10
Loading video...
By Jake Lingeman
Managing Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The full-size truck world doesn't just cater to tradesmen, carpenters and recreational campers. The vehicle style, which is only now outsold by compact SUVs in North America, needs to be a family hauler, a commuter and a luxury machine ready for a night on the town.
Adding an electric powertrain to the mix complicates that task, but the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, the second electric pickup truck from General Motors (GMC Hummer EV was first), has the tricks and features to do just that.
Ford was first to the party with its F-150 Lightning pickup, though the GMC Hummer EV was announced before it. The Rivian R1T, GMC Sierra EV and Tesla Cybertruck have been added to the mix in the meantime.
Read More on Autos
The Silverado EV matches up nearly identically in size to the gas-powered Silverado's length and width.
How does the Chevrolet Silverado EV's range compare?
Those clever solutions start on the outside with a drag-reducing front end with active aerodynamic flaps that direct air down the sides of the truck give it an impressive all-electric range of up to 450 miles between charge ups. That's for the Silverado EV 4WT.
The Silverado EV RST tested for this review has a range of 440 miles while the upcoming Silverado EV 3WT will go 393 miles before needing to head to the outlet. Ford's Lightning has a maximum range of 320 miles between charges, the Rivian R1T will take buyers 315 miles. Tesla says the recently revealed Cybertruck will do 301 miles, though it was found to be closer to 250 miles in testing.
Why does the Chevrolet Silverado EV look like the Chevrolet Avalanche?
The general shape of the 2024 Silverado EV looks inspired by the sporty Avalanche pickup with the buttresses extending from the back of the cab into the bed. On the Silverado EV the rear wall of the cab smartly folds and splits. Chevrolet calls this the "midgate."
Silverado EV's midgate can be split 60/40 like rear seats if cargo is narrow. Users can also keep the rear window in place and fold the lower portion down to enjoy the extra space without allowing the elements in using a tonneau cover.
Additionally, the tailgate opens, allowing for boards up to 10-feet, 10-inches in length and 48-inches in width to fit in the bed.
All versions of the Silverado EV will be offered exclusively in a Crew Cab configuration, with a shorter front overhang than the gas model helping outward visibility. An adaptive air suspension keeps the truck as low as possible at speed to improve efficiency further.
How much power does Chevrolet Silverado EV have? Can it tow?
All Silverado RST EVs have all-wheel drive courtesy of a motor on each axle (Work Truck models can be specified in rear-wheel drive). The most powerful version delivers a total of 754 horsepower (hp) and 785 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque in its sportiest "Wide Open Watts" (WOW) drive mode. In that mode, the 8,000-pound truck can sprint from zero to 60 mph in a quick 4.5 seconds. When it stops, the weight shifts mightily, causing the truck's body to dive. Some laws of physics cannot be stopped.
The Silverado EV WT, launched last year for fleet customers, offers 510 hp and 615 lb-ft of torque. The line will sprout a Trail Boss variant next year.
The Silverado EV RST tested is rated to tow 10,000 pounds, though range drops precipitously while in use, and it can carry up to 1,500 pounds of payload.
How does the Chevrolet Silverado EV drive?
On the notoriously pothole-filled roads of the Upper Midwest, the Silverado EV's 24-inch wheels roll over most bumps while the available independent suspension with air bladders on the Silverado EV RST soaked up the rest.
There are two levels of brake regeneration on the Silverado EV in addition to "off." A paddle on the steering wheel allows drivers to choose when to use the system. It takes practice to use perfectly but the one-pedal driving option works well and regains the most electricity.
In corners, the truck feels more planted than expected thanks to its low center of gravity and near 50-50 front-to-rear weight balance. On the power or on the brakes, the Silverado EV never deviated from a its set path
Mid-curve adjustments are also drama free.
There are three steering modes, but none of them provide much feedback as to what the road is doing. Normal seems the best for comfort and accuracy. As with many Chevys, buyers have a My Mode option to set the suspension, steering and acceleration how they prefer it. Unfortunately, that Drive Mode adjustment is only accessible through the screen. It would be much easier with a physical option.
During towing, the 5,600-pound trailer barely affected acceleration, though the range on the digital instrument cluster does adjust for the extra weight. To be safe, buyers should assume they'll lose 50 percent of their range at 50 percent of its towing capacity.
A recent update to the company's Super Cruise hands-free, eyes-up autonomous driving now lets owners pull a trailer while using the system, which also now includes automatic lane changes to pass slower traffic. It's currently the best system on the market by far and in over an hour of driving hands-free on Michigan highways it never hiccupped, only adding a notation that we were entering a construction zone and to be careful.
...
What tech do you get with a Chevrolet Silverado EV RST?
It features a 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a physical volume knob attached like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, though the screen is set portrait-style in the Silverado. It features Google apps for navigation and other features but is without Apple CarPlay. The company has moved away from the screen sharing feature as its own system has improved.
The system still isn't as easy as Apple's big, colorful, recognizable app buttons but it was easy to navigate though the phone music library and podcasts, which is sometimes a challenge. As always, bigger icons for everything would make it easier to glance at the screen quickly.
Not having Apple CarPlay also limits functions that allow users to know who text messages are coming from, instead having to glance at their phone while driving, and relies on Siri voice commands to do tasks like initiate listening to a podcast.
An 11-inch driver instrument display is customizable and can show the map while audio or other information is on the main screen. The RST also features a 14-inch head-up display projected onto the windshield.
Underneath the central screen are analog buttons and dials for climate control along with cupholders and more storage space. The gear selector is on the steering column, which visually opens up the central area.
The leather-wrapped, heated and cooled seats are wide and comfortable with lots of adjustment for height. With that seat adjusted properly the driver can get a good view of the big truck's corners, even without using the multitude of cameras for parking and trail riding.
...
The Silverado EV takes full advantage of its flat load floor to deliver a spacious interior. The center console is deep and wide, almost the size of a basketball, and there's also more than 10 cubic feet of space in the front trunk for extra storage. The rear seat area is large, though taller folks, above 6-feet, will want to ride in the front.
In addition to Super Cruise, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV comes with the usual array of safety features like lane keeping and centering, blind spot intervention, emergency braking and 360-degrees of camera views.
It also has regular adaptive cruise control when Super Cruise isn't available. The Google Maps display highlights the blue navigated route with a white line to note that it can be turned activated. As previously, the light on the steering wheel goes blue then green when engaged. When deactivated it flashes then goes red meaning the driver must take over.
How fast can the Chevrolet Silverado EV charge?
Chevrolet says the Silverado EV can recharge 100 miles in 10 minutes at 350 kilowatts under perfect conditions. Most public chargers don't get near that speed on a regular basis.
On a home Level 2 charger it would take about 8 to 10 hours to fill up.
General Motors now offers a whole home system that allows for the truck to power the house in case of a power outage. Depending on what appliances a family needs to use and how charged up the truck was when losing power, it could last days to weeks in an emergency. Like the F-150 Lightning, the Silverado also has power points in the bed offering both 120- and 240-volt receptacles.
...
How much does the Chevrolet electric pickup truck cost?
The 2024 Silverado EV RST First Editions tested here are among the most expensive of the bunch at $96,395 including destination fees, though less expensive models like the 3WT Work Truck are in the $70,000 range. Those trucks have been on sale for a few months and are reserved for fleet customers. Chevrolet says a retail version will come later this year. Even less expensive models, and ones that will fill in the gaps between those prices, will come later.
The 2024 Silverado EV's closest competition is the Ford F-150 Lightning. The 2024 Lightning XLT starts at $65,090, slightly less expensive than the Silverado (the lower-range, lower-powered, fleet-focused Lightning Pro isn't available to build on the consumer site anymore. The top F-150 Lightning Platinum starts at $85,000 and goes up from there.
Both trucks, when they qualify on price, are eligible for the full $7,500 EV tax credit.
Should I buy the Chevrolet Silverado EV or the Ford F-150 Lightning?
If you need extra power and range, or extra-long storage, the Silverado EV is the best choice. Its Super Cruise system is also slightly better than Ford's Blue Cruise option. However, if you're like most truck buyers, only doing a small amount of towing for reasonable distances, these two trucks will serve the same purpose over a long weekend or at a jobsite. The interiors, at least in these early-stage electric pickups, are equal in niceties.
For an even nicer truck, be on the lookout for the Sierra EV when it launches next year.
Ford has a huge head start on Chevy. Now that both are on sale, and with the Ram 1500 EV arriving later this year, the real battle for full-size electric truck supremacy will begin.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines