April 2020 •  By Tony Thacker

There’s a definite buzz in the auto industry around electrified classics and you know that when Detroit gets on board things are getting real. At last year’s SEMA Show Chevy unveiled their take on the electro-rod—a root beer brown C-10 pickup with an all-electric power train.

It’s no secret that the Chevy C-10 of almost any year is the modern day version of the ’32 Ford—everybody’s hot rod. Slammed, dub’d and in da dirt, trucks that were once utilitarian workhorses now take front row parking at any show. No wonder then that Chevrolet chose to base their concept for an electric ‘Connect & Cruise’ crate package on a 1962 C-10 truck.

But what is a Connect & Cruise crate package?  In Chevy-speak it “re-imagines the performance crate engine for hot rodders,” according to Jim Campbell, vice president of Performance and Motorsports. I think what Jim means in plain-speak is that it’s an electric crate motor package that someday you might be able to swap into your old truck or Camaro or whatever.

This prototype package utilizes existing production components including a pair of concept double stack, high-efficiency eCrate motors, two 400-volt batteries and a conventional SuperMatic 4L75-E auto transmission. And therein lies the key: The eCrate motor bolts up to the trans in much the same way the engine did to drive the conventional rear axle. This is the way that several retro-fitters are converting classics to electrics. Power to the drive stack comes from a pair of Chevy Bolt EV power electronics and two production Bolt EV battery packs.

“It re-imagines the performance crate engine for hot rodders.”

—Jim Campbell, GM vice president of Performance and Motorsports.

In concept, this is great but in reality, open the tonneau cover and the bed is full of battery and related hardware. While rad, the concept is not exactly practical as it stands and no doubt the reason Chevy chose a truck for this build and not a classic Chevelle. That said, let’s not take away from the project and as we all know fast paced technological changes will see battery technology evolve and size shrink.

Built in just 18 weeks, E-10 has an estimated 450 horsepower and should get out of its own way; that is from zero to 60 mph in about five seconds. Chevy estimates quarter mile ETs in the high 13s but for right now that is a ‘guesstimate.’

One of the big complaints about electric vehicles is the lack of gutsy engine noise and to counteract this criticism Chevy installed a sound system that emulates a V8. It has three speakers that project engine noise under the hood and two banks of a V8 engine out back. The driver can select one of five modes on the emulator including an LS7 Z28 track tuning, LS7 Z28 touring tuning, a V8 engine, a futuristic sound that sounds strange to me and a silent mode that sounds fine to me.

More interesting is the modular eCrate assembly that has two modules in this instance but can be stacked and linked three deep for even more power. Incidentally, the double stack produces 470+ lb-ft/640Nm of torque. And, of course, the Bolt’s modular battery packs can also be stacked for increased range if there was more bed room.

Aesthetically, E-10 is clean and sweet: De-cluttered and de-chromed but not destroyed with silly body mods. In traditional truck styling there are composite front and rear pans and extended lower rockers. The hood and tailgate have been shaved and the original grille has been swapped for a satin black-finished ’64-’66 era grille fitted with LED head lights and illuminated Chevy Bowtie that is duplicated in the tailgate recess. Moving back, the rear wheel wells have been raised and the side-opening hard tonneau cover is also composite.

The E-10’s underpinnings include heavy-duty, adjustable air suspension with front and rear stabilizers. The brakes are regenerative with 12-inch discs all round. The wheels are billet aluminum Halibrand-style 20x9s in front and 22x10s in back fitted with Michelin tires: 245/45R20s in front and 275/40R22s in back.

Inside, E-10 is as slick as it is out side with the original bench seat re-upholstered in ebony leather for improved lateral support. The door panels, steering wheel and sun visors were also leather wrapped. In keeping with the electric theme the original instrument cluster has been updated with round digital displays for the electric power train system.

Overall, Chevy’s E-10 concept is on track. Obviously, they need to downsize the bed full of batteries and in fact GM recently announced a joint venture with Honda to develop a global modular platform and Ultium battery system in the floor pan. While the platform is GM, so far it appears destined for two Honda vehicles, however, it appears from the photographs ideal for any body-on-platform configuration including classic cars and trucks. Maybe GM should be looking at selling complete floor pans and not just an eCrate motor then we could all reboot our Meyers Manx buggies.