Automotive

Electric 1977 K5 Blazer shows off Chevy's drop-n-drive eCrate package

Electric 1977 K5 Blazer shows off Chevy's drop-n-drive eCrate package
Chevy pulls out the V8 and drops in a 200-hp Bolt e-drive
Chevy pulls out the V8 and drops in a 200-hp Bolt e-drive
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Chevy pulls out the V8 and drops in a 200-hp Bolt e-drive
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Chevy pulls out the V8 and drops in a 200-hp Bolt e-drive
The 1977 K5 Blazer-E pairs a Bolt motor with a Chevrolet Performance electronically controlled four-speed automatic
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The 1977 K5 Blazer-E pairs a Bolt motor with a Chevrolet Performance electronically controlled four-speed automatic
Chevrolet developed the 1977 K5 Blazer-E for the SEMA360 online show
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Chevrolet developed the 1977 K5 Blazer-E for the SEMA360 online show
The new K5 Blazer-E keeps as much of the original Blazer as possible, including the driveshaft, transfer case and axles
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The new K5 Blazer-E keeps as much of the original Blazer as possible, including the driveshaft, transfer case and axles
The gauges now include a battery level reading
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The gauges now include a battery level reading
The 1977 Blazer gets wired
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The 1977 Blazer gets wired
The 60-kWh battery pack rides in the rear — no word on what kind of range it might offer inside a K5 Blazer, but we know it gets an EPA-estimated 259 miles in the smaller Bolt EV hatchback
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The 60-kWh battery pack rides in the rear — no word on what kind of range it might offer inside a K5 Blazer, but we know it gets an EPA-estimated 259 miles in the smaller Bolt EV hatchback
A little hint at what's powering this particular Blazer
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A little hint at what's powering this particular Blazer
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Ever since it revealed the show-stopping 700-hp eCopo Camaro at SEMA 2018, Chevrolet has been developing out its eCrate "Connect and Cruise" aftermarket electric drive. It's now preparing for a 2021 launch and follows last year's E-10 pickup up with another all-electric SEMA classic truck rebuild. The 1977 K5 Blazer-E looks like every other hard-nosed two-door K5 utility vehicle out there, but instead of a V8 grumbling away under its hood it relies upon a 200-hp Bolt EV-derived electric powertrain.

Along with tuned sports cars and modded pickups, re-lifed classic SUVs are a big part of SEMA, so it's not too surprising to see Chevy reach into its own past and dig out a classic utility vehicle to serve as the next in line for eCrate treatment.

In building the project truck, Chevy attempted to keep as much of the original Blazer intact as it could while fully modernizing the powertrain with e-drive tech. It also tried to use as many production components as possible, stating that around 90 percent of the added parts are straight off the factory Bolt.

Obviously the parts of the Blazer that Chevy simply couldn't keep started with the 175-hp 6.6-liter V8 engine. So it pulled it out, along with the three-speed automatic transmission, fuel system and exhaust, filling the empty space with the 200-hp Bolt motor and an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission from Chevrolet Performance. Along with the 200 hp, the duo sends out up to 266 lb-ft (360 Nm) of torque. Chevy left in place the original transfer case, driveshaft and axles.

The 1977 K5 Blazer-E pairs a Bolt motor with a Chevrolet Performance electronically controlled four-speed automatic
The 1977 K5 Blazer-E pairs a Bolt motor with a Chevrolet Performance electronically controlled four-speed automatic

Chevy installed the 60-kWh 400-V battery pack in the cargo area and carried over production Bolt EV features like battery heating and cooling, shock and overcharge protection, and even regenerative braking. Separate aftermarket add-ons include power steering hardware, an electronic controller to run updated instrument cluster operations like battery life, and an electric pump for the braking system.

The result: an all-electric 4x4 with chiseled 1970s looks ... not a bad follow-up to the GMC Hummer EV.

The 60-kWh battery pack rides in the rear — no word on what kind of range it might offer inside a K5 Blazer, but we know it gets an EPA-estimated 259 miles in the smaller Bolt EV hatchback
The 60-kWh battery pack rides in the rear — no word on what kind of range it might offer inside a K5 Blazer, but we know it gets an EPA-estimated 259 miles in the smaller Bolt EV hatchback

The Blazer-E conversion directly previews the 60-kWh Electric Connect and Cruise package that Chevy plans to launch by the second half of 2021. In addition to the 60-kWh battery, the kit packages together the 200-hp motor, DC-to-AC power inverter for driving the motor, DC-to-DC power converter for low-voltage operations, and wiring harnesses, controllers and water pumps for heating and cooling.

Chevrolet Performance will also be certifying a series of dealerships and third-party installers. Each one will receive the training, tools and equipment necessary to work with the high-voltage eCrate hardware and charging stations. GM vehicle tuner Lingenfelter Performance Engineering will be the first to pilot the training and certification program.

The 60-kWh kit will be but a first step in Chevy's grand aftermarket electrification kit plan. Chevrolet Performance is currently studying the possibilities for additional motor and battery configurations and will ultimately integrate Ultium battery technology.

The new K5 Blazer-E keeps as much of the original Blazer as possible, including the driveshaft, transfer case and axles
The new K5 Blazer-E keeps as much of the original Blazer as possible, including the driveshaft, transfer case and axles

"For customers who want more extreme performance, the modular eCrate system will have virtually limitless applications," promises Russ O’Blenes, Chevrolet director of engineering, performance and racing.

Chevy will use this year's SEMA360 show to survey potential eCrate customers ahead of finalizing the initial eCrate offering.

Like virtually every other auto show of 2020, the physical SEMA Show in Las Vegas has been canceled, reworked into the virtual SEMA360 show. It runs next week from November 2 to 6.

Source: Chevy

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12 comments
12 comments
zr2s10
I hope that battery pack is only put in the cargo area for show. If it can't be done more discreetly, and without killing cargo area, it would be useless. Hopefully they offer different battery shapes for better concealment. And 200hp? May be better than the original motor, but yuck. Inadequate for such a mint square body
guzmanchinky
I would love to see conversion kits for Mustangs, Wranglers...
Jinpa
The late 1990s Chevy S-10 EV pickups put the batteries under the bed, between the rails. Maybe this is just a show version. Most recent EVs cut weight by engineering a new chassis. EVs shouldn't need a transmission, except as a safety device to cut drive power if the relay contacts fuse closed, which is what early converters knew.
Spud Murphy
zr2s10, no, that's pretty much how they are doing it, TE did a video on it, see https://youtu.be/DM7S2Lk0Gkw

They should have broken the pack up into half a dozen linkable modules, would just have needed simple plug-in cable and coolant links between the modules, not rocket science. That way, the batt could have been redistributed, say 4 under the vehicle between the rails where the old fuel tanks etc were, and one or two under the bonnet.

I expect that someone will do a universal conversion kit like this eventually, the demand will be there...
Gregg Eshelman
@zr2s10 yeah, I'd want the battery pack designed to fit in place of the big 40 gallon gas tank that was available to fit under the rear of the frame on the "Square Body" trucks, which GM called the "Rounded Line". Add additional battery capacity underneath in place of the optional side fuel tanks.
JeffK
They'll have to do better than 200 HP before I'd consider a kit like that for my clean '04 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. It would also need to include a realistic digital reproduction of the supercharger whine.
BlueOak
Completely without any credibility. Clearly all photoshopped. There is no such thing as a 1977 Blazer whose body has not completely reverted to iron oxide.
aotror
Not impressed, apart from at least attempting to offer an alternative to this market.
What kind of confused person would buy this though?
If you want that kind of vehicle for practical reasons, that battery severely compromises that aspect with the battery becoming the load you hoped to be carrying or at least severely limiting it.
If you want electric transport its a poor option compared to many others out there if measured on objective criteria. Bespoke installation, more servicing hassles, design not optimised from factory for this vehicle etc.
Because they left some of the original driveline system in there you still have some of the hassles of old school maintenance in additional complexity of the new electric systems.
If you want the tesla like performance the heavy old school body will destroy that hope when matched up with the "adequate" outputs.
It doesnt look slick at all, doesnt have much power, range is likely compromised. You have got to really want "green" bragging rights to install this thing.

Uncle Anonymous
I really love this concept but I also hope that when this conversion hits the market the range is better and there is room for more than one passenger.
BlueOak
Gotta be photoshopped. No way a 1977 Chevy Blazer hasn’t long ago been rendered 100% iron oxide. Starting early on in the area directly above the fenders where the poor body design trapped water.
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