The electric aftermarket is heating up quickly as older automakers begin to offer their own parts to builders. GM has announced it will offer a complete crate motor and battery powertrain under the name eCrate Connect and Cruise, and Ford has begun selling a crate motor called the Eluminator that will be shared with the Mustang Mach-E. GM has also shown a few concepts to show what’s possible with its electric motors, and now Ford has done the same with this 1978 F-100 Eluminator pickup.
The truck was built in conjunction with MLe Racecars, the company that helped build the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 electric tow truck. And while it looks like an old F-100 on the outside, there isn’t much left of it underneath. The front and rear electric motors of the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition are bolted to the truck’s modified Roadster Shop chassis. They give the truck four-wheel drive, as well as 480 horsepower and 634 pound-feet of torque. Ford does not yet say what kind of battery is in it.
Of course, the electric powertrain and modified chassis aren’t the only upgrades. The truck stands out visually with its bright white livery and copper accents that replace factory chrome and stainless steel. Even the taillights and turn signals have been given bright white lenses to blend in with the design. The truck has also been lowered on billet 19-inch wheels that mimic the look of regular steel wheels with dog-dish hubcaps. Even though we can’t get a particularly close look, it seems that much of the bed has been retained in the electric conversion, despite the addition of a rear motor and batteries. So it still needs to be able to carry big things, like a truck.
The interior is getting an even more radical overhaul. It has a modified billet dashboard and the Mustang Mach-E’s instrument and infotainment screens, not to mention a modern Ford steering wheel and other switchgear. Modern seats feature custom black and tan leather upholstery. The center console also has some retro checkered accents.
Now if you want to build something like this, Ford can sell your engines. The crate motor is based on the rear electric motor of the Mustang Mach-E GT and produces 281 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. It also retails for $3,900. However, for the other parts of the powertrain, such as the batteries, controllers and inverters, you will have to be more creative. Ford Performance did announce that it plans to offer all of these things in the near future so that it can provide everything needed to have a turnkey powertrain. Sure, with something like this, you still have to get creative with how you pack everything into the car, but that’s the case with any kind of major engine swap. We are delighted to see Ford and its competitors continue to develop their electric aftermarket offerings.
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