Chevrolet S-10 EV

General Motors started with a regular-cab, short-box ({{convert|6|ft|cm|adj=mid}} bed) S-10 pickup, with a base-level trim package plus a half-tonneau cover.

In place of a typical inline four cylinder or V-6 internal combustion engine, the Electric S-10 EV was equipped with an {{convert|85|kW|hp|adj=mid}} three-phase, liquid-cooled AC induction motor, based on GM's EV1 electric coupe. The EV1 had a 100{{nbsp}}kW motor; GM reduced the S-10EV's motor output because of the additional weight and drag of the truck so as not to overstress the batteries.

Because the S10 EV shared its major powertrain components with the GM EV1, it used a front wheel drive configuration, as opposed to the rear wheel drive (two-wheel-drive) configuration of the gasoline-powered S10. Its closest competitor, the electric Ford Ranger EV was also rear wheel drive.

Similar to the Gen 1 EV1's, there were lead acid battery and nickel–metal hydride battery options. The 1997 Chevrolet S-10 EV used a lead acid battery pack. Manufactured by Delco Electronics, the {{cvt|1400|lb|0}} battery pack consisted of 27 cells, with one being designated as an "auxiliary" cell. These reportedly offered 16.2 kilowatt-hours for propulsion. In 1998, an Ovonic nickel–metal hydride battery (NiMH) pack was also available; these batteries were lighter ({{cvt|1043|lb|0|disp=or}}) and had a combined 29 kilowatt-hours of storage for a longer range. NiMH also has longer life but costs more than the lead acid option. The battery pack was located between the frame rails, beneath the pickup bed. On all battery types, a passive battery monitoring and management system was used; this meant that excess energy was wasted from cells with a higher charge, while the remainder of the cells reach the same state of charge.

The S-10 EV charges using the Magne Charger, produced by the General Motors subsidiary Delco Electronics. The inductive charging paddle is the model J1773 or the 'large' paddle. The small paddle can also be used with an adapter to properly seat it. The standard charger is a 240{{nbsp}}V 30{{nbsp}}A (6.6{{nbsp}}kW); there is also a 120{{nbsp}}V 15{{nbsp}}A 'convenience' charger, and a high-power fast-charge version. The vehicle's charging port is accessed by flipping the front license plate frame downwards. The system is designed to be safe even when used in the rain.{{cite AV media |url=http://www.gmev.com/gallery/footage/magne.mov |title=Charger demonstration movie underwater |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980625023701/http://www.gmev.com/gallery/footage/magne.mov |archive-date=1998-06-25}}

Depending on the load and driving conditions the range can vary greatly: For the 1997 model with lead-acid battery pack, city range was {{convert|45.5|mi|km|1}}; the mixed city/highway range was {{convert|47|mi|km|0}}; the highway range was {{convert|60|mi|km|0}} if operating constantly at {{convert|45|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} or less. The acceleration time {{cvt|0-50|mph|km/h|0}} was listed as 13.5 seconds (at 50 percent battery charge - the published literature stated that acceleration time was "even less" when the truck had a full charge).

Like the EV1, the top speed of the S-10 EV was governed, albeit to {{convert|70|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, {{convert|10|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} less than its coupe sibling.

The performance is much better for the 1998 model year with the nickel–metal hydride battery, at an approximately {{convert|90|mi|km|adj=mid}} range and an acceleration time of 10.9 seconds at 50% charge.

• 1997 MY GM S10 EV lead acid: {{cvt|29.2|kWh/100mi|mpge}}{{cite web |url=http://longtailpipe.com/ebooks/green-transportation-guide-buying-owning-charging-plug-in-vehicles-of-all-kinds/gasoline-electricity-and-the-energy-to-move-transportation-systems/understanding-kilowatt-hours-in-electric-cars-and-other-gizmos/ |title=Understanding kiloWatt-hours in electric cars and other gizmos |date=2015-07-03 |access-date=2016-07-12}}
• 1998 MY GM S10 EV lead acid: {{cvt|45|kWh/100mi|mpge}} (city driving), and {{cvt|41|kWh/100mi|mpge}} (highway driving, with maximum speed {{cvt|45|mph|km/h|0|disp=comma}} or less).
• 1998 MY GM S10 EV NiMH: {{cvt|94|kWh/100mi|mpge}} (city driving), and {{cvt|86|kWh/100mi|mpge}} (highway driving, with maximum speed {{cvt|45|mph|km/h|0|disp=comma}} or less).{{Fuel Economy Guide |year=1999}}

Note: 1998 GM S10 EV NiMh numbers above are apparently wrong. This page lists the NiMH S10 with a 29-kilowatt-hour battery and range of {{convert|72|mi|abbr=on}}{{nbsp}}(EPA) which corresponds to {{cvt|403|Wh/mi|mpge}}. This corresponds to the NiMH version of the vehicle having a {{convert|357|lb|kg|adj=mid}} lighter battery pack than the lead-acid model.

• 1997 MY GM S10 EV lead acid: {{cvt|292|Wh/mi|mpge}} (J1634) {{cite web |url=https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/chvs10.pdf |title=1997 Chevrolet S-10 Electric Vehicle Specifications |publisher=Idaho National Laboratory |year=1997}}
• 1998 MY GM S10 EV NiMH: {{cvt|276|Wh/mi|mpge}} (J1634) {{cite web |url=https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/s10.pdf |title=1998 Chevrolet S-10 Electric w/NiMH Vehicle Specifications |publisher=Idaho National Laboratory |year=1999}}

Internally, the instrument cluster was exclusive to the Electric S-10, and featured only four gauges - a speedometer, a large "charge" gauge which reads from 'E' to 'F' like a fuel gauge, a voltmeter ranging from 220 to 440 volts, and a "power use" meter, which acts as an ammeter of sorts showing discharge during acceleration and charge during regenerative braking. The LCD display for the shifter was shortened to display only park, neutral, reverse, and drive, since the S-10 EV does not have the usual transmission.

The S10 EV was developed from the base version of the gasoline-powered S10, and included similar standard equipment. Standard equipment for the S10 EV included an AM-FM stereo radio with two door-mounted speakers, air conditioning, a vinyl-and-cloth-trimmed bench seat, and dual airbags. For colder climates, a fuel-fired heater was standard, which is similar to an engine block heater, and runs on diesel fuel from a {{convert|1.7|USgal|L|adj=mid}} tank positioned where the gasoline tank would normally be, with a small exhaust behind the spare wheel.{{cite web |last1=Jacobs |first1=Caleb |title=Most Chevy S10 Electric Trucks From the ’90s Were Crushed. This Guy Owns Three |url=https://www.thedrive.com/news/most-chevy-s10-electric-trucks-from-the-90s-were-crushed-this-guy-owns-three |website=The Drive |publisher=Recurrent Ventures |access-date=25 February 2025}} The heater will operate when ambient temperature falls below {{convert|37|F|C}}.

Because battery performance varies greatly with temperature, the heat pump supplies cooling to the batteries during charging when necessary. Passive air recirculation is used during the driving cycle to equalize variations in battery temperature. The heat pump can be activated during the driving cycle under extreme battery over-temperature conditions over {{convert|150|F|C}}, typically as a result of extreme battery discharge.

The S-10 EV was preceded by at least two commercially marketed S-10 electric vehicle conversions performed by third parties:

• Solectria Corporation E-10 (introduced in May 1993 at the American Tour de Sol){{cite report |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bWB56ojdKf8C |title=Electric Vehicles and Advanced Battery R&D: Hearing before the subcommittee on energy of the committee on science, space, and technology |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bWB56ojdKf8C&pg=PA121 |chapter=Appendix A: Solectria Corporate Overview |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives |date=June 30, 1994 |access-date=20 February 2023}}
• U.S. Electricar Pickup (introduced in 1994){{cite report |url=https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/ffort-11.pdf |title=U. S. Electricar Pickup |publisher=Idaho National Laboratory |access-date=27 February 2023}}

While the standard S-10 moved to a redesigned front fascia in 1998, the S-10 Electric kept the same front fascia as the '94-'97, with the exception of composite headlamps in 1998 versus the previous year's sealed-beam headlamps. The interior was also updated in 1998 along with internal combustion models, adding a passenger side airbag, a new AM-FM stereo radio, new instrumentation with a digital odometer and trip meter, a new bench seat design, new interior door panels, and a new steering wheel with airbag cover. Aside from this header panel, a unique lower bumper valance, and a stylized 'Electric' decal on the bottom of the doors, there is little difference externally between the appearance of an Electric and a stock S-10. Any changes, however minimal, were reported to have had a positive influence on reducing the truck's aerodynamic resistance. These changes included a closed grille and a front air dam, belly pans beneath the front suspension, a seal between the cab and the pickup bed, and a half-length tonneau cover over the rear of the pickup bed.

Unlike the EV1, of the 492 S-10EVs assembled about 60 were sold to fleet customers, rather than just leased through restrictive programs, mostly due to the prior Department of Transportation crashworthiness evaluations done on stock S-10 pickups. As a result, a few Electric S-10s can still be found in use today. The fleet life of many of these ended in 2007 and 2008. The vehicles (around 440) that were not sold were eventually scrapped, similar to the fate of their EV1 siblings. The white S-10EVs can be seen mixed into the stacks of crushed EV1s in aerial shots toward the end of "Who Killed The Electric Car", most easily identified by their white color, and black half-tonneau covers.

The purpose of the vehicle, though, was primarily to explore the potential of electric trucks early in the history of electric vehicles:{{cite news |last1=Witzenburg |first1=Gary |title=Remembering the '97-'98 Chevy S-10 EV |url=https://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/04/remembering-the-97-98-chevy-s-10-ev.html |access-date=1 October 2022 |work=PickupTrucks.com |date=11 April 2012}}{{cite news |title=Remembering the '97-'98 Chevy S-10 EV |url=https://www.cars.com/articles/remembering-the-97-98-chevy-s-10-ev-454551/ |access-date=1 October 2022 |agency=cars.com |date=15 October 2014}}

{{blockquote|There were many fleet-type customers with duty cycles that represented good applications for electric vehicles — short drives that could be all electric, then back to the same location for charging each night. The goals were to test the capability of that type of vehicle, to understand that customer base and see how this vehicle would fit that profile, and to test what relevance it would have to those customers' needs|author=Gary Insana}}

In 2004 GM converted an S-10 EV to rear-wheel drive, using prototype in-wheel electric motors instead of an under-hood motor.

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Idaho National Laboratory operated for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology:

• [https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/chvs10.pdf 1997 Chevrolet S-10 with PbA Batteries]
• [https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/s10.pdf 1998 Chevrolet S-10 with NiMH Batteries]
• [https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fsev/s-10rel.pdf Chevrolet S-10 Accelerated Reliability Report]
• [http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/s10-ev mailing list] for Chevrolet S10 electric truck enthusiasts

{{Chevrolet vehicles}}

Category:Production electric cars

S10 EV

Category:Electric trucks

Category:Vehicles introduced in 1997

Category:Electric vehicles introduced in the 20th century