For car enthusiasts, SEMA 2021 is very much a “kid in a candy store” experience. Automakers go to the extremes of showing what’s possible for car design. A burgeoning area of possibilities in the automotive industry is electric vehicles. Ford showed these possibilities by mixing the old with the new for the Ford F-100 Eluminator EV. It combines powerful electric motors from a Mustang Mach-E with a classic 1978 F-100 pickup truck.

All-Electric powertrain for the Ford F-100 Eluminator

Ford showcased the all-electric Ford F-100 Elumintor at SEMA 2021 to demonstrate what’s possible for electric vehicles. Based on a classic 1978 Ford F-100 pickup truck, the F-100 Eluminator features an all-wheel drive system courtesy of two electric motors from a 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition. The total output of the F-100 Elumintor is a mighty 480 hp and 634 lb-ft of torque.

The Ford F-100 Elumintor is a collaborative effort between Ford Performance, MLe Racecars, and Roadster Shop, which built the custom chassis. For the exterior, the F-100 Elumintor features an Avalanche Gray paint color with Cerakote Copper accents. The EV truck rolls on custom 19×10-inch billet aluminum three-piece wheels and Michelin Latitude Sport high-performance tires. For the interior, the F-100 Elumintor has a billet aluminum dash and avocado-tanned leather upholstery.

“Ford owners have personalized, customized, and enhanced their vehicles since the beginning — from changing looks to bringing the power. Our F-100 Eluminator concept is a preview of how we’re supporting customers as they go all-electric and embrace zero-tailpipe emissions performance, even for our heritage vehicles.”

– Eric Cin, global director, Ford Vehicle Personalization, Accessories, and Licensing

Ford sells an e-crate electric motor that you can install in an old car, truck, or SUV

Another purpose of the Ford F-100 Elumintor is to highlight the Ford e-crate electric motor, which can be installed in an old car, truck, or SUV. With the e-crate motor, you can transform nearly any gas-powered vehicle into an EV. 

Titled “Part No. M-9000-MACH-E” and with a retail price of $3,900, the Elumintor e-crate electric motor is available online at Ford Performance Parts and at authorized Ford parts warehouse dealers. The output of the e-crate motor is 281 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. In case you were wondering, the e-crate motor is street-legal in all 50 states in the country.

SEMA 2021: Ford electric vehicles on display

For SEMA 2021, Ford makes a big push for electrification with several electric vehicles on display. In addition to the F-100 Elumintor EV truck, Ford has a 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, a factory Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition, and three custom Mustang Mach-E models, including a prototype from Shelby American. Also, Ford had a demonstration of the Mustang Mach-E, which was driven by professional drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. 

The EV era is progressing at a rapid pace. With the F-100 Eluminator at SEMA 2021, as well as production models like the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E, Ford embraces it. Tesla may have cornered the EV market over the past decade, but Ford, Rivian, and other automakers aim to catch up very quickly.