Chevy Silverado EV is the one of the latest EV trucks to enter the industry. At the CES 2022, Chevrolet displayed the all new 2024 Silverado EV. The EV is wanting in the market to compete with the Tesla Cybertruck, Ford 1-50 Lightning and the Rivian R1T.
In an official press release, Chevrolet spilled important details on its upcoming EV, including price, estimated range, horsepower, speed and towing capacity. Not only that, Chevrolet plans to pack the Silverado EV with some modern tech, including four-wheel steering, a massive 17-inch touch screen and Super Cruise, which the company refers to as true hands-free driver-assistance technology.
Here is what is known about the 2024 Silverado EV so far......
Price and Projected Release Date
When launched, the Silverado EV will be in the 6 figures. The plan for the 1st release in the Spring of 2023, Chevy will be debuting it with the RST First Edition model. This will include its longest-range battery, which is estimated at 400 miles. So, the sticker price of this First Edition model will be $105,000 (plus additional destination fees).
The crazy part is this model sold out within 12 minutes of reservations opening! So, if anyone planning on getting this addition will most likely not have that chance. But....there are other models that will be hitting dealerships after the release of the RST First Editions. The models include the WT, RST, Trail Boss and more. Prices will start at $39,900 and will go up from that base price. Other trims will have MSRPS in the $50k, $60k, $70k, $80k and more.
Reservations have already started at the Chevrolet's Silverado EV website and General Motors claims to have had over 110,000 reservations so far (as of 2/4/2022).
Just like their competitor, Ford-150 Lightning, reservations are a $100 refundable deposit and purchases have to go through a Chevrolet dealer.
Chevy does mention on its site that, "Reservation does not guarantee vehicle delivery within any certain time. Final price is determined by dealer." This could mean that a dealership could mark up a $39,900 Silverado EV if demand is high enough. Though hopefully GM takes a similar approach to Ford, and threatens to penalize dealerships that try to take customers for a ride.
Power and Performance
The 2024 Silverado EV pumps out 664 horsepower and has more than 780 lb-ft of torque. Also has an estimate 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds. Quite impressive being the size and weight of the EV.
The towing capacity is roughly around 10,000 pounds with a maximum trailering with up to 1,300 pounds of payload. These numbers are based on the RST model
The WT model will sit at the low-end and is meant for fleet customers. These buyers will get 510HP and 615 lb-ft of torque. The WT model affords 8,000 pounds of towing and 1,200 pounds of payload. In the announcement press release, Chevy stated, "After initial launch, Chevrolet will introduce a fleet model with up to 20,000 pounds max trailering with the max tow package."
For the driving without towing, the RST First Edition trim will feature front and rear-drive motors that will make its e4WD system. Also, this edition will feature four-wheel steering, adaptive air suspension and a Multi-Flex midgate for expanded cargo capacity. The four-wheel steering will allow for tighter turning radii and better corner handling at high speed.
Both the RST and WT models will come with Tow/Haul mode, trailer hitch provisions and an integrated trailer brake controller and Hitch Guidance. The RST will include Chevy's Advanced Trailering System.
Battery and Range
While there are multiple trims of the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV, all are being built on GM's Ultium Platform, designed for EVs. The RST First Edition will have a 24-module Ultium battery pack, which is a part of its "fundamental structure." Unfortunately, Chevrolet did not reveal the size of the Silverado EV's battery pack. Hopefully we will have an update soon on the size.
As for charging, the RST and WT models will feature public DC fast charging with speeds of up to 350kW. Chevy claims that drivers can get up to 100 miles of range from just a quick 10 minute charge with these fast chargers. Not a bad perk to have!
Owners will be able to power other devices thanks to the 10 outlets available on the truck that give out a total power of 102.Kw. An added bonus, the Silverado EV can charge another EB using the available accessory charge cord. Not sure there are any other EV's that do this (at least not yet).
RST owners will get some additional charging perks. They'll have access to Ultium Charge 360 "which is designed to simplify the overall charging experience, including access to more than 100,000 publicly available charging points in the U.S. and Canada."
Design and Interior
The 2024 Silverado EV is a tall and aggressive looking electric pickup truck. Still, designers had to ensure a low coefficient of drag to ensure maximum mileage.
"The front-end design has been sculpted to efficiently direct air down the body side, significantly reducing drag and turbulence," as stated in a Chevrolet press release. "As a result, the Silverado EV WT is estimated to have one of the lowest drag coefficients of any available production full-size pickup truck."
Granted, Chevy stated that the Silverado EV WT has the lowest drag coefficients of "any available production full-size pickup truck," meaning that the company's tune could change once we see the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck hit the road.
The Silverado EV will only be available as a crew cab, with the back row pushed rearward giving six-foot tall passengers plenty of headroom.
The front will sit an eTrunk, a "lockable, weatherproof compartment" that "provides enough space to fit a large hardside suitcase and a multitude of accessory options for both fleet and retail customers"
The bed sits at 5-feet and 11-inches, which can be maximized thanks to a Multi-Flex Midgate, expanding it to nine-feet between the cap and the tailgate.
The center dash will be accentuated by a large 17-inch diagonal touchscreen display with a neighboring 11-inch driver instrument screen. There will also be keyless entry and hands-free start.
Driver-assistance Technology and Unique Features
GM is working on its own version of the self-driving technology (different than Tesla's self driving tech). They are calling it Super Cruise, and with the RST First Edition, it will include the Super Cruise, which Chevrolet claims is the industry's first "true hands-free driver-assistance technology."
Drivers can drive hands-free on "more than 200,000 miles of compatible roads across the U.S. and Canada."
As for the charging network, GM is going all out to ensure it can compete with Tesla's Supercharger network. Silverado EV owners can use the myChevrolet app to create energy efficient routes, even when trailering.
GM is shifting to a new Linux-based software platform titled Ultifi. It will allow for rapid and frequent software updates, allowing drivers to gain new features over time. Drivers will also have keyless entry and hands-free start.
The Future Outlook
There's been a sudden wave of competition in the EV truck space, so it's no surprise the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV has also entered the fray. Overall, it seems that Chevrolet is aiming its sights on the Ford F-150 Lightning, creating multiple models that start at $39K and move past the six-figure range. Chevrolet is also going out of its way to tell business and governments that it has them in mind with its WT model, which removes some of the luxury frills for what's needed most.
Even then, Ford F-150 Lightnings are expected to begin delivery later this year, while Rivian R1Ts are already landing in customers' driveways. With the Silverado EV landing in Spring 2023 at the earliest, it gives Ford a huge head start in this market.
Still, the Silverado EV is an important part GM's push to go fully electric by 2035. Considering the Silverado is Chevrolet's highest selling model, giving this truck an EV variant is a critical first step.
