Here Comes The Chevy K5 Blazer-E

Have you ever seen a classic car that has gone electric? If not, check out this 1977 K5 Blazer-E.

Chevrolet acquired this classic Blazer and turned it into an electric vehicle with its new eCrate package.

Chevrolet unveiled this classic EV to the attendees of the virtual SEMA360 Show that took place in November 2020.

What Sets The Chevy K5 Blazer-E Apart From The Original K5 Blazer?

The K5 Blazer-E is a modernized, electric version of the original Blazer. But what’s different, though? Lots of things.

Here’s what Chevrolet did to convert the Blazer to an EV:

• Installed a Bolt EV electric motor
  • The motor produces 200 horsepower, which is more than the horsepower the original engine produced
  • The motor delivers 266 b-ft of torque
• Installed a Chevrolet Performance electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission
• Installed a 400-volt Bolt EV battery pack (The battery pack has 60 kilowatt-hours of usable energy)
• Installed production controllers and wiring harnesses. These parts preserve many Bolt EV features like:
  • Shock protection
  • Battery heating and cooling
  • Battery-overcharge protection
  • Regenerative braking
• Installed aftermarket components, including:
  • Electric power steering kit
  • Electric pump that provides vacuum to the stock brake system
  • Electric controller that works with the vintage Blazer gauges

Here’s a fun fact: about 90% of the new parts installed for the eCrate package are the same parts you’d find in a Chevrolet Bolt EV. The rest of the new parts are aftermarket components. The K5 Blazer-E still has some original parts, including:

• The transfer case
• Driveshaft
• Axles
• Body
• Wheels

Why Chevrolet Turned This Blazer Into An EV

Unsurprisingly, this Blazer garnered a lot of interest. Even though this unusual EV was a cool project in its own right, it served a bigger purpose. The reason Chevrolet poured a lot of time and money into this project was to provide a tangible preview of the eCrate conversion concept.

What Is The eCrate Conversion Concept?

Chevrolet is coming out with a modular eCrate system that allows Chevy car owners to convert their vintage vehicles to electric daily drivers. The system is called an Electric Connect and Cruise package. One of these packages includes the following components:

• 60-kWh battery pack
• 200 hp electric motor
• DC-to-AC power inverter to drive the electric motor
• DC-to-DC power converter to power low-voltage systems
• Wiring harnesses, controllers, and water pumps for battery heating and cooling

Chevrolet Performance is also looking into developing other eCrate packages. They want to offer packages that offer higher performance options and new battery configurations that work with a bigger range of aftermarket parts.

The eCrate conversion concept won’t be a concept for much longer. Chevrolet Performance plans to make the Electric Connect and Cruise package available to the public in the second half of 2021.

That means you can turn your vintage Chevy into an electric vehicle! How neat is that?

Certified Electric Connect and Cruise Installer Are Coming

If you want to install an Electric Connect and Cruise package on your vintage Chevy, you’d need to visit a certified installer. Certified installers will have the training, tools, and equipment necessary to:

• Install an eCrate package in your vehicle
• Work with high voltage systems
• Work with charging stations to service customers’ vehicles

Chevrolet has not determined who will be Electric Connect and Cruise certified installers at this time. We’re certainly hoping to be on the list. Stay tuned!