Car Wearing: Ford F-100 Eluminator shows off Mach-E GT crate motor

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Toyota shows off its own yoke-style steering, Audi e-tron gets more range via a software update, and Tesla starts opening its Superchargers to other EVs. But first:

Converting to EV Power Requires a Lot of Know-How

There is no shortage of small companies that will turn your classic into an EV, often for a six-figure sum, but folks who wish to go the DIY route will soon get some help from Ford itself. At SEMA this week the automaker showed off the Ford F-100 Eluminator concept based on a 1978 pickup, powered by Ford's electric crate motor and battery borrowed from the Mach-E GT.
"Part No. M-9000-MACH-E, the e-crate motor is now available at authorized Ford parts warehouse dealers or online at Ford Performance Parts," the automaker notes. "Retailing at $3,900, it is targeted for builders looking for a transverse-oriented powertrain to electrify a range of vehicles from modern to vintage cars, trucks and SUVs. Each Eluminator e-crate motor produces 281 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque and is street-legal in all 50 states."
But just how realistic is it to actually build something like this with crate parts? After all, this isn't just an engine swap—EVs have a lot of computer parts that are unavoidable, even with the simplest build. And it's not just the motor that restomod builders have to contend with—there's also the battery that can deliver the builder a pretty serious shock, including to their wallet.

How to Keep from Frying Your Garage When you Retrofit Your Old Car to an EV

Ford turned this 1978 truck into an EV, but whether restomod builders will be able to do the same pretty easily is a separate question.

It might help to think of this as an Expert Level model kit from the hobby shop, and not one of those SnapTite kits from the toy aisle of a grocery store. An electrical engineering degree is perhaps just one of the helpful prerequisites.
Still, the charm of the Eluminator concept was difficult to ignore at SEMA this week, even if a number experts we talked to poured cold water on dreams of building something like this in one's garage as a winter project.

ZipCharge Go to Offer EVs a Suitcase Full of Power

This portable EV charger, which will travel like a suitcase, will be offered in 4-kWh and 8-kWh capacities.

Speaking of batteries, a portable charger that was shown during this week's COP26 climate summit in Scotland certainly seems like it would be a handy companion on any EV road trip. The ZipCharge Go is essentially a suitcase-style battery, one that will be offered in 4- and 8-kWh capacities, capable of juicing up an EV with up to 40 miles of range at 7.2-kW speeds.
Of course, it will be neither particularly light, being a lithium-ion battery, nor exceptionally fast to recharge an EV. But that comes with the territory. It will also be high-tech in other ways, offering OTA updates, tracking and geo-fencing for security, and remote diagnostics.
The Go is slated to reach production late next year, with pricing and detailed specs to be announced closer to launch. But its potential to transform the EV ownership experience seems obvious even now. Perhaps this will be the one item that will cure range anxiety and charging anxiety for those on the fence about getting an EV for the first time.

Mini Urbanaut-Style EV Is in the Works

This week Mini confirmed it will produce an electric premium compact vehicle that will sit alongside the next-generation Mini Countryman, positioned in a space that Mini has not addressed to date. What such a vehicle could look like was previewed earlier this year with the Mini Urbanaut concept.

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Audi e-tron Gets a Range Boost via Software Update

After three years in production, the Audi e-tron SUV is getting a range increase thanks to a software update. The automaker has been able to squeeze out 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) of range in the WLTP cycle by optimizing thermal management and electric motor behavior. The result is a usable 86-kWh capacity, up from 83 kWh.

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