Chevrolet Blazer EV.R: NASCAR's First 1,300-HP Electric Racer

Chevrolet has entered the electric NASCAR scene, joining Ford with their own high-performance EV prototype. It's called the Chevy Blazer EV.R, and it's packing over 1,300 horsepower from three electric motors and a 78-kilowatt-hour liquid-cooled battery.

Chevy built the Blazer EV.R using chassis and suspension components from NASCAR’s Next-Gen race cars, but this electric version is quite different. It ditches the usual V-8 engine for a programmable all-wheel-drive system, sending power to Goodyear Racing Eagle tires, similar to the ABB NASCAR EV prototype introduced last year.

Styling-wise, the Blazer EV.R borrows from the Blazer EV SS, the 615-horsepower crossover that's pacing this weekend's Daytona 500. While the street version can reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, it has just half the power of the NASCAR prototype.

Justin Allgaier, last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion and Team Chevy driver, got behind the wheel of the prototype in January. Justin Allgaier discussed the unique experience of gauging speed through gearing and engine sounds, a feature he's accustomed to in traditional cars. The regenerative braking also plays a big role in how the car handles corners and braking zones.

Ford's Mustang Mach-E NASCAR prototype, revealed in late January, shares similar specs with the Chevy Blazer EV.R but takes on a more compact form. These prototypes give a glimpse into how electric powertrains might integrate with NASCAR's current platform, but when they’ll actually race each other is still up in the air.