GM Unveils New Silverado EV with Long Range

The Consumer Electronics Show has come and gone. This show was the place that GM brought the new Silverado EV to be the latest electric truck.

This new truck will arrive in 2023as part of the 2024 model year, and it appears to be a truck that will give us a new look, some incredible new features, and the driving range that could rival some gasoline models. Will you select this new truck when it arrives? That is one of the few questions surrounding the new Chevy truck that will run on batteries and electric motors.

This Truck is Worth the Wait

Other brands have beaten Chevy to the punch and already have electric pickup trucks arriving sooner than this new Silverado. Brands that already have models we’ve seen include Rivian, Ford, GMC, and Tesla, although the Tesla Cybertruck has not gone on sale yet. Will the new Chevy model be capable of capturing part of the EV truck market when it arrives? That question will not be answered until some time next year, but what Chevy brought to the CES certainly gives us something fun and interesting to discuss while we wait for the day we can buy this new truck.

Expected Power and Range

All of the other brands that have electric trucks have set lofty goals for power, range, and towing. This means the new Silverado EV would have to be built to match or beat the other brands if it wants to capture part o the market. The new Chevy will offer owners 400 miles of driving on a single full charge. The RST model, which will arrive first, will have 664 horsepower and give owners the capability to tow up to 10,000 pounds. These numbers put this new Chevy right in line with the other electric trucks in the market.

Pricing Will Represent the Bookends

The first of the electric Silverado models to arrive will be the RST trim. This truck will top the pricing charts at $105,000, but this truck will be fully loaded with everything you can think of. The RST model will be followed by the WT version, which is aimed at fleet operators and business use. The WT version will bring a more affordable price of $39,900 when it appears. Eventually, there will be a few other trims between these two to give us a few different ways to have this new electric truck.

Batteries and Charging are Truly the Secret Sauce

Very little about the new Silverado EV will be similar to the current version of the truck with the same name. In fact, the electric model won’t even be made in the same factory as the gas and diesel-powered versions. The reason for the difference in assembly locations has to do with the new Silverado using a similar platform to the GMC Hummer EV.

With a similar build, if you were to select the electric Chevy, you would have an independent rear suspension that offers a smooth ride, front are rear electric motors, and a battery pack that measures 200-kWh to give you the quoted 400 miles of electric driving range.

Another similarity between these two GM EV trucks will be the charging capabilities offered. The new Silverado EV can charge using 800 volts and 350 kW, which can add up to 100 miles of range in only 10 minutes, which might be just enough to head to that last job before heading home or to take the kids to their activity after school where they can have some fun.

Massive Wheel Differences Between Two Trims

We often hear about higher trims of vehicles having larger wheels, which makes it ride better and offers a nicer look for these more expensive trims. Most of the time, the difference between the base trim and the top model is only a couple of inches in the size of the wheels. For the two trims of this electric Chevy truck, that difference is six inches. The RST model will come with 24-inch wheels, while the WT will arrive with 18-inch shoes hitting the ground. The size of the wheels might have an impact on the driving range, but Chevy has stated the WT will drive 400 miles as well when it arrives.

A Reminder from the Avalanche

Do you remember the Chevrolet Avalanche unibody trucks that were offered several years ago? If so, you’ll see similarities in the build of the new Silverado EV when it appears. One of the features from the Avalanche will make it into this electric truck; the Midgate. In the Silverado, this item is called the MultiFlex Midgate, and it’s made to give you the versatile cargo room you need.

The MultiFlex Midgate is made to be a wall that can be lowered to increase the bed length that will reach into the cabin of the truck during your drive. The wall is split in a 60/40 fashion to give you the versatility needed to fit a rear passenger in the seat when needed. The rear glass can also be removed and stored to increase the opening and allow this truck to carry a heavy load.

Of course, the back of this new truck is fitted with the MultiFlex tailgate, which gives you six different configurations to make the most out of what this truck has to offer.

Excellence Found in the Cabin

The RST model of this new truck features a race-inspired design that is offset with impressive technology that will keep you informed and connected. You’ll see a large 17-inch center screen for your connectivity, along with an 11-inch digital gauge cluster.

If you wait for the WT model, the connectivity screen will be 11-inches and not the larger version that you find in the RST model of the Silverado EV.

Is this truck the one you’ll wait for? Does the new Chevy have the capability you’re looking for in an electric truck? Will you look to the RST or wait for the WT model of this new truck to arrive?