Cautionary Tale? Kyle Busch Explains How A Hybrid NASCAR Car Might Work
Like a lot of NASCAR Cup Series drivers today, Kyle Busch wants one thing: More Power.
Busch was asked during a press conference at Darlington Raceway this weekend if the potential upcoming introduction of hybrid powertrains had him optimistic that they would bring a power boost.
The seventh generation Next Gen Cup Series car was designed to accommodate hybrid technology.
NASCAR hasn’t detailed how it would work, but it would most likely involve adding an electric motor into its five-speed transaxle unit and a battery that would be charged primarily with a regenerative braking system, like street hybrids use.
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“Sure, it just depends on what they build it to,” Busch said, adding that supercharging was another option for increasing horsepower.
Busch elaborated that he has heard that electric power would be used “only under caution.”
This suggests that the cars would switch to electric power during yellow flag periods, which is a very different proposition.
A typical NASCAR Cup Series caution period lasts five to six laps, which could cover 10-15 miles or more, depending on the track.
Assuming the motor’s efficiency is 2 miles per kilowatt-hour, which is on the low end for a production car, that might require a battery pack with a capacity of 5-10 kilowatt-hours to ensure it is used for the entire duration of the caution period.
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The NASCAR-owned IMSA sports car series currently features hybrid powertrains in its top GTP cars, which use a 1.35 kilowatt-hour battery pack that weighs approximately 77 pounds, so the weight increase for a Cup Series car could be substantial.
However, the only time the IMSA cars run under full electric power is in pit lane and they are not required to do so for the entire length of it. The electric power is primarily combined with the internal combustion engine power on the track.
As for when NASCAR will implement hybrid power in the Cup Series, recent reports say that a fourth manufacturer, which many understand is Honda, has said it won’t join until it happens and that the earliest it could happen is in 2026 or 2027.
