A new company, Via Motors, will offer a service to convert existing full-size pickup trucks, large vans and sport utility vehicles into extended-range electric vehicles (E-REV.) Via’s system replaces the transmission with a 402-horsepower electric motor to provide up to 40 miles range on electricity alone but keeps the truck’s base 4.3-liter V-6 engine. Pacific Gas & Electricity senior VP Gregg Pruitt says converting 3500 trucks in the fleet to E-REV could result in $9.5 million annual savings.