At 2020 SEMA360, Chevrolet will show off a 1977 K5 Blazer transformed to all-electric powered propulsion. The K5 Blazer-E is a purposeful evidence of idea of the imminent Electric Connect and Cruise bundle Chevrolet Performance plans to promote withinside the 2nd 1/2 of of 2021.
During the digital event, Chevrolet Performance will survey SEMA contributors inquisitive about constructing their very own electric powered initiatives to assist finalize Chevrolet's preliminary eCrate offering.
"As GM introduces a brand new fleet of electrical motors, it creates an interesting possibility to convey EV generation to the aftermarket," stated Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vp of Performance and Motorsports. "Our imaginative and prescient is to provide a complete line of Connect and Cruise structures from Chevrolet Performance - turning in an answer for each purchaser starting from LSX V-8s to eCrate conversions."
Building the K5 Blazer-E
Chevrolet first previewed the eCrate conversion idea with the Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro in 2018, accompanied via way of means of the Chevrolet E-10 in 2019. Learnings from the ones motors helped tell Chevrolet's Electric Connect and Cruise strategy.
The new Chevrolet K5 Blazer-E keeps as plenty of the inventory Blazer as feasible and about ninety percentage of the brand new elements set up for the eCrate bundle are manufacturing unit additives from the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
Power is furnished via way of means of a four hundred-volt Bolt EV battery % with 60 kilowatt-hours of usable electricity set up withinside the shipment area. Using manufacturing controllers and wiring harnesses preserves many Bolt EV features, inclusive of surprise safety, battery heating and cooling, battery-overcharge safety or even regenerative braking.
The aftermarket additives encompass an electric powered energy steerage kit, an electric powered pump supplying vacuum to the inventory brake device, and an digital controller to force inputs to the antique Blazer gauges - which includes showing the battery's kingdom of fee at the authentic gasoline gauge.
eCrate Installer Certification Program
To put together for the eCrate launch, Chevrolet Performance is certifying Electric Connect and Cruise installers. Participating Chevrolet sellers and aftermarket corporations will acquire the schooling, gear and gadget had to paintings with high-voltage structures and charging stations to provider clients' motors.
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering in Brighton, Michigan might be the primary employer to pilot the schooling and certification program. This revel in will assist tell the certification manner for destiny installers.
The 60-kWh Electric Connect and Cruise bundle, predicted to be to be had withinside the 2nd 1/2 of of 2021, includes:
- 60-kWh battery %
- two hundred-horsepower electric powered motor
- DC-to-AC energy inverter to force the electrical motor
- DC-to-DC energy converter to energy low-voltage structures
- Wiring harnesses, controllers and water pumps for battery heating and cooling
Chevrolet Performance is likewise comparing extra eCrate applications with higher-overall performance alternatives and new battery configurations to healthy a much broader variety of o.e.m applications. Longer term, the group will paintings to combine GM's modular Ultium battery device technologies.
"Minutes after Chevrolet confirmed the E-10 idea, clients began out calling to invite how quickly they may construct their EV project," stated Russ O'Blenes, Chevrolet director of engineering, Performance and Racing. "The K5 Blazer-E demonstrates what's feasible for clients who need to transform their antique truck to a every day motive force with the immediately torque and precise using revel in of an EV. For clients who need extra excessive overall performance, the modular eCrate device can have certainly endless applications."
