With the EV market growing by the day, it was to be expected that we'd see more and more electric trucks too. Ford might have been the first to the party with the launch of the F-150 Lightning, but Chevrolet is following closely with the Silverado EV, and Ram will have its own 1500 REV starting in 2025. While there's no telling when the Cybertruck will actually launch, it looks like Chevrolet did the right thing by waiting to launch its electric truck, as it found many ways to make it so much better than the F-150 Lightning. The range is considerably better, and you will also enjoy much power when going for the proper trim. The Silverado EV can tow just as much as its gas-powered counterpart and has been designed to carry very long items. These, plus many other cool features, make it one of the best electric trucks out there.
Updated On July 04th, 2023: The delivery of the Chevrolet Silverado EV is a highly anticipated event. One that is still in the making for the 2024 model year. Since orders are still being filled up and the fleet orders are shipping out first, we decided to update this information rather than start over from scratch. Below you will find the original information that has been updated, along with a few other pieces of the puzzle that is connecting to the one and only electric Chevy Silverado.
15 The Silverado EV's Impressive Powertrain
The 2023 Silverado EV will be offered initially in two versions: the Work Truck and the fully loaded RST First Edition. The electric truck is built on GM's advanced Ultium EV Platform - the same one used for the GMC Hummer EV – which allows for phenomenal performance and great range. The Silverado EV will be offered with the same electric powertrain as the Hummer EV, which means you can choose between two- and three-motor configurations and multiple range options.
- Work Truck: 510 horsepower
- Work Truck: 615 pound-feet of torque
- RST First Edition: 754 horsepower
- RST First Edition: 785 pound-feet of torque
The total horsepower and torque rating for the RST First Edition can only be achieved with Wide Open Watts Mode activated. This should be enough to sprint Chevrolet's electric truck from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds. While this may not be enough to beat the Rivian R1 T's 3.0 seconds, it is enough to make the Silverado EV faster than just about any traditional ICE pickup out there.
14 The Second Best Electric Truck Range
The Silverado EV delivers great performance numbers and promises a range of 450 miles - about 121 miles more than the Hummer EV. By comparison, the Ford F-150 Lightning can go up to 320 miles, and the future Ram 1500 REV will run to about 500 miles. Both the RST and WT models will benefit from DC fast charging capabilities at speeds up to 350kW. This means the truck can add about 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes. You will have access to over 100,000 public chargers in the U.S. and Canada, but thanks to the 24-module Ultium battery, you will also be able to charge your new electric truck at home overnight.
13 Bi-Directional Charging Should Be A Standard Feature On Electric Trucks
This feature is not a new development in the industry, but it makes the truck even more interesting. The Silverado EV can be had with the available Ultium Home accessory charging unit that offers up to 10 outlets for a total of 10.2kW of all-electric power. It will allow you to use the truck's power for recreational needs, including powering your home. Chevrolet states that the Silverado EV can keep the lights on in your house for up to 21 days. There is also an available accessory charge cord that will allow you to use the electric Silverado to charge another EV. And pretty soon, Chevy promises its customers will be able to store extra energy to save on electric bills or sell their excess power back to the grid.
12 Chevy's Multi-Flex Midgate On Offer
The Silverado EV RST First Edition comes with a feature Chevy calls the "Multi-Flex Midgate." This means you can open a piece of the midgate to make room for something long and skinny or even the entire thing when you plan to accommodate more oversized items. With this feature, the truck's cargo capability expands while maintaining seating for a rear-row passenger. With the midgate open, the truck provides just over 9 feet of storage between the cab and the tailgate. A similar feature was offered in the now-discontinued Avalanche pickup truck from the early 2000s.
Like the gas-powered Silverado, the electric truck is also offered with the Multi-Flex Tailgate, which makes the bed even more functional and can act as a step for easier access in and out of the bed. With the tailgate open, the Silverado EV RST enables up to 10 feet, 10 inches of load floor, and storage capability. Chevrolet also offers a tonneau cover that will keep the things stored in the bed safe from the rain and sun.
11 Four-wheel Steering To Be Trickled Down To The Lower Models As Well
Four-wheel steering is a feature initially offered with the 2024 Silverado RST First Edition, but it will most likely be carried over to all the other models. The system is identical to the one offered in the Hummer EV. All four wheels will work together at lower speeds for a smaller turning radius. This way, you will benefit from greater maneuverability in narrow or parallel parking spaces. The feature also enhances handling and stability at higher speeds, particularly when trailering.
10 A Large Frunk, Which Chevy Prefers Calling The 'eTrunk'
Almost every other electric vehicle has it, but no one else calls it the "frunk." Chevrolet wanted to be different and named the area that used to store the gas engine an "eTrunk." Unlike the usual frunks you know, the Silverado's EV "eTrunk" is a little bit bigger and offers enough space (10.7 cubic feet) to fit a sizeable hard-side suitcase and a multitude of other accessory options. In fact, as an option, Chevrolet will offer various slide-out drawers and toolboxes. The "eTrunk" is also lockable and weatherproof, so the stored items will be permanently safe.
9 GM's Super Cruise Will Eventually Become Ultra Cruise For All Electric Models
GM is currently working on an updated hands-free driver-assist system called the Ultra Cruise. It will be offered in the 2024 Celestiq. However, since the technology is still under development, the Silverado EV will be provided with the current Super Cruise for now. Thanks to this driver assistance technology, the driver can enjoy hands-free driving, including when towing a trailer across 200,000 miles on compatible roads in the U.S. and Canada.
Super Cruise works with Adaptive Cruise Control - a feature that controls acceleration and braking. When the Adaptive Cruise Control is on, and Super Cruise detects you are on a compatible road, the Super Cruise symbol will illuminate in white on the instrument cluster. You can engage it by pressing a button on the steering wheel. To disengage Super Cruise, press the button again or push down on the brake pedal. Chevrolet advises you to always pay attention when driving using Super Cruise and never use a hand-held device.
8 15 Camera-Assisted Towing Views With Eight Cameras
The Silverado EV will offer up to 15 available camera views, with 8 different cameras that will help you see what's around you at all times. This will assist you when hitching up a trailer or unhooking it after parking it after a long day of use.
- Hitch: View of hitch
- Hitch: Bird's eye view of surroundings around the hitch
- Hitch: Top-down view of the back of the truck
- Hitch: View of bed angled towards back tailgate area
- Transparent Trailer: View allowing you to see through the trailer
- Front: View of the area in front of the truck to help judge maneuverability
- Pic-in-Pic: Rear trailer view along with the rear side view
- Rear Trailer View: Shows objects behind the trailer
- Inside Trailer: Shows a view inside the trailer
- Rear Camera: View behind the trailer
- Dual Rear Side: Split screen view showing alongside each side of the trailer
- Turn Signal Rear Side: Rear side view of whichever side the turn signal is activated for
- Bowl View: 3-D top view, angled from the front
- Front Side View: Shows the front side view directed at the tires on a split screen
- Front View: Top-down front view
Towing a trailer of any size will never be the same again, especially those big horse trailers or campers that obstruct your view, even with the big wide-out mirrors that offer you a view around the back of the trailer. This technology may be one of the most important breakthroughs in the trucking industry in the past decade if not the past century.
7 Modern, Ultra-Luxurious Interior
The 2024 Silverado EV will be offered only as a Crew Cab truck, with the front seating positioned forward and the rear seat moving rearward to improve legroom and offer enough space for adults over six feet tall. Compared to the gas-powered model, the Silverado EV features a unique interior with a dramatic sloping dash and a pair of oversized screens.
The RST trim offers a massive 11-inch gauge cluster, a 17-inch infotainment display, and a 14-inch heads-up display. In the WT models, the screens will be a bit smaller. There is also a fixed glass roof, plus a modular center console with a seven-gallon capacity. And, going with the trend, traditional leather will be replaced by sustainable materials.
6 The Silverado EV Is Priced Similarly To Its Rivals
At first, Chevrolet announced that when the Silverado EV goes on sale, it will have a starting price of $52,000, but have since axed that plan. However, even though they have removed the most reasonable Work Truck level, they are still promising to offer three affordable versions that will fall right within the average price range of the rivals.
- Chevrolet Silverado 3WT starting at $74,800
- Chevrolet Silverado 4WT starting at $79,800
- Chevrolet Silverado RST starting at $106,895
To compare things, prices for the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning will start at $63,474. When the Ram 1500 REV goes on sale, it is rumored to have a starting price of around $60,000, and the Rivian R1T is priced at $74,800. This means that when the entry-level Silverado EV goes on sale, it will not be the cheapest EV on the market. Still, it will be competitive, especially when you start adding options to them.
5 Towing Capacity Will Be 20,000 Pounds By 2025
The Silverado EV will have towing capabilities that are just as impressive as the gas-powered model. The Silverado EV WT will offer 10,000 pounds of towing and 1,200 pounds of payload capacity. At the same time, in the RST First Editions, these numbers will go up to 10,000 pounds and 1,300 pounds, respectively.
Electric Pickup Trucks With The Best Towing Capacity
|
Towing Capacity |
|
|
Atlis XT |
35,000 pounds |
|
Tesla Cybertruck |
14,000 pounds |
|
Hercules Alpha |
12,500 pounds |
|
Rivian R1T |
11,000 pounds |
|
Edison Future EF1-T |
11,000 pounds |
|
Ford F-150 Lightning |
10,000 pounds |
|
Chevy Silverado EV |
10,000 pounds |
|
GMC Sierra EV |
9,500 pounds |
|
Lordstown Endurance |
8,000 pounds |
|
GMC Hummer EV |
7,500 pounds |
Chevrolet also promises a fleet model with up to 20,000 pounds max trailering with the max tow package by 2025. In comparison, the F-150 Lightning's towing capacity ranges from 5,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds, while the future Ram 1500 REV promises a towing capacity of more than 10,000 pounds.
4 Adaptive Air Suspension Is Optional
The Silverado EV rides on 24-inch wheels and is offered as standard with air suspension that can adjust ride height up to two inches. Chevrolet provides the Four-Corner Air Ride Suspensions as an option that automatically adjusts the suspension to the road conditions for a smoother ride. This system works great for trucks with a short wheelbase by preventing the pickup from bouncing around on rough roads or squatting too much when under heavy loads.
3 Impressive Real-World Fuel Economy
When you look through the multitudes of information on the internet regarding the real-world fuel economy of electric trucks, you can quickly see that what the manufacturers show you on paper is not the actual numbers. In fact, according to numerous experts in the car industry, it has been found that EV trucks are off the mark more often than their ICE-powered siblings.
That is why it is so awesome to see that the numbers marketed by Chevrolet for the EV Silverado are real-world fuel economy numbers, stating that you can expect 67 MPGe in the city and 59 MPGe on the highway. Less than the rivals on paper, but when put to the test, is the Silverado EV actually behind the competition?
2 The Base Trim Will Be The Ultimate Workhorse
When trucks were first built, as far back as the Ford Model TT in 1917, it was designed for one purpose; to work. Since then, the general public has leaned towards using their pickups for daily driving purposes, demanding more luxury, comfort, and usability from truckmakers. Chevrolet understands this, offering many upgraded options, including the soon-to-come Silverado Trail Boss EV and Silverado RST First Edition. However, with the Silverado Work Truck EV, they have returned to their roots, creating a solid work truck designed to work, especially to tow oversized trailers loaded with equipment.
- 15 Camera Views
- Included Hitch
- Trailer Brake Control
- Trailer Information Label
- Tow Mode
Towing has never been easier, which is one of the most critical tasks that any work truck will ever be used for. And, if you are anything like most hard-working Americans, you will push it to the limits, so having a truck designed to be pushed will change the game.
1 Chevy's Unique E-4WD System Will Be Featured
Classic trucks with four-wheel drive systems were not as capable in off-the-grid driving locations as today's trucks for one simple reason. The four-wheel drive system of yesterday was not actually four-wheel drive. There was only one main drive tire on the front and one main- drive tire on the back, so you could still get stuck pretty easily. The new Chevrolet Silverado EV's dual electric motors offer true four-wheel drive by delivering nearly instantaneous torque to all four wheels through Chevy's unique E-4WD system for extra traction. If you get stuck now, you know you are indeed in a pickle.