With the Jeep CJ Surge concept unveiled this week at the annual SEMA show, Mopar didn't exactly announce that it's going to offer a crate electric motor. Instead, the concept "allows Mopar designers and engineers to gain a better understanding of potential battery-electric vehicle parts kit applications, leading to a future propulsion-system offering," according to the press release. So they're looking into it, and that makes Mopar the third carmaker in as many years to come to SEMA with vague promises of offering factory parts for do-it-yourself electromodding. Does that mean the idea's becoming any more feasible? Let's compare the three.

2022 Jeep CJ Surge Concept

One of three new concepts Stellantis brought to this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas (along with two accessory-loaded Ram pickups and accompanied by a barrage of Easter Jeep Safari concepts), the Jeep CJ Surge concept appears based on a long-wheelbase CJ-6 and is likely riding on a JL Wrangler platform, given that Jeep's throwback Easter Safari concepts all seem to use a current Wrangler chassis. All Mopar says about the chassis in the press release is that it uses a two-inch lift, Jeep Performance Parts Dana 44 crate axles, and 35-inch BFGoodrich tires on 18-inch wheels.

As for the powertrain, it uses a 400 V 200 kW motor and a Jeep two-speed transfer case with power supplied by 24 lithium-ion battery modules taking up the entire space behind the front seats, a la the electrified 1977 K5 Blazer-E that Chevrolet dropped at SEMA two years ago.

Read on for details about the 2021 Ford Eluminator and the 2020 Chevrolet eCrate.