Just How Long Will It Be Until Chevy Makes The Corvette Electric?
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Earlier this week, General Motors announced a bevy of battery-powered models in conjunction with the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, including highlights like the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV, Chevy Equinox EV, Chevy Blazer EV, and Cadillac InnerSpace AV concept. With GM ramping up to release 30 new EV models globally by 2025, the entirety of the GM portfolio is poised to go all-electric, at least in the longterm. Naturally, enthusiasts want to know – just how long will it be until Chevy makes the Corvette electric as well?
From the off, we should point out a few things, starting with the obvious differences between nameplates like the Chevy Silverado and Chevy Corvette. For starters, the Silverado is GM’s best-selling vehicle – period. It’s also Chevy’s best-selling vehicle, with the Chevy Corvette selling just a fraction of what the Silverado sells. For reference, Chevy sold 115,376 units of the Silverado in Q4 of 2021, and 8,293 units of the Chevy Corvette during the same time period.
Then there’s the strong internal-combustion heritage of the Corvette. For nearly the entirety of the nameplate’s existence, the Chevy Corvette has offered impressive power (the early C1 models are an obvious exception) and a loud exhaust, two characteristics that will be very difficult to unhitch with regard to enthusiasts’ expectations. Would a Corvette electric vehicle have the same sort of appeal? Likely not.
Nevertheless, it seems as though an electrified Corvette is inevitable at this point. GM is going EV, and it’ll have to bring the Vette along for the ride.
So, when should we expect a Corvette electric vehicle? Well, considering the GM vehicle lifecycle typically runs about six years, the ninth-generation C9 Chevy Corvette is due out in 2026. That could be the generation where the Vette finally goes pure EV, at least as an option.
In the meantime, the C8 Corvette is already pushing the nameplate towards battery power with two electrified models on the horizon, including the upcoming C8 E-Ray, which will mate the C8’s naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine with a hybrid electric system. The E-Ray will arrive as an indirect replacement for the Grand Sport, which won’t be part of the C8 lineup, thus slotting the E-Ray between the C8 Stingray and the new C8 Z06.
Then we have the C8 Corvette Zora, which will mate the twin-turbo 5.5L V8 LT7 from the C8 ZR1 with a new hybrid electric system, resulting in a world-churning 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque. Named after the “father” of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov, the new C8 Zora will slot in as the range-topper of the series.
While purists will undoubtedly rage at the though of a Corvette electric vehicle, the adrenaline factor will surely be on point, as evidenced by the seemingly unending rise in power levels and performance observed with subsequent eighth-generation C8 releases. However, will it be enough to win over those enthusiasts with gasoline flowing in their veins? That remains to be seen.
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A battery only Vette, highly unlikely if it’s just battery based. Can’t imagine LeMans running on battery alone, if anything I see hybrid electric making it’s way into the performance field. Also when Brandon’s out in ’24 we’ll see some rollback of emissions/fuel standards but not like it was when Trump was in.
I don’t want electric vehicle in general especially not a Corvette I don’t see GM going past that point I think they’ll be out of business the most any vehicle should be is hybrid
The thing is when you are almost two seconds slower getting to 60 and no faster than the average SUV on the road is it really a sports car anymore?
Bring your political innuendo and insults to another format. This is a Corvette world which brings people together and does not seek to create “us against them”.
I expect this to be the last vehicle outside large trucks to offer Gas powered engines.
Most racing series are now planning hybrids and at some point full electric from Formula one to IMSA.
I work in the racing/performance industry and most of my vendors are scrambling to find products to where they will still fit in.
They are to a point now where too much money has been invested and they have plans already set way beyond 4 years. They can’t keep changing plans based on who is in office anymore. Also if they plan to return to global models they will need EV elsewhere.
They are planning 15 years from now not the next election.
I think the Corvette will always offer a small block V8 along with an EV Corvette as an option… If you really want an EV Corvette. Me personally I owned a 2002 Camaro Z28 with the LS1 small block V8 and I loved it I had an three inch cat back exhaust on it and it sounded awesome 😎… I could not imagine that any sounds “pumped” through the stereo will give Corvette owners the same sound and feeling of a true Chevy small block V8!
As gasoline motors go out of volume production they will become prohibitively expensive. Also this last and greatest American muscle car motor they are making now is not faster than an electric SUV. Can you really get excited about a sports car moms taking kids to school can outrun you? These are the last great gasoline cars that will be showing up in movies for a hundred years. The end
I can’t see an all-electric Corvette, even though the performance will be there (e.g. Tesla S Plaid). The traditional thrill won’t. But then back when rumors of a mid-engine Vette began in earnest, I said, “nah, the current one sells too well.” so much for my predictive skills.
Electric and Corvette hardly belong in the same sentence
I thought the same thing. Then I watched a nitro-burning funny car left in the dust by a Tesla. Does Corvette and getting outrun by minivans go together? I think you either make it electric or you just stop making it because it won’t be a sports car anymore in five years with an Ice engine.
Ford made the iconic Mustang into a pure EV in 2020 and they can’t make them fast enough for demand and that is while they are still making and selling the ICE version, so GM must be smart, so the Corvette pure EV must follow as well as the Camaro pure EV and they must follow very quickly if GM is to compete in the EV marketplace. They shouldn’t even waste their time doing hybrid versions. The pure electric Corvette EV and Camaro EV should be included in the ” 30 new EV models globally by 2025″.
The future is electric. Thomas Edison knew it over 100 years ago, but Henry Ford nevet accepted that, although his wife Claire dif drive a Detroit Electric for years, powered by Edison’s batteries.
Now the latest Ford generation is going electric. GM is falling behind yet GM has made electrics since 1972. Those first electrics are still on the Moon.
I wouldn’t say Ford made the Mustang pure EV….Ford left the Mustang alone, and created a new mach E SUV/crossover (I think it shares ford Focus parts, not mustang) car that they put mustang grill and badge on. Agreed, it sells lot hotcakes, as any SUV will. America is in love with SUVs, they sell millions. Sports cars are just for a very limited percent of the population, who want something different, or harkens back to their past. That is why Challenger, Mustang, Camaro all resemble the muscle car design and have V8s available. Also why Chevy was very careful with the Corvette to connect the history of the rear engine to these next gen buyers. it’s very important.
To your point though, I think you have good idea that GM should do the same thing; create a full electric SUV that looks unique, or put a good looking front end on it with catchy sports car name….it may become their best seller, who knows? Maybe a Blazer ZR1 or ZL1 1000hp all electric? But I vote to keep the Vette and Camaro V8 engine high performance vehicles, and explore those limits. I’m not a big fan of hybrid, since it doubles the complication. I like simple vehicles that I can work on. Give me turbos instead of an additional hybrid powertrain any day.
As slow developing as Chevrolet has been with the C8’s we will never see a Zora model if they change over to the C9 in 2026.
I have felt the torque of all electric AWD, and it is awesome. Right now electric motorcycles and sports cars are niche items but they will be mainstream, just watch Porsche and Mercedes.
and the children who misss their precious clutch pedal and stick shift will move further in to the dark ages and maintain their carburetors and instead of moonshine will convert the still to make gasoline for the ICE.
Half the fun of owning any muscle car, hot rod, whatever, is the sound of the engine. I want my VVVRRRROOOM!! Not vreeem.
The ICE ENGINED Corvette, Camaro, Mustang, Challenger have a SOUL/A HEART(THE ENGINE). The HEARTBEAT is the EXHAUST!!!!!
AN EV is like my Wife’s VACUUM CLEANER!!!! And therefore not for me…..
I will keep my 2SS Camaro and my Explorer ST…….
It is just a matter of time 25-50 years from now that the majority of vehicles will be EV’s. Three issues that stand in the way for the EV conversion are battery recycling or disposal, nationwide charging stations and the power grid infrastructure to support it. The next time you head out for a drive imagine all the cars around you being an EV and need charging. Manufacturing an EV is easy, building a nationwide grid infrastructure and charging stations take years. CA is the perfect example of not being prepared. Their infrastructure is so outdated and not maintained they cannot even keep the light or air conditioning on yet along with supporting a state full of EV’s. I am 70 years old and yes EV’s will eventually take over but not in my lifetime. I am just patiently waiting for my Z06 to be built so I can enjoy my retirement.
Dr. Piz, I am 70 years old, too, and I drive a hybrid because there was no electric sedan when I bought it. And I do see the full conversion of gasoline to electrics in my lifetime. I plan to buy a Cadillac Lyriq in 2023, and my home is ready to charge it from solar power for free.
You cannot get free fuel if it isn’t electric.
Good luck in finding one
It took 8 years to go from horses to cars and they had a lot more infrastructure to make. Roads and gas stations. What happens is that every EV you sell raises the price of gas cars because you lose economy of scale and very quickly nobody can afford a gas car. There is a tipping point and it is too close for comfort.
So tell us about WOW. It appears that battery power at 100% is limited to about 5 seconds. Please explain.
CEO of Porsche said the 911 will NEVER EVER be electric.
Ferrari’s ex-CEO said that as well and now he’s out and Ferrari is working on an EV. Sad times indeed.
Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said the 911 will be the “last Porsche which is going for full electrification,” Not never, last one. big difference
I read some where that the way horses are now for liesure and sport, gasoline ICE will be for hobby and sport. I can see that, most people seeking transportation just need EV, and we that know how to drive want those people using auto pilot!
I’ll take a quiet 4 door tesla that will blow the doors off any Corvette ICE.
up until 80 miles per hour, maybe 100. then the tesla is just another car.
seriously. great torque , but it stops, and that is where the C8 is trult amazing, above 100mph.
The Tesla S is the fastest production car in the world. Period.
0-60 mph: 1.9 sec; acceleration 0-100 mph: 4.2 sec; acceleration ¼ mile: 8.8 sec. Top speed 250 MPH.
Top speed is 160, planned to go to 275 with track mode, but it doesn’t have the handling for those speeds. Car and Driver said it was scary at 160. Tesla still hasn’t figured out it takes more than power to make a true performance car.
That was meant to be 175, not 275. I tried to edit it, but for some reason the typo stayed.
Not true at all. There is no powerband on a Tesla. It has the same torque at a 140 mph as it has at 0. It only tops out because it’s governed, and has track mode where it’s not governed. And for cornering has torque vectoring. It has a drift mode if you want to drift.
The only performance metric that the Tesla wins is acceleration. Top speed, handling, braking and endurance all go to the Vette. Take both on the track for more than 1 lap and see who wins.
Cornering the Tesla has torque vectoring and can give more power to one wheel than the other to get you around the corners faster or you can turn on drift mode if you want to drift. The suspension is adjusted by the computer in track mode. All of that just came out through an over the air update.
It is officially time for Corvette to transform into a global brand with both ICE mid engine and BEV. Corvette buyers deserve options and, as ICE sales diminish, had made models could be a lucrative business.
Corvette needs to represent the best GM can do much like Porche demonstrates VW at it’s corporate best. If Cadillac fails to attract new buyers with it’s EV line up Corvette provides GM an alternative premium path
Again who cares what they will do in the future if getting what they make now is impossible and I mean not getting gouged when trying to buy one.
Corvette will be Electric when it gets smoked in racing by other Electric vehicles from other manufactures.
Recharging the EV’s take to long. Gas powered drive 320 miles stop and refuel takes 5 minutes, EV drive 400 miles stop and recharge takes 8 hours! I love driving my 2021 C8 so I’ll stick with gas power. I’m so glad I got it before they switched.
Proud prior owner of a 2015 Z06 and a 2020 Z51 here. Loved them both. Made the jump to EVs and have not looked back.
When an EV Corvette is announced that performs as good or better than the ICE version and has a 250-300 mile range, I will be first in line with my deposit. (GM – please take my money – sooner than later!)
When you drive across the country you need more than 300 miles. More like 1000 then maybe or a generator or something that charges constantly!
Name me one gas corvette that gets 1000miles per tank of fuel? The new 800volt charging that is coming out in lots of 2022 ev’s can charge from 20%-80% in 7-8 minutes. so adding 200miles in less time than it takes to walk over to a restroom on the side of the hwy and back.
It’s the charging time! To fill a tank it takes a few minutes, to recharge a battery every 300 miles it will take 8 hours! A big waste of time that I don’t have when traveling.