EV K5 - GM's showoff of their new GMPP Crate electric connect & cruise system

[73k5blazer]

https://www.chevrolet.com/sema

They're showing their new crate connect & cruise battery/motor system to retrofit aftermarket vehicles. They happened to use a '77 K5 as a test platform.
From all the articles I've dug, there is no mention of heating or A/C modules, so i guess you don't drive this in the winter, rain or extreme heat. Owning a Chevy Volt, heating is a big deal and really robs the car of range almost as much as driving does. However, I do really like the Volts electric a/c compressor pump, alot more compact and efficient than an engine driven one. The A/C pump would be easy to retrofit here. Heating is usually accomplished, in the Volt and Bolt anyway, via a separate coolant loop heated electrically (or by the ICE in the Volt)
GMPP has tentatively slated the Electric Connect and Cruise system for sale to authorized installers (read trained by GM) in late 2021.

Powered by a Chevrolet Performance Electric Connect and Cruise system, the K5 Blazer-E is an all-electric conversion of an iconic SUV. Starting with a stock 1977 K5 Blazer, the K5 Blazer-E replaces the original engine, transmission, exhaust and fuel system with a 4-speed automatic transmission paired with a Bolt EV electric motor offering 200 horsepower and 266 lb.-ft. of torque – all while leaving the rest of the drivetrain fully intact.

Power for the Blazer-E comes from a 400-volt Bolt EV battery pack with 60kWh of usable energy installed in the cargo area. The output is about 200 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, more than the stock ’77 Blazer’s 175 hp from a 400 cubic-inch gasoline V8. So it’s ahead of the game already. Torque is routed through a Chevrolet Performance electronically controlled four-speed automatic and thence to the remaining stock ’77 Blazer transfer case, driveshaft, differential and axles.

New parts include an electric power steering kit, an electric pump to send vacuum pressure to the stock brake system, and an electric controller to drive inputs to the vintage Blazer gauges now showing battery state of charge where the fuel gauge used to be, for instance.

 

[tRustyK5]

Kinda like it. Diggin the Bi-centennial Michigan plate on it too.

 

[Wes Harden]

Wonder what weight change is?
The Bolt has @220 mile range, I'm sure the K5 is less. I know the Bolt has 10+ hour charge time if below 20% to full charge on 220v chargers. Optional 300vdc charge port but we don't have a working DC atm so don't know what charge times are.
@73k5blazer 1st or 2nd gen volt?
Our 1st gens are an ok vehicle, the 2nd gens seem to be a pile of $&&+

 

[73k5blazer]

I have a 2014 1st gen, we bought it new. Been ok, but the current batt tech really doesn't like age, high speed drain or cold( or fast charges if your vehicle allows it). Fast charges degrade the longevity. High speed drain kills the range. Mines got 124kmi on it and is 6 years old and the range shows it, while the volt does better than most, still not impressed.These batteries hate cold, for two reasons, one it has to heat itself, even when parked. Two it spends almost as much energy heating the cabin as it does propelling the thing in the winter.
I've never gotten the rated 38mi range on my volt even when new, we live in a rural area and all driving is mostly 55mph-75mph, ev's don't like that. In the winter the guess-o-meter shows 26-28 range on mine. With elec rates going way up and gas plumetting I don't even plug it in much any more, it's just a hybrid.
An OEM offered aftermarket system is interesting however. I can see it's appeal especially to hot-rodders or warm weather only guys.
That said, These people who advocate for all EV world are just crazy, the current battery tech just isn't there, and nothing on the horizon. Good luck towing your 4 place snowmobile trailer in 20 degree weather 350mi up north after work so you can snowmobile the next day, not gonna happen on today's batt tech. A 400mi range vehicle (which doesn't exist) gets 250 in the cold, and 100 towing (also doesn't exist). EV's have a place, you want diversity in your vehicle pool. But all EV, just not possible unless the crazy's mandate it. Mary's Barra's crazy no more ICE engines directive is just plain stupid.

 

[Wes Harden]

Yes the heater kills the range. The seat heaters are less of draw if you can just use those. The batteries don't like cold the range drops with ambient temp. Being doing maintenance on ev's since b4 the EV1
My company has had at least 1 if not 50 of any EV or hybrid manufactured since 85ish.
The higher kwh batteries aren't lasting as well as the lower ones. Our 2011 leafs with 24kwh Batts are in better shape than the 2017s with 30 kwh. I have 2011-12 Volts all doing well 2018 Volts spend more time at the dealer then in my fleet. 6th or 7th recall on these, next one is batteries catching on fire while charging.
The Bolts have been decent one recall for reflash, only other issue has been a couple bad charge ports damage cussed by users and or damaged charger handles.
Least troublesome has been the Prius, we had gen 1s those had electric rack issues, and few battery corrosion probs. Easy to fix thou.
The gen 2s much better.
Honda Civic hybrid was junk didn't make it 10 years in our fleet. We keep equipment 15 years ( more like 20)
Best electric we ever had was the 1st gen Rav 4, those where really good electrics @110 mile range in 2000. The 2013-14 Rav EV seemed to a good car but wasn't. Outta 24 units only 3 left. Noisy traction motors, and finicky about what brand charger it likes. Also Tesala/Toyota collaboration that's not being supported by either company well.
We had S10 ev's those had fire problem as well.
I think I might go for VW bus when it is available, well see.

 

[ZooMad75]

So getting back the the K5, the battery pack takes up the entire back half of the truck. They call it the "cargo" area, but the lack of the back seat is nuts.

It's an extremely nice restoration by itself with the added ev drivetrain. But the practicality is horrible. If this is a kit to retrofit older vehicles, anybody see this going into a Camaro, Chevelle or Nova with the size of the battery pack taking that much space? Short of a wagon, El Camino or other truck the cars don't have the physical space to house the battery pack in that form.

I'm not a complete dinosaur to say this isn't going to work, but the technology isn't quite there on so many levels between the power, battery, and charging infrastructure. I don't see this being a viable option for quite some time.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I bet there's a WHOLE bunch of empty space where the driveshafts/trans/t-case, fuel tank, etc. would normally be that would be ideal spots for all the battery stuff. I bet they intentionally put it front/center to show it off.

 

[beags86]

I bet there's a WHOLE bunch of empty space where the driveshafts/trans/t-case, fuel tank, etc. would normally be that would be ideal spots for all the battery stuff. I bet they intentionally put it front/center to show it off.

I agree. The idea to show off what they were working on. Like the new gmc hummer has little battery modules, I bet they will have sometime of the like. (For packaging)
Don't get hung up on the schematics of that blazer. Its the concept, not the execution.
Much like 62 they put out last year.

If nothing else, Got to appreciate gm to getting to this first. Even if your a knuckle dragging, chest pounding caveman, that wants to drive gasoline for the rest of their life, gm is doing somethings that are noteworthy these days.

 

[beags86]

but the technology isn't quite there on so many levels between the power, battery, and charging infrastructure. I don't see this being a viable option for quite some time.

Thats the problem with the whole electric car race, but that should probably be another thread.....

 

[Wes Harden]

Most of the battery would have fit in the old fuel tank position, if purpose built. Might need to be split, to a second location.
Each battery will need coolant hoses and ac venting.
Batteries inside the body have pro and cons. Pro is harder for rodents to make nest and chew wires.
Con, they stink. Esp when charging.
The batteries will need to be customized for classic cars.
Have a couple of EV Manx type dune buggies in the Manx club. Easy conversion, with 1/2 Tesala S battery

 

[2toneZ]

The brake master cylinder is vacuum assisted, anyone know how that works? What do the EV cars do for brake assist? Do most of them have regenerative braking? That would assist.

The radiator top mount is seen on the core support, would they use a full-size radiator to cool the batteries? Maybe they left it there to keep it looking original.

 

[centexk5]

Electric vac pump for the brakes or regenerative braking. Not sure how this one is done.

 

[fear_nothing]

Call me old school but this seems sacrilegious. A big part of owning these vehicles is the sound, the smell and overall visceral reaction. Ripping out the standard combustion engine and replacing it with a electric version is akin to ripping out its soul. EV may have a place in this world but you will never find one in my K5.

 

[ZooMad75]

I bet there's a WHOLE bunch of empty space where the driveshafts/trans/t-case, fuel tank, etc. would normally be that would be ideal spots for all the battery stuff. I bet they intentionally put it front/center to show it off.

That's probably true for showing off the pack, but the description says the truck is running all the original running gear except replacing the trans with an electronically controlled 4 speed automatic. So it's no different than any other K5 as far as the running gear goes which means no free space for the battery pack. I'd agree stuffing it into the space the old fuel tank was, plus all the empty space between the rear shaft and the frame would be ideal for stuffing some of the battery pack.

Call me old school but this seems sacrilegious. A big part of owning these vehicles is the sound, the smell and overall visceral reaction. Ripping out the standard combustion engine and replacing it with a electric version is akin to ripping out its soul. EV may have a place in this world but you will never kind one in my K5.

I agree a silent K5 would be abnormal. I don't see me changing as the 8.1 is just too damn fun to drive. Practicality for actual off road use or long distance travel would be less than ideal unless you were sticking close to home.

I don't mind electric cars/trucks at all. GM is finally pushing forward into a direction further sustainability both as an OEM selling cars as well as creating a new niche in the aftermarket by marketing the idea of a "crate" drive module to replace an internal combustion engine. But I'd be more inclined to buy a Bolt to commute with and keep the K5 burning gas for the foreseeable future.

 

[Blue85]

Most of the battery would have fit in the old fuel tank location

This would be a great eye opener for the EV fans. Gasoline has 34.6 MJ/liter and a good lithium-ion battery pack has about 0.4 MJ/liter. The 100x energy density advantage of gas is offset by the electrics 5x efficiency advantage. So if a 30 gallon tank gives 360 miles of range, a battery the same size gives 72. Try over landing on that.

Electric vac pump for the brakes or regenerative braking. Not sure how this one is done.

Pretty much every electric uses some form of Regen, but they also have friction brakes. May still be a legal requirement. The instant power transfer of a panic stop is HUGE.

 

[centexk5]

I was reading an article on the rivian truck (which I am highly interested in) and they were saying the regen is adjustable to where it’ll throw you through a windshield and//or bring you to a complete stop without ever touching the brakes. Pretty cool stuff. I wish COVID hadn’t screwed the release of the truck up. I was hoping to see a good year of use out of those before making the decision.

 

[73k5blazer]

Yes, every EV has real hydraulic brakes, light "braking" is regen. "low" gear in my volt is max regen as well if on the gas there's no 'low' but remove your foot from the gas and it's heavy regen/braking. In the 2nd gen Volt they changed the brake lights from the std pedal sensor to the deceleration sensor because they found alot of them were being ass-packed because people were driving around in low gear not using the real brakes hence no brake lights. The 2nd gen the brake lights come on at a per-determined decel rate (or the pedal).
I keep saying, the battery tech just isn't there. All we have is evolutionary changes which isn't gonna support an all EV society unless the crazies mandate it. These batteries do not like age, speed, cold, they're heavy and big, add to that lack of infrastructure to support charging on top of not having enough generation power to charge them due to the crazies mandating closing 1000MW coal plants in favor of a 90MW wind farm. EV's have a place, but it certainly isn't over-landing or anyplace cold or rural where you have to drive 60mi to go to the store or an truck you want to use as a truck, aka, drive 400mi in 20 degree weather towing, not gonna happen in a Rivian or Hummer EV.
On top of that, because of the elec. rationing, rates have already begun going thru the roof, ours here in MI have gone from about .12c/kwh to 16-17c/kwh in the last 4-5 years which makes using your EV about the equivalent of $3-4/gallon gas.
People also don't realize these range figures are under ideal conditions, none of which include driving 70mph or cold weather or age. It's driving 25-35mph on a 75 degree day with no load brand new. Take your 320 range Chevy Bolt and it's closer to 250 if you just drive 70mph constant (aerodynamic load goes up logarithmically with speed). Closer to 180 if it's 20 degrees out and going 70mph. Closer to 140 if your car has over 70kmi on it. -10 or 20 more if you put 4 people in it. Has a use for commuting, but pretty much nothing else.

 

[SuperAwesomeDOOD]

EV's have a place, but it certainly isn't over-landing or anyplace cold or rural where you have to drive 60mi to go to the store or an truck you want to use as a truck, aka, drive 400mi in 20 degree weather towing, not gonna happen in a Rivian or Hummer EV.

Isn’t that the point, though? They want us all living in a city stacked on top of each other riding mass transit to our cubicle jobs.

I’m glad I read this thread. My wife and I were kicking around the idea of a bolt for her commute to work. We’re rural with a 60mi round trip with 3 stop signs, with winter temps that require using the heater and our price per kWh is $0.243. That idea is gone, lol. She’ll keep using the 2017 Honda Fit we got her a few years ago that averages 40 mpg...

 

[red EOD]

Common statement by those considering a EV for a expedition rig is "well just recharge using solar panels".

My 34ft toy hauler currently has 1030 watts of panels and 300 amp/hours of batteries. With the panels mounted flat its often moving 300-500 watts an hour to the batts with good sunlight here in Texas. Summertime that was about 12-14 hours but now its about 8-9 hours. There is physically enough space to get about 2200 watts of panels on the roof.

Somehow I think a max of 7000 watts going into a EV battery per day is going to take awhile to recharge it

 

[Blue85]

Right. Those old solar cars weigh about as much as a bike and when you can't get enough sun you have to pedal, push or wait.