The gas-powered Autopia cars in Tomorrowland will become a thing of the past when Disneyland transforms the ride vehicles to fully electric power in an update that has been anticipated for decades but will still take several years to realize.
Disneyland will convert Autopia from gas engines to fully electric power within 30 months, according to Disneyland officials.
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The timeline means Disneyland will no longer use gas engines on Autopia vehicles by fall 2026. Closing and reopening dates have not yet been set for the Autopia update.
Disneyland’s promise in early April to electrify Autopia had left open the possibility of converting to hybrid or fully electric vehicles. Disneyland has clarified that the Autopia cars will become fully electric.
Climate activists pressuring Disneyland to commit to converting Autopia cars from gasoline to fully electric within two years declared a “huge victory,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
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The last major Autopia refurbishment took place in 2016 when Honda became the ride’s sponsor. Previous ride sponsors were Chevron (2000-2012) and Richfield Oil (1955-1970), according to D23.
The 1955 opening day attraction was redesigned in 1959, 1964 and 1968, according to D23. An extensive remodeling related to the Chevron sponsorship closed Autopia from September 1999 through June 2000, according to D23.
Disneyland could be planning an electric update to Autopia in 2026 if the Honda sponsorship ends after a 10-year contract, according to WDW News Today.
Florida’s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Paris also have versions of the Autopia attraction. Tokyo Disneyland closed its Grand Circuit Raceway ride in 2017. The Hong Kong Disneyland Autopia — which closed in 2016 — featured electric cars with lighting effects and onboard audio.
Electrifying Autopia is part of Disney’s goal of incorporating a net zero emissions future into every aspect of the Disneyland resort and reducing its overall carbon footprint, according to Disneyland officials.
The Disneyland resort has made a sustainability commitment of reaching net zero emissions by 2030 by increasingly relying on cleaner renewable energy sources. Over the past 18 months, the sustainability efforts have resulted in 10 million kilowatts of energy savings, according to Disneyland officials.