The Wildwoods boardwalk, a stretch of sand and planks that has drawn families for generations, is about to get a quieter, cleaner ride. The iconic tram cars — those open-air trains that shuffle visitors up and down the five-mile promenade — are being joined this summer by three new electric vehicles. The upgrade, reported by NBC10 Jersey Shore, marks a notable shift for a mode of transport that has been as much a part of the Wildwoods identity as the doo-wop motels and the concrete benches.

Exactly what form those electric vehicles will take remains unspecified in the initial announcement. But the move away from internal-combustion engines on a crowded, pedestrian-heavy boardwalk is significant. The existing fleet of tram cars, which have been running for decades, are gasoline-powered and have long been a source of both charm and noise. Anyone who has stood on the boardwalk as a tram car rumbles past knows the experience comes with a soundtrack of engine growl and exhaust fumes. The new electric vehicles promise to change that.

The Wildwoods boardwalk is one of the longest in the country, stretching roughly five miles from the north end of Wildwood to the southern tip of Wildwood Crest. The tram cars serve as both a tourist attraction and a practical way to move between hotels, beach entrances, arcades, and food stands. They run on tracks embedded in the boardwalk, and the existing cars are a familiar sight — brightly colored, often packed with riders, and announced by the famous call of “Watch the tram car, please.”

Adding three electric vehicles to that fleet is a modest number. It will not electrify the entire line overnight. But it represents a pilot or a first step. If the electric vehicles perform reliably in the salt air, constant sun, and heavy summer foot traffic, it could pave the way for a broader replacement of the older cars. The boardwalk environment is tough on equipment — metal corrodes, electronics get sand in them, and the vehicles must endure daily cycles of stopping and starting in crowds. Electric drivetrains, with fewer moving parts and no exhaust systems, could actually be more durable in that setting.

There are also noise and pollution considerations. A boardwalk is a place where people walk, eat, and sit. Engine noise competes with music from arcades, screams from roller coasters, and the sound of the ocean. Replacing even a few of the tram cars with quieter electric vehicles would reduce the overall noise floor. And for a town that markets itself on nostalgia and family-friendly atmosphere, cutting down on exhaust fumes near food carts and open-air seating is a clear quality-of-life improvement.

The broader trend is clear. Boardwalks and amusement zones across the country are slowly moving toward electric or hybrid utility vehicles. Maintenance carts, security vehicles, and even some roller coaster trains have gone electric in recent years. The Wildwoods move fits that pattern, but it carries extra weight because the tram cars are not just utility vehicles — they are icons. Postcards, T-shirts, and souvenirs all feature them. Changing them is both a logistical upgrade and a cultural adjustment.

Details about the new vehicles — battery range, charging infrastructure, manufacturer, capacity — have not been released yet. Nor has the precise deployment date this summer. But given the existing tram tracks, the new electric cars will likely run on the same rails and stop at the same stations. They will need charging points somewhere along the route, probably near the maintenance yard or at one of the turnaround points. The logistics of keeping three electric vehicles charged during peak season, when each car may run for 12 to 16 hours a day, will be a test.

For visitors, the practical effect might be subtle. The ride will be smoother and quieter. The familiar call — “Watch the tram car, please” — will still be necessary, because electric motors are nearly silent at low speeds and pedestrians may not hear them coming. The upgraded vehicles may also offer slightly faster acceleration or smoother starts, but the speed on a boardwalk is never high. The main change riders will notice is the absence of exhaust smell and engine vibration.

It is worth remembering that the Wildwoods tram cars have been updated before. The original cars from the 1940s and 1950s were replaced or refurbished over the decades. The current fleet consists of multiple generations of cars, some decades old. Bringing in electric vehicles is not a full replacement, but it is the most significant change to the propulsion system since the switch from towing to self-propelled cars.

The announcement comes at a time when many shore towns are re-evaluating their vehicle fleets. Ocean City, New Jersey, has already experimented with electric shuttle buses. Atlantic City has hybrid trolleys. Cape May runs vintage trolleys that are electric-powered. The Wildwoods have lagged behind in that particular competition, but this summer they will catch up, at least in part.

The three new electric vehicles are likely to become attractions in their own right. Tourists line up to ride the tram cars already; a new, quieter, sleeker version will draw curiosity. If the experiment works, expect to see more of them in years to come. If it fails — say, battery range falls short or charging becomes a bottleneck — the lessons will be learned at a small scale before any larger investment.

For now, the Wildwoods boardwalk is about to get a little greener, a little quieter, and just as iconic. The tram cars are not going away. They are evolving. And that, for a place so proud of its past, is a forward-looking move worth watching.