Electric 1977 Chevrolet K5 Blazer-E Revealed Ahead Of SEMA360
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Chevrolet Performance has unveiled the new 1977 Chevrolet K5 Blazer-E ahead of the upcoming SEMA360 show, a fully-electric take on the iconic off-roader that demonstrates the versatility of the new Electric Connect and Cruise package.
The K5 Blazer-E has ditched its stock 400 cubic inch V8 and three-speed automatic transmission in favor of a new Electric Connect and Cruise setup, which consists of a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a single electric motor producing 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The crate motor is paired with a new electronically controlled Chevrolet Performance four-speed automatic transmission, but the Blazer’s original transfer case, driveshaft and axles all remain.
The 60 kWh battery, the same as the one found in the Chevrolet Bolt EV, sits in the rear cargo area and has the same heating and cooling system and battery-overcharge protection as the production Bolt EV battery. The K5 Blazer-E also retains the Bolt EV’s regenerative braking system.
Chevrolet Performance had to turn to the aftermarket for some minor items, including the electric power steering kit and an electric vacuum pump for the Blazer’s stock brake system. It retains all the stock Blazer gauges (the battery range is reflected by the fuel gauge, for example), but Chevy needed a special aftermarket electronic controller to drive inputs to them from the Electric Connect and Cruise powertrain.
The K5 Blazer-E is the second classic vehicle Chevy has converted into an EV for SEMA. The automaker unveiled the Chevrolet E-10 concept at last year’s in-person SEMA Show, which paired two concept electric crate packages together to create a powerful 450 horsepower powertrain with a 120 kWh battery capacity. Chevy says the learnings from both of these vehicles have “helped inform Chevrolet’s Electric Connect and Cruise strategy,” for the future, which will eventually expand to include Ultium modular batteries and more powerful electric motors.
“Minutes after Chevrolet showed the E-10 concept, customers started calling to ask how soon they could build their EV project,” Chevy’s director of engineering for performance and racing, Russ O’Blenes, said in a statement. “The K5 Blazer-E demonstrates what is possible for customers who want to convert their vintage truck to a daily driver with the instant torque and unique driving experience of an EV. For customers who want more extreme performance, the modular eCrate system will have virtually limitless applications.”
We may learn more about the 1977 Chevrolet K5 Blazer-E and the Electric Connect and Cruise package when SEMA360 kicks off on November 2nd.
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I love it.
What a complete waste of a K5!
You want a “E” vehicle, build a “Jetsons” Car or truck.
Leave the classics alone!
Fully agree. Looks like a perfect example of how impractical it is to turn a classic ICE vehicle into an EV. So now the rear passenger seating is gone and the cargo space is less useable. What’s under the hood? They should have removed it and installed a rumble seat there. Would make as much sense as the rest of it.
“Leave the classics alone”
I don’t get these kinds of comments. Guaranteed if it was still an ICE with engine mods you wouldn’t be saying the same thing, so why do EV conversions get these kinds of comments.
They did it to show what they can do with these kinds of crate solutions at SEMA, y’know the place where people show impractical cars all the time?
For those that are saying gm ruined this “classic” .
1. Do you realize it belongs to them ? Its not yours .
2. Everything they did is reversible.
3. That battery pack could easily fit under the vehicle and i am sure they put it where it is so they could show potential customers how it all works.
4. This is an improvement on the original smog era truck that had a carburetor and a questionable catalytic converter system.
Build it from the Factory if you want to attract customers.
Ruined a good Blazer.
I would venture I’m in the minority here in that generally, I’m in favor of this -> for instance, I took a 50 year old ALL STEEL CASE 724 (with a blown engine), (7 hp Kohler engine (substantial), 23″ high x 24″ wide (almost square mouth) – with a DUAL AUGUR first stage, which can chomp a 3 FOOT high snowbank in a single gulp. Much better than ANYTHING sold at Lowe’s or the Home Depot, since the thing is STEEL CHAIN driven, with an automotive style 2 speed transmission (no slipping rubber belts anywhere), and put a cheap SMITH & JONES (typical Chinese Surnames) Harbor “JUNK” Freight Tools 3 horsepower motor on it – this was an experiment rebuilding a 220 volt snowblower -> since the biggest electric snow blowers you can buy are just toys, since they are limited to 1600 watts, and besides, the whole things are just Chinese plastic junk with 30,000 rpm motors and Splined belt drives that only work successfully with HOT SNOW, since rubber doesn’t like negotiating around a tight radius when it is cold.
Although HFT does sell much junk, the S & J motor (biggest they sell) does act exactly like any legitimate quality electric motor, developing about 7 hp prior to its breakdown torque limit. I feared I was going to end up with a severely under powered conversion, but during an Extremely WET SNOW event in March 2019, all the gas snowblowers on the street were stalling and wheezing, whereas my home made conversion just kept barreling down the side walk… My neighbor came out of his house to watch the thing – he couldn’t believe it since all the others on the street couldn’t cope.
How this relates to a fine 1977 Blazer – is perhaps one of these vehicles is around with a blown engine or transmission, and a crate BOLT engine/fixed gearbox, along with either the older 60 or newer 66 kwh battery (I figure GM must have too many of the older smaller models and are getting ‘rid’ of them) in the crate products -> well, so be it).
200 hp with a single drive might not satisfy purists, however, if a backyard mechanic has one, It sure beats pushing it.
My personal preference is for a large battery that can go somewhere, along with a single motor, and whether this is made into a 2wd or 4wd vehicle with the original transfer case is up to the preference of the owner.
Here, they could have done a somewhat better job of hiding the battery, or at least restoring all the passenger compartment space, but I’m sure it is giving the more attentive plenty of ideas.
Its not the end of the world, since I bet some ingenious backyard mechanics are already planning on how to integrate the parts more successfully into their perfectly fine vehicles with blown engines, etc, that they feel like it is time to convert to an electric drive train, which will cut way down on brake maintenance since they’ll almost never be used – opting for the intrinsic dynamic braking instead outside of panic stops.
I don’t quite see all the objections to doing a ‘slight’ modernization of a 1977 vehicle. I thought I was the only one who didn’t like going to classic car cruise nights any longer, since ALL the vehicles have very ARBITRARY modernizations where nothing of the original vehicle is left. The cars are not really what they were, and they are not really modern either, – just a hodge podge of different crap. The only modernization of those cars I would go along with is a modern ignition to avoid having to do ‘plugs and points’ work every 10,000 miles.
The GM crate electric here even provides an interface to keep the ‘Classic Dashboard’ intact – where the deceased designers who tried to integrate a functional unit with a pleasing appearance would still have their designs totally respected and fully utilized – even ‘converting’ the gas gauge to battery state of charge, essentially the identical function.
Wow Bill Howland!!
My thought is that you have over thought all this. Some of the mods you are talking about are classic hot rodding, For me , a 69 year old mechanic who worked in a Chevrolet Dealership in the very early seventies, This “E” stuff is still a few years ahead of itself in terms of distance & reliability & infrastructure. Besides that, I still want to hear a little noise out that old tailpipe. I know, you can still smoke the tires on those “E’s”, but it ain’t the same without that small block crankin’ out all it’s got to those two rear tires. I still have my 1968 Firebird conv. that I bought in 1969, but I’m going to pull out that 250 overhead cam engine, which served me well, and put a nice little 5.3 in it to make myself feel alive again. You aren’t going to get that feeling with electrics.
I’m not against new technology when it’s ready, but until they get faster charging rates, and longer distances between charges, and a much better infrastructure of charging stations, you can keep them. However, there’s not as many of the classics left out there anymore, so how about we give them a break. It’s not what you do, it’s how you feel! Just sayin’
That’s true – there aren’t many ‘classics’ around anymore – and its a shame that all of the 100% gasoline engine people don’t believe it themselves, as I say its no fun for me to go to Cruise Nights any longer since there are so many useless ‘modernizations’. I go there to see an old car, or at least one like what it was..
At least this EV conversion (-well, not this one – as I say I’m waiting for a better back yard mechanic to hide the battery better or provide better space utilization) left the dashboard completely intact so you still get the sense that you are sitting in a 1977 Blazer. That’s not the case with Cruse Nights, where they have modernized digital displays or other meaningless changes for no benefit..
Shut up and take my money
I agree with what you say Bill Howland about all the digital dash’s and all that. It’s always a nice surprise when you see an older car or truck restored to original. However, I don’t think that changing out a single master cylinder to a dual, or moving a gas tank from behind the seat to under the vehicle and other safety items is a bad thing, especially down here in Florida. These people drive like they have lead in their left shoe, and they must have their eyes shut. It’s crazy!!
Have a great day sir!
Thanks Mr. Turk for politely, thoughtfully, listening to a different viewpoint; noting that all intelligent people’s viewpoints do occasionally differ. You have a great day as well.
Thank YOU Mr.Bill,
I enjoyed the dialog, but you did get one thing wrong. Mr. Turk died in 1974. I’m just Mark!
Now, if we could just figure out how to get the rest of our country to understand we can all get along even if we don’t agree, it would be a much better place. Mark