Chevy finally debuts the Silverado EV, almost eight months after Ford took the wraps off the Ford F-150 Lightning. The electric Silverado comes with quite a few attention-worthy features, like 400 miles of range, a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, and fairly impressive power outputs and performance specs. To top it all off, it looks pretty darn smart from all the angles. Does this mean trouble for Ford?
What’s The Silverado EV All About?
Chevrolet will roll out the Silverado EV in two trim,s to begin with – WT and RST First Edition. The WT will be catered to fleet owners and folks looking to buy an electric work truck. The RST is the plusher of the two and comes with all bells and whistles one can ask for. The Silverado EV will be built from the ground up and be based on the Ultium Platform, the architecture that also underpins the GMC Hummer EV twins.
The Silverado EV will be offered only in Crew Cab body style. It will come with independent front and rear suspensions. Both the models will support up to 350 kW DC fast-charging. This will allow you to add 100 miles of range in 10 minutes. A 10.2 kW PowerBase charging system onboard generator will also be available as optional. It will come with up to 10 outlets that can be used for worksite or recreational needs, including powering your home. You can also charge another EV with your Silverado EV using an accessory charge cord that will be available as an optional accessory.
Multi-Flex Midgate will expand the truck’s cargo capability while maintaining seating for a rear-row passenger. The Multi-Flex tailgate is a different name for GMC’s MultiPro tailgate. It comes with an inner tailgate and can be operated in six different ways, including as a step to climb into the bed.
Here are some of the features of the Silverado EV WT trim:
It features an 800-volt architecture that allows for fast charging. Chevrolet has confirmed that the Silverado EV will support fast charging of up to 350 kW, the same as the Hummer EV.
Once these models go on sale, the automaker will roll out more trims, like the standard RST and Trail Boss.
The truck will be manufactured at GM’s Factory Zero, Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center. The automaker spent $2.2 billion to repurpose and retool this facility for EV production.
Final Thoughts
The automaker has been revealed as a 2024 model year truck, set to arrive in 2023. This gives Ford a solid chance to claim its territory in this segment. Not to mention, Ford would have sorted out all the niggles by the time the electric Silverado.
The one thing that will attract the customers is the 400-mile range, which is a huge advantage over its Ford rival. In pure numbers, this beats the best the F-150 Lightning has to offer by 25-percent, which is a huge margin.
The biggest difference, however, comes down to the pricing. The Silverado EV starts at $39,900, which is insanely close to the F-150 Lightning’s starting price of $39,974. But, it should be noted that the company has exhausted its 200,000 cap that’s eligible for federal tax credits of up to $7,500. Ford, on the other hand, has not. The only saving grace for Chevy here would be to pray that the GREEN Act comes into effect soon and GM EVs are eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $7,000.} If you are eligible for the maximum amount, it is a huge difference and could tilt the decision in favor of the Ford truck. We’ll have to wait and watch to see how much that matters.
Watch the debut video below and share your thoughts about the Chevrolet Silverado EV with us in the comments section below.
FAQ
Q: What’s Special About The Chevy Silverado EV RST First Edition?
Here are some of the notable features of the RST First Edition:
- Two Electric Motors
- 664 Horsepower
- 780 Pound-feet of Torque
- 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds with Wide Open Watts (WOW) Mode
- 10,000 Pounds of Maximum Towing Capacity
- 1,300 Pounds of Maximum Payload Capacity
- Automatic Adaptive Air Suspension
- Four-wheel Steering
- 24-inch Wheels
- Multi-Flex Tailgate
- 17-inch Touchscreen Infotainment System
- 11-inch Digital Instrument Cluster
- 14-inch Head-up Display
- Super Cruise Hands-Free Driver Assistance Technology
- Multi-Flex Midgate
Q: What’s Special About The Chevy Silverado EV WT Trim?
- Two Electric Motors
- 510 Horsepower
- 615 Pound-feet of Torque
- 8,000 Pounds of Maximum Towing Capacity
- 1,200 Pounds of Maximum Payload Capacity
Chevy will release a Max Tow Package after the truck is launched that will double the maximum towing capacity to 20,000 pounds.
Q: How Much Range Will The Silverado EV Offer?
{{The Silverado EV will have a range of up to 400 miles.}} This is confirmed for the RST model, but the WT could have a smaller battery pack. Either way, we speculate a range of at least 250 miles on that, giving it a psychological edge for the F-150 Lightning’s range of 230 miles with the smaller battery pack.
Q: How Much Does The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV Cost?
{{Chevrolet noted that the Silverado EV WT trim will start at $39,900, whereas the RST First Edition will start at $105,000.}} This doesn’t include the destination fee, which is expected to be $1,695.
Q: When Will The Chevy Silverado EV’s Deliveries Begin?
{{The Silverado EV WT trim will arrive in Spring 2023, whereas the top-sped RST First Edition will come in Fall 2023.}}
Q: When Can I Book The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV?
The reservations for the Chevrolet Silverado EV are already open. [You can reserve yours here by paying an amount of $100.->https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/silverado-ev]