500kW Chevrolet Silverado EV revealed with 650km range, up to 9-tonne towing
Chevrolet has revealed its Silverado EV, which it claims is a “reimagining” of the iconic large pickup truck.
It’s a Silverado in name, but underneath the EV started from scratch to optimise the pickup truck in the electric age.
But the EV newcomer won’t go on sale until the second quarter of 2023, leaving rival Ford with a 12-month head start for its F-150 Lightning, while newcomer Rivian will also have time to settle into the fast-emerging EV ute market.
The Chevrolet Silverado EV is packed with tech including adaptive air suspension, four-wheel steering, a 17-inch central infotainment screen and the Super Cruise driver assistance system that provides partial autonomous driving.
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Riding on the Ultium architecture that includes GM’s Ultium-branded lithium-ion batteries, Chevrolet designers also altered the basic design of the large ute, shifting the front wheels further forward and moving the rear seats rearward to maximise occupant space in a ute that will only be offered as a four-door.
Rather than fitting electric components to the existing ICE Silverado, engineers have maximised the opportunity of starting from a clean sheet.
“We had no constraints when it came to designing the Silverado EV with dramatic style and flexible utility because we didn’t need to work around a traditional propulsion system,” said Phil Zak, executive director of Chevrolet Design.
The second-row seats also have a 60/40 split-fold as part of the optional Multi-Flex Midgate that allows loads to poke through into the cabin.
Combined with the optional Multi-Flex Tailgate it means the Silverado EV can carry items up to 3.3 metres long.
Up front there’s an “eTrunk”, which is claimed to fit a suitcase, while at the rear there’s an optional hard tonneau cover that can be used to carry items normally reserved for roof racks while providing a weatherproof storage area.
While there’s no shortage of bulk and bravado in the exterior design, the bluff nose has been smoothed over with an enclosed upper grille and slimline LED lights.
While it shares its name with the regular Silverado, there’s also plenty of differentiation between electric and ICE.
Underneath, the Silverado EV shares its architecture with the upcoming Hummer EV.
That means a new independent suspension system front and rear and the availability of air suspension, which allows the Silverado EV to adjust its ride height by 50mm.
Four-wheel steering can tighten the turning circle and improve maneuverability while improving stability at speed.
Dual electric motors provide four-wheel drive capability and Chevrolet says the Silverado EV will be available with up to 664 horsepower (about 500kW).
Utilising a Wide Open Watts mode – which, like the Hummer’s Watts to Freedom, can provide a short power boost – the Silverado EV is claimed to hit 60mph (96km/h) in less than 4.5 seconds.
Work-focused models will be able to tow up to 3628kg while down the track Chevrolet says it will offer a model with the ability to tow up to nine tonnes.
No word on detailed specs – including battery capacities – but in some iterations the Silverado EV will have a “range of over 400 miles”, or about 650km.
DC fast charging can be done at up to 350kW, allowing the Silverado EV to pile on up to 100 miles of range (161km) in as little as 10 minutes.
The Silverado EV will also have up to 10 power outlets that can be used to power worksite or camping gear or power a home. The PowerBase system can supply up to 10.2kW.
The Silverado EV will initially be offered as a basic work truck, or WT model, priced from US$39,900 ($55,000) and fitted with steel wheels and a black grille. The company is already taking US$100 refundable deposits.
At that price it misses out on some of the fancy equipment and loading flexibility of other variants, although Chevrolet is providing logical step-ups to allow buyers to craft their ideal ute.
The flagship model will be the RST First Edition, which comes loaded with all the fruit and is priced from US$105,000 ($145,000).
But the Silverado RST leaves the pinnacle of performance to sister brand Hummer, which has already showcased its upcoming EV truck that will be available with more power.
The thought put into the Silverado EV is indicative of the intensity of the brewing battle around large utes in America.
The big pickup trucks are the heartland of Ford, Chevrolet and Ram, representing healthy profits and a sizeable chunk of their sales.
As well as the traditional competition between the legacy car makers, the Big Three are also fending off attacks from new players such as Tesla and Rivian.
And interest is higher than any imagined. Tesla claims to be holding more than one million refundable deposits for its Cybertruck – which has been delayed and delayed again – while Ford recently increased production capacity for its F-150 Lightning to try and meet the high demand.
