One of the bigger debuts of this week’s SEMA360 online show as the Chevy K5 Blazer-E – a 1977 K5 Blazer that utilizes the automaker’s new Electric Connect and Cruise powertrain.
The Electric Connect and Cruise system is essentially a plug-and-play crate engine version of the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s powertrain that allows buyers to easily convert classics into EVs, but how does a modern-day propulsion system like this perform in a vintage SUV like the K5 Blazer? Thankfully General Motors gave us a little more insight into the performance of the Chevy K5 Blazer-E in a recent video posted to the Chevrolet Performance YouTube page.
“This truck we took a bone stock K5 blazer and truly just did a propulsion swap,” Russ O’Blenes, director of performance and racing at Chevrolet, explains in the video. “What we’ve done with this e-crate is really give the customer another option so he can take his classic vehicle and convert it over to a fully electrified vehicle.”
O’Blenes also points out that the Electric Connect and Cruise system is more powerful than the Bolt EV’s powertrain, even though they are essentially the same. This helps it motivate heavier classics like the Blazer along a bit better.
“You look at the production engine with approximately 175 horsepower. With our e-crate we have over 200 horsepower on hand to be able to motivate the Blazer,” he said.
While the Blazer-E certainly won’t be setting the timing charts alight at the local drag strip, this modest 200 horsepower setup is great for cruising and light off-roading. The electric motor is linked up to a new electronically controlled Chevrolet Performance four-speed automatic transmission, however the SUV’s original transfer case, driveshaft and axles all remain.
That all sounds great, but the Electric Connect and Cruise package isn’t very useful if doesn’t have a usable amount of range. It uses mostly production-ready Chevrolet Bolt EV components, though, so it’s similarly as efficient. In the rather heavy and aerodynamically challenged Chevy K5 Blazer-E, GM hopes the setup will provide between 100-150 miles of real-world range.
“You know one of the things that have a big impact on range is obviously the weight” O’Blenes explained. “Also tires, where we put off-road tires on it. You know that slows the range down a bit. We’re digging in more but we believe it will be somewhere between 100 to 150 miles of range using the 60 kWh battery out of the Bolt.”
The Electric Connect and Cruise package is only the start for GM’s e-crate offerings. The automaker hopes to one day integrate its new Ultium Drive line of electric motors and its Ultium modular battery system into the Chevrolet Performance e-crate lineup, as well, giving buyers new high-performance options, among more.
Hear what else O’Blenes has to say about the Chevy K5 Blazer-E in the video embedded below.
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Comments
Well, ahem! Kind of a rehash of the last article, but I’m in favor of this kind of thing – it just would be good to know the price, since assumedly it includes an electric power steering conversion (does get rid of all the troublesome hydraulics of the belt-driven pump model), and handles the power brake issue with just the addition of an intermittently running vacuum pump for the existing power brake booster.
Hopefully the price is right here – after all, they are getting rid of all those 60 kwh (when new) batteries they can’t use on the newer bolt models since those are 66 kwh and not going backwards. Smart way to get rid of an otherwise obsolete battery, so a price discount would be expected.
What I especially like is the BOLT ev powertrain is simple, and rugged – ideal choice for a ‘crate engine’, as well as I am sure this is giving many ‘Shade Tree’ mechanics plenty of ideas as to where to hide the battery, in their own vehicles with blown engines and transmissions, and therefore this electric conversion solves many of their problems, Including the GREAT facility of coupling to ALL THE ORIGINAL DASHBOARD GAUGES – including the FUEL gauge, which is now the state-of-charge – the analogous function.
I notice the grey hair on the team leader here….. Great that they had someone who no doubt said, “Let’s respect the Deceased designers and their designs of the 1977 Blazer’s dashboard – and keep it fully functional through this conversion”.
More expensive than building a truly high performance engine. Easily build a reliable 500HP+ small block for the price of this.
I own. 3 k5 blazers. — i am leaving them original with the gas engines they came with — no reason to change ! Car manufactures need to focus. On building todays new vehicles without plastic and make vehicles rugged , reliable and as safe as they were back in the old days like the k5 blazer and without all the computer crap so they are more reliable ! Cars today with their plastic bumpers and paper thin steel are a joke and cannot even survive a hail storm and they are unsafe and crumble up like an accordion !
My 1986 K5 Blazer has a 6.2 non turbo diesel, 3.73 gears and 33″ tires and weighs 5,200 lbs.
Gets 17 mpg with a 27 gallon tank has a 459 mile range.
Explain to me why I would pay ? Dollars for this conversion and add ? Amount of weight to have 1/4 the range?
And eliminates back seat, storage?
What are you doing with all that space behind the rear axle now that the fuel tank is gone?
No, no, no. This is poorly executed.
100 miles?
Billings is 90 miles one way.
It is 60 miles round trip and a 10% grade just to get to the nearest small town.
Holy smokes.
This is a joke.
Most here have voted that they don’t like this and would never do it….. That’s fine…
GM Performance makes several fine engine, or engine / transmission, or just plain engine blocks for those who want to do an upgrade, or who need to replace a blown engine or transmission.
That is not what this Bolt ev (essentially) product is for – it is for those who would like to, themselves, convert a vehicle to an electric one, and its obvious such people will be in the minority, which GM realizes since they sell ten times as many different products that are internal combustion only.
Many people may have a Blazer, or other GM product that people choose themselves as a candidate for conversion, and they simply do not need 500 hp. If the original engine had 177 hp net, this 200 hp net product is a very close fit.
The price and lack of range are value items that people doing the conversion will be aware of, since GM is not hiding the issue. This, to repeat, is for people who are aware of all the limitations and price, and want to do a conversion anyway.
Another refreshing thing to me, is that they have not gone crazy with this 1000 hp stuff. If it sells ev hummers, then that is fine, however I feel that an old vehicle should not be way overpowered since that will change so many other things – such as needing a beefier differential or transfer case.
Ugh. Pathetic range, even less cargo than original, and probably real pricey. Sorry, this isn’t going to be good for anything but maybe a novelty street rod. Cool concept, but wrong vehicle. I suppose the fact I still use mine out in the woods and to tow long distances biases my opinion.
Hell, just realized they had to remove the rear seat! So reduced the cargo capacity 100%, range about 75%, and passenger capacity by 50%. There is no practical value to this swap. Zero.
Well D Y –
The fact that this particular vehicle has a totally exposed battery which is exposed to the elements (squirrels eating wires, etc) – tells me that this is a demonstration just to give Shade Tree mechanics ideas about where to hide it in their own personal vehicles. Presumably almost all will be burning the midnight oil discovering where to hide the wiring, battery, and coolant hoses….
Most people not sold on EV’s will consider this much too much effort for too little end result – however there are ALSO those who want to do a complex conversion job, made simpler and more straight forward, by GM.
1971Chevy c20. I have a nice 350 in in with muncie transmission. I look forward to the day my truck is done. Battery under bed of pickup. Custom weld battery frame to chasis below. These old engines will guzzle fuel, are you sure it’s not worth it?
Yes. I can get 18mpg on the freeway, and go 300+ miles easily on a tank. 100 miles would be fine if you got groceries with the rig, except you can’t, no cargo space. If we were talking Tesla range, it would be more practical, but I’m not sure what we that go camping “off grid” for a few days would do with it.
I have a 79 K5. I’d like more info on converting over to an all electric so I can cruise the coast in Mississippi.
Until prices of an electric repower approaches that of a junkyard engine transmission upgrade, most people won’t be considering it.
I suppose a portable gas or diesel generator could be hauled on extended trips.
Honestly, I think I would just put the battery pack in a trailer and keep it hooked up.
Would rather have the back seat and cargo space.
Fit whatever battery possible where the gas tank went; behind the rear axle under the bed, and have a really big battery pack towed behind in a trailer.
100 miles is really too short a range for anything out here in Wyoming.
I like the idea a lot.
Just not practical.
I think GM is anticipating a future in which gasoline sales are severely restricted or even banned, and they are starting to work in alternatives to keep classic vehicles running. This is their second try, and it´s quite good if you consider they used a powertrain designed to move a subcompact car. Eventually, with Ultium batteries and more electric powertrain development, both range and practicality are going to improve and get close to conventional vehicles.
Wouldn’t waste my time. Bans on petrol and diesel, no worries mate, I’ll just use methanol. Make my own fuel and set my engines to run on this. Its piston power or its nothing.