Electric pickup truck Chevrolet Silverado EV: information, data, price

The Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicle suddenly became popular worldwide because it was unique and technically impressive. Ford counters this with an electric version of its legendary F-150 – nicknamed “The Lightning”. There are also many startups that want to get a piece of the future market for electric pick-ups. Chevrolet previously lagged behind in this arena. The manufacturer then touched on the electric image for the first time in its 2019 sustainability report. The official announcement followed in the spring of 2021 that the model was coming.

At the CES trade show in Las Vegas 2022, the series model was presented in three variants: as a luxurious RST with luxury equipment, as a powerful Silverado WT (Work Truck) and as an off-road variant Trailboss. The Silverado EV is only available in Crew Cab configuration. It is manufactured at the Zero Factory assembly plant in Hamtramck, where the electric Hummer also rolls off the assembly line. The Silverado also shares the Ultium platform. Chevrolet isn’t releasing much technical data yet, but it has announced a range of 440 miles – the equivalent of around 708 kilometers – for the RST. The WT even has a range of up to 450 miles (724 km), and a version with a smaller battery and a range of 393 miles (632 km) will be added later. The base WT model produces 517 hp and 834 Nm, while Chevrolet says a maximum output of 764 hp and 1,064 Nm torque for the RST. Charging is done using a fast charger with up to 350 kW. The Silverado EV provides outdoor users with an output of up to 10.2 kW.

The payload is specified to be up to 635 kg. Up to 4.5 tonnes can be attached to the trailer coupling. Later there will be an upgrade version up to nine tons.

Chevy is two years behind Ford

However, anyone who was hoping for a quick start to production of the Silverado EV after the CES debut was disappointed by Chevrolet. Production was scheduled to start in 2022, then it was postponed until the beginning of 2023. The actual start of production at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant will not take place until 2024. This is very annoying from the point of view of its biggest rival, the Ford F-150 Lightning, whose mass production started in 2022 and which has been leading for two good years.

The Silverado EV will benefit not only from the platform, but also from Hummer’s chassis technology, which already attracted attention with its “Crab Walk” system. The Americans have not yet revealed whether the front and rear wheels of the Chevrolet can be set diagonally so that you can start on the spot. So far there has been talk of optional all-wheel steering, which is intended to improve agility as well as handling and stability at high speeds and when towing a trailer. This will be available in RST format.

Interiors and grand displays

The Silverado EV is based on a more conservative look, without any major intrusions into the future. What is surprising are the very low LED lights directly on the edge of the hood, which, depending on the model, are connected to each other through a continuous LED strip. The front mask still has openings for the grill at the bottom, but it is largely closed and, depending on the variant, painted in the color of the car or made of black plastic.

Inside there are two variants of the Silverado EV display. The simplest WT models for commercial use have two large, different color screens for the instrument and infotainment. On the more expensive RST, the displays are integrated. Chevrolet will only offer the Silverado EV as a crew cab with a rear seat. There is a large storage space under the front hood, which Chevrolet calls the “eTrunk”, and additional options such as a pull-out drawer system can also be integrated here.

The highlight of the RST is its expandable loading area: after folding the rear seat, the hatch on the rear wall of the cabin can be opened on the driver’s side to place loads of up to 2.5 meters. As a second option, the back wall of the cabin can be completely opened to be able to move large transport items. The RST also gets a fixed glass roof that spans the entire cabin area.

Prices starting at $40,000 are history

Orders for the specially equipped Chevrolet Silverado RST First Edition are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2024. Chevrolet lists the base price as $94,500. Previously, the automaker had put a price tag of $105,000 before taxes and fees. The long-range Silverado EV WT and other variants will follow soon after. GM had already announced a $74,800 price for the WT in late 2023. The previously planned $40,000 entry-level model is out of sight, but it should come at some point. When and with what useful data remains to be seen.

This means that Chevrolet joins the ranks of competitors who have already had to go back on their promises of affordable electric pick-ups. Tesla’s Cybertruck was supposed to come in at $39,900. The RWD version scheduled for 2025 is currently priced at $57,390. The available all-wheel drive variant starts at $76,390. Ford originally offered the electric F-150 for $41,669. Currently (as of 4/2024) the cheapest F-150 Radiant costs $49,995.