DL Autopia to move away from gas-powered cars

But if I'm out and about, and I catch a whiff of un-catalyzed exhaust from a vintage muscle car or a lawnmower that's running "just so", how am I supposed to have nostalgia wash over me with memories of the Autopia?

lol just kidding, that smell memory is baked into me from a very young age so it will never go away.

I've been surprised for many many years that the cars aren't electric, especially in California. But really, it's gotta be a cost thing because the current motors are lawn mower engines and it's probably $200 for a new one and takes a maintenance guy an hour or less to replace. Now you are tasked with basically a fleet of dozens of vehicles (small vehicles but still) that are going to require electric motors, batteries, and electronics that aren't cheap. Plus it'll be great when those battery packs need replacing every year because of the heavy use-cycle they get.

Vehicles like Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railway etc are obviously battery powered so it can be done.

A few years back, I somehow convinced my wife that we should go on the cars at MK. I remember them being a blast when I was young...

We get in, I press the gas, it accelerates...two seconds later it's done accelerating and I spent the next three minutes or whatever pushing the gas pedal, I remember my muscles aching because I think my body kept trying to push the pedal harder and harder. I thought it should go much faster. The thrill is gone! Now I've got real cars, and my mower probably goes 3x the speed and I can drive it all over the yard and not have to stay on the little track. But driving the mower is actually work, and not fun...downsides to being a grownup, I guess.

Now that I think about it, I have seen a couple of electric riding mowers at the store. Hmmm

All the go-cart places around here have been using electric motors for years. They go much faster than Autopia and run them all day long. I haven’t been in years, but I don’t believe there are any major problems. Since Autopia will be going MUCH slower, they might not even need to be charged that frequently. 

To go all electric, would be a big upgrade cost. "Go karts" are cheap.
I think Disney has been waiting for a "partner" to make the change.....IE: a sponsor to pay for it all.

This change is at least 5 years past due.

If it’s going to be a company, my money’s on an EV company that really needs to increase sales faster - Rivian or Polestar? I’d add Lucid but I’m not sure Disney would take Saudi money and the controversy that comes with that. Or, maybe, Disney will take Chinese money and go with BYD.

Yeah, I would doubt they would run a current through the track. Too much risk to guests and cast members.