As soon as the car industry introduced its first four-wheeled creations to the world, people began to feel the need for a means of transport equipped to carry items, possibly, for work. In the first years of the 20th century, some companies, such as Ohio-based Galion Allsteel Truck Body Co., built and installed hauling boxes on slightly customized Ford Model T cars, giving birth to some of the first pickup trucks.
SUVs came into existence some decades later but, just like pickups, they have been highly successful because of their practicality. As time went on, people who were concerned about the environment started to move in a more eco-friendly direction. Some vintage car enthusiasts have tried to contribute by showing us how to restore vintage trucks and SUVs and at the same time convert them into electric vehicles.
8 1962 Chevrolet: From C-10 To E-10
At General Motors, they know how crucial this time is: the transition from fossil fuels to electric motors is real, but by combining classic style with innovative technology, GM is saying that green mobility could be closer than ever for vintage truck enthusiasts. Classy lines are perfectly reinterpreted on this lowered electric converted Chevy: the result is an impressively clean truck.
Most of the fans may complain that replacing the old engines means their pickups won’t sound the same. And yes, electric motors are not famous for their roars. How about this Chevy E-10? A revving V8 sound will roar from specific speakers installed by the build team on this bad boy. Is it ingenious or just a tasteless idea?
7 1966 Ford F250
Tired of seeing Teslas on the e-charging spot? Look at this gorgeous lifted Ford F250: fully preserved in its historical aesthetics, it hides an electric motor and batteries under the hood. This truck belongs to the 4th generation of Ford Pickups, and it's the first of its kind because of the option of a 4.9L straight-six engine instead of the usual V8.
When converting a pickup truck into an electric vehicle, a helping hand is given by the huge space you can take advantage of. The possibility of loading it up with batteries certainly increases the potential mileage from a single charge: no need to worry even for the wildest off-road adventures.
6 1939 Chevrolet Pickup truck
This old truck spent a lifetime working hard and puffing dark smoke. Then it retired and received this fresh and outstanding clean look. Electric motor and Tesla batteries are the new pulsing core of this gorgeous truck. The bodywork is completely revisited in this blue suit, upgraded electronics to run the system, new suspension, and a regenerative braking system are implemented.
To convert an old truck could easily be a real struggle. In fact, trucks from this era are generally heavy, and that is why they were formerly packed with bulky engines. Also, American car manufacturers used to swim in cheap petroleum back then: there was no need to build light or aerodynamic pickups: a huge V8 would be the undisputed answer. We're glad someone accepted the challenge.
5 1977 Chevrolet Blazer
Big and unafraid, here is a second-generation Chevy Blazer with a modern electric heart. Thanks to Electric Connect and Cruise kits on sale since 2021, GM is trying to attract owners of SUVs and pickups, so they can travel even when their V8s are no more.
Chevrolet presented its all-electric eCOPO Camaro drag car at SEMA in 2018, the E-1o previously mentioned in this article in 2019, and last year it was the turn for this SUV: time is running fast and the idea of having formerly V8 charged cars filled with green power is becoming reality.
4 1963 Ford Ranchero
Ready to be the fanciest surfers' vehicle in town, this 1963 Ford Ranchero is all-electric. The former engines available ranged from the economical 2.4L inline-six, which was the standard engine, to the 4.3 L V8 which provided quite a lively performance in a vehicle of this size.
Now, the 1963 Ford Falcon Ranchero is equipped with an electric motor, and the conversion is based on an s10 kit made by EV America, a company with 25 years of experience in electric engineering.
3 The Homemade Conversion Of This 1939 Dodge Truck
Although some companies provide an EV conversion service, there are people who have no fear of DIY conversions, such as the owner of this nice Dodge Pickup from 1939. The guy turned his courtyard into a Gigagarage (no one knows if the wife agreed) and turned this old Dodge into an electric-powered truck.
The owner claims he can drive about 100 miles between charges with only six hours to top off the lithium-ion phosphate battery pack. The truck also features LED lights and a digital gauge cluster. The electric motor transfers power through the original three-speed manual transmission. This is probably one of the best home-converted electric trucks.
2 1958 Tesla Powered Chevrolet Apache
Electric 51 Speed Shop, based in Salt Lake City (Utah), are specialized in converting classic cars into electric vehicles: this is their first example, a 1958 Chevrolet truck. This is the light-duty Task Force, also known as the Apache.
Under the rusty patina finished exterior, there lies a Tesla engine, allowing this big pickup to move at a decent pace. With a sufficiently powerful powertrain, this heavy GM truck was given a new lease on life.
1 ZeroLabs Custom Ford Bronco
It's almost impossible to not want to drive this sick electric converted Ford Bronco. The first-generation Bronco was produced from 1966 to 1977, and this particular model is completely restomodded by Zero Labs, based in Los Angeles, California. The 434 hp, 277 lb-ft motor is liquid-cooled and brushless. Dual-engine 4wd is optional for those who need a true off-roader.
Zero Labs has also announced that their electric Ford Broncos will feature a 70 kWh battery pack that will guarantee a range of over 300 km. Zero Labs aims to work alongside classic car enthusiasts, promising zero emissions, zero waste, and zero noise: will this be a turning point for vintage trucks and SUVs fans?