--- title: "The Jeep CJ Surge Concept May Have the Off-Road EV Crate Motor We’ve Been Waiting For" description: "The all-new Jeep CJ Surge Concept is headed to the 2022 SEMA auto show with an EV crate motor under its hood." date: "2022-10-31" modified: "2022-10-31" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-jeep-cj-surge-concept-may-be-the-off-road-ev-crate-motor-weve-been-waiting-for" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Electric Vehicles" - "Jeep News" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Trucks" tags: - "concept car" - "Electric Vehicle" - "Jeep" - "suv/crossover" --- # The Jeep CJ Surge Concept May Have the Off-Road EV Crate Motor We’ve Been Waiting For ![]() Jeep is bringing an electric restomod kit to the [2022 SEMA]() auto show in November, to showcase what the future of off-roading retrofit kits might look like. The [Jeep]() CJ Surge Concept is a classic Wrangler (it looks like a CJ6) that's been heavily modified, with an electric powertrain swap and an extensive visual overhaul. This could be the future of off-road retromods. The big news is under the hood. Jeep threw out the old inline-six and stuffed in what is essentially an electric crate motor. It's a 400-volt, 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric drive module, which sends its power through a two-speed transfer case to all four wheels. To give that electric powertrain some juice, the CJ Surge Concept has 24 lithium-ion batteries under the rear passenger floor, enclosed in a custom shell. Older Jeeps will always be limited to the amount of space in which they can fit batteries, so range will always be limited, but this powertrain provides about the same amount of power as a brand-new V6 Wrangler, with none of the emissions. ![]() ![]() ![]() To make sure the CJ Surge Concept can off-road like a proper Wrangler should, it was given a set of 18x9-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, Dana 44 Crate axles from Jeep Performance Parts (JPP), and a two-inch lift kit. Adding to its JPP list are a Wrangler JK Rubicon bumper kit, a JPP Wrangler Warn winch, Rubicon skid plates and rock rails, and amber LED fog lights. It wouldn't be a SEMA car if it didn't look wild, too. Jeep painted the CJ Surge in a metallic orange "Copper Caynon" paint, with black and Surf Blue accents. Inside, the Jeep CJ Surge gets custom cloth seats, with houndstooth fabric, a custom steering wheel, Mopar instrument dials with charge and battery life gauges, and even a modern Jeep rotary shift dial. ![]() ![]() ![]() Typically SEMA cars are just exercises in exuberance but the Jeep CJ Surge actually offers an interesting idea. Giving customers an electric crate motor will allow owners of older Jeeps to swap their engines for electric powertrains. Not only would that provide more torque and the potential for more horsepower, it would also provide an emissions-free powertrain. Plus, I kind of like the idea of rolling around in a silent Wrangler with the doors off and top down. Jeep isn't the first brand to propose such an idea, though. Chevy also created its own electric restomod, with a [K5 Blazer]() back in 2020. However, Jeep's CJ Surge is more off-road focused than that and seems to want to prove that electrification is possible even in older, more rugged cars like the Wrangler. *Have any tips? Send them to nico.demattia@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()