency and environmental responsibility.”
