Chevrolet Just Dropped An Electric Corvette Bombshell

While the Corvette C8 has been resolutely gas-powered so far, just like its predecessors, Chevrolet didn’t design the eighth-generation sports car with solely internal combustion in mind. Chevy confirmed the Corvette C8’s potential electrification back in mid-2019. At the time, though, company execs were coy on just what form that electric drive might take. The easiest option, of course, is a mild hybrid. That typically involves a 48V electric starter-generator paired with a relatively small battery. The result would likely be no electric-only range, but the ability to fill in gaps in the gas drivetrain — such as during gear changes — with power from the electric motor. It could also contribute its performance during periods of fast acceleration, then act as a generator when the Corvette mild hybrid was slowing, feeding power back into the battery pack.

However, Chevy could go further than that, with a full plug-in hybrid option for the Corvette. The PHEV would have a larger battery and a way to charge it externally, such as from a home or workplace wall charger. We’ve seen some automakers experiment with that, such as the limited-edition Polestar 1, though the challenge is inevitably balancing the weight of both a gas and electric drivetrain, plus the batteries required.