Everywhere you turned at the Las Vegas Convention Center last week, you would find hot rods, sports cars, drag strip racers and the parts and accessories to give them even more muscle.
The aftermarket organization's members are a diverse group, producing everything from in-car air fresheners to roof racks and trailer hitches. But performance is the heart of SEMA and one of the segment's biggest money makers. "It's the wild, wild West when it comes to electrification," CJ Whelan said in an interview. His Colorado start-up, CJ3 EV, will take your BMW 3-Series, Chevrolet Camaro, Porsche 911 — even a '37 Ford hot rod — pull out its gas engine and replace it with a completely new electric drive system."I was born with gasoline in my veins," jokes Whelan, who said he sold his software company last year to open CJ3 EV. "I decided to pursue my passion in automotive.
But there's no question they're going to try. And automakers like Chevrolet are looking for ways to help. The E-10 Concept it showed off at SEMA started out as a 1962 C-10 pickup truck. Its gas engine has been replaced by an electric drive system originally meant for the relatively mundane Bolt EV. But the heavily modified system now makes about 450 horsepower, according to Chevy, and can launch the truck from 0 to 60 in a quick 5 seconds.