Typically, most folks associate GM’s early push into electrification with the EV1, but the ill-fated bubble-shaped commuter wasn’t General Motors’ only all-electric ’90s-era offering. As it turns out, The General also launched an electrified version of the Chevy S-10 pickup, marketed primarily to fleet customers. As luck would have it, the Chevy S-10 Electric never gained much traction, leading to its discontinuation after just 492 units were built. Many of the trucks were scrapped, but some managed to survive – including three now in the possession of one enthusiast in Indiana.
As reported by The Drive, Keith Dillman is now one of the few people preserving this important slice of GM EV history, aiming to restore the battery-driven pickups to working condition to get them back on the road.
For those readers who may be unaware, the Chevy S-10 Electric was based on the Regular Cab, Short Box S-10, with the internal combustion engine replaced by an 85 kW three-phase AC induction motor – the same tech used in the GM EV1. Power was delivered to the front wheels. The truck was originally powered by lead-acid batteries, and was later upgraded to nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries in select models.
Unfortunately, the S-10 Electric was short-lived, and with only about 60 units sold and less than 500 units produced (most of which were crushed), every survivor is a rare find. Dillman’s three S-10 Electrics reportedly served at Robbins Air Force Base before he acquired them. He bought his first truck in 2018 and has spent years troubleshooting its electrical system. Though he has yet to actually drive one yet, he’s steadily making progress.
Obviously, one of the biggest hurdles in restoring these trucks is finding replacement parts. However, Dillman discovered that S-10 Electric parts share a unique eight-digit code starting with “2700,” leading him to purchase every part he could find from vintage parts dealers, sometimes without knowing exactly what they were for.
Finding a suitable battery replacement has been the biggest challenge of them all. After multiple failed attempts to revive the original lead-acid batteries, Dillman joined a group buy of custom lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery packs from Trajectory EV, custom built for the Chevy S-10 Electric. Priced at $12,000, the new battery packs should provide a major range boost, up from the original 60 miles to 150 miles per charge.
Rather than buying three separate battery packs, Dillman plans to rotate a single battery between his three trucks, storing it during the winter to prolong its lifespan. Interestingly, the S-10 Electric included a small diesel-fired heater, as its electric heat pump was not powerful enough to handle freezing temperatures.
View this post on Instagram
At the end of the day, Dillman views his S-10 Electrics as collector’s items, best suited for shows and weekend drives, rather than daily work use.
“If someone wants to buy them, they can buy them off my wife when I die,” Dillman says, per The Drive.
Comments
$12,000 would pay for a nice little garden-variety small-block powertrain conversion. Remember, rare doesn’t equal desirable. And there’s a small fraction of the buying public that what an electric vehicle, vintage or otherwise. The trucks would be more valuable with an ICE engine under the hood, powering the rear wheels, even if they are base trim trucks.
Same can be said of the Model T. I wouldn’t touch these solely due to their rarity. I currently am restoring a Packard 400, one of only 10,000 made, less than the 20,000 Buick grand nationals, and heavens knows how many are left. So, total Restoration is the goal as much as possible.
You can play with Mustangs and trackers, units that sold by the 100’000nds but keep the rare stock please!
The key to value is not just supply but demand. There is no demand here.
$12K for a battery is more than the truck is worth.
Best thing here is to strip the body parts and put them on a gas truck that needs a body.
To restore you here you only do it for the love of the model. I see little love.
Some things are not worth doing. Like this case with the S10 EVs…
It’s called having a hobby people, most hobby’s cost money. Better than being a keyboard warrior criticizing someone enjoying it. (yeah I get the irony)
Quite a few of these were sold to a company in Arizona that was buying them for parts.
LFP cells and batteries are lowering in cost per year, so he can buy more soon and refubish all three units and have them running.
Had a 1994 S10 with the 4 cyl. engine & manual transmission. It was a great little truck.