This is the electric Chevrolet Silverado EV

In a decade in which even a Hummer is an all-electric model, we are no longer surprised. Autoland is electrifying at a rapid pace and this trend continues in every segment. Ford has taken its hugely popular electric F-150 Lightning to the podium before it hits the market, and now it’s Chevrolet’s turn to give its flagship car in the United States an all-electric sibling.

Chevrolet sold more than half a million Silverados in the United States last year, so it is not surprising that the unveiling of this fully electric Silverado EV for the American consumer and for General Motors can be described as ‘quite a thing’. Do not expect this Silverado EV to replace the regular Silverado line. Technically, this fully electric Silverado has nothing to do with the Silverados with combustion engines. This immediately brings us to a big difference with the F-150 Lightning, which partly relies on well-known F-150 technology.

Chevrolet Silverado EV

The Chevrolet Silverado EV is on the Ultium EV Platform of General Motors and that means that the car is a direct brother of the GMC Hummer. It is therefore not surprising that the two models with their upward window line and the bent C-pillar show some similarities with each other. Also on a technical level, the two cars share a lot with each other. Like the Hummer, the Silverado EV will be available with extensive four-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension. However, the powertrains that Chevy has announced for its electric Silverado are less excessive for the time being.

Chevrolet does not mention more than 1,000 hp versions of the Silverado EV. However, the brand speaks of up to 673 hp and 1.057 Nm strong electric powertrains, good for a 0-100 sprint in less than 4.5 seconds. Chevrolet throws more impressive figures into the world and mentions a maximum towing weight of 4,535 kilograms for the passenger car version and a payload of up to 590 kilograms. We specifically write ‘passenger car version’, just like the well-known Silverado, there will also be a so-called Work Truck (WT) version of the Silverado EV. So a simpler company version.

Both the regular Silverado EV and the Work Truck flavor (photos 22 to 29) will have an electric driving range of up to about 645 kilometers. The Work Truck version will be the first on the market with a 517 hp and 834 Nm strong powertrain that can pull up to 3,600 kilos. Later, a version will even be allowed to pull more than 9,000 kilos from A to B. Regardless of the version chosen, the Chevrolet Silverado EV can quickly charge up to 350 kW.

Chevrolet Silverado EV

Chevrolet packs a punch and gives the Silverado EV a multifunctional flap and also (in unequal parts) folding rear seats between the cargo bed and the passenger compartment so that you can easily take extra long objects with you. The system is called Multi-Flex Midgate. The Silverado EV is not only practical, it also offers the necessary indulgence. Chevrolet installs a 17-inch large infotainment screen, 11-inch digital instrumentation and a 14-inch measuring extended head-up display. Optionally, Chevrolet also supplies a ‘PowerBase’ with 10 charging points, each of which can supply 10.2 kW for numerous products. Handy on the construction site or at the campsite.

Chevrolet Silverado EV

The first copies of the electric Chevrolet Silverado EV are planned for the spring of 2023. The WT version will cost at least €35,000. The starting price of the regular Silverado EV will be around €44,200. Chevrolet already reveals that there will also be an extra adventurous TrailBoss version (photo 21). Once on the market, the Silverado EV will not only have to deal with the F-150 Lightning from Ford, but in the long term also with the Tesla Cybertruck, electric Ram 1500 and Rivian R1T.

Chevrolet Silverado Work Truck (WT)