We hope you aren’t sleeping on how relevant Electric Vehicles are becoming as this year we will see an onslaught of new EVs in all forms, such as the all-new 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup truck.
The new 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV shouldn’t be thought of as a current Silverado being converted into an electric truck but rather a completely new architecture that’s based on the new GMC Hummer EV platform.
What we have here is something fresh, something bold, an electric pickup truck that takes on altered proportions from the current gas-burning Silverado. There are many creative design elements starting with a lower hood for better visibility and aerodynamics, a forward-shifted cab area, no front grille because EV’s don’t need it, and a Midgate form much like that was on the old Avalanche makes a return. The new Silverado EV is totally different, and the use of its EV platform allows for better versatility, storage, and remarkable performance all in a package that carries nothing over from its gas-powered sibling.
The new 2024 Silverado has duel electric motors and four-wheel drive for all first-year models, even the base WT fleet trims. The Silverado EV’s motors will be good for as much as 664 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of torque in the First Edition RST models when they are put in Chevy’s Wide-Open Watts (WOW) mode, which is like the Hummer’s Watts to Freedom mode. In such a mode, the Silverado EV will be able to hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. In the AWD work truck trim or commercial-fleet, the Silverado EV will have 510-horsepower and 615 lb-ft of torque.
The battery used in the 2024 Silverado EV is from the Hummer EV as well, a 200-kWh 24-module pack that gets the electric truck a range of 400 miles for both the RST and work truck trims. To obtain that 400-mile range the Silverado EV is touted as having the best-in-class drag coefficient. GM says they will also offer a smaller battery pack, possibly the 20-model 167-kWh unit from the Hummer as well.
Charging the battery can be done “quickly,” adding as much as 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes using 350-kW DC fast charging. Silverado RST EV owners will have access to Ultium Charge 360, which is GM’s EV charging plan to simplify the experience and provide access to over 100,000 public charging points in the US and Canada. Silverado WT EV customers will have access to a similar fleet service plan.
Many of the chassis’ components, including the suspension setup and four-wheel steering, take a page from the Hummer EV. Though, GM has not said if they will offer the crab walk feature. There is an automatic adaptive air suspension system that offers 2-inches of height adjustment up or down along with continuous damping control shocks. RST models get 24-inch wheels wrapped in 275/50 tires with a 35-inch diameter. The work trucks will have 18-inch steel wheels and a passive dampening suspension system setup.
For towing and hauling, the Silverado EV is rated at 10,000 pounds for towing and 1,300 pounds for payload. The work truck versions will be rated for 8,000 pounds towing and 1,200 pounds payload. However, there will be a forthcoming specialized towing-focused fleet Silverado EV for the 2025 model year touting a 20,000-pound tow rating.
We estimate that the Silverado EV will weigh quite a bit tipping the scale between 7,500 and 8,000 pounds.
The cabin of the new 2024 Silverado EV is also completely new featuring a fresh layout but is only available in a crew-cab configuration. The top-level RST models get an 11-inch digital gauge cluster with 5-themes, a 14-inch color heads-up display, and a 17-inch infotainment touchscreen. The volume knob is similar to what you find on Ford’s Mustang Mach-E that appears to float on top of the screen. All the advanced active safety features are included along with the latest Super Cruise system that supports trailer towing.
The truck bad is a new composite box that has four upper and four lower tie-down hooks and electrical outlets. There is a total of four 120-volt outlets in the bed box plus one in the frunk and center console. To remain competitive, Chevy includes one 240-volt outlet in the pickup box and an accessory “Power Bar” that plugs into the charge port for adding another 240-volt outlet and two 120-volt plugs. The Power Bar is claimed to offer charging of another EV with the charging rate close to a Level 2 home charger.
The outlet system of the Silverado EV bests the Ford F-150 Lightning’s with the ability to export 10.2 kW of power versus the Lightning’s 9.6-kW. Yes, you can power your house with the Silverado EV!
To get to the final numbers that matter and some hard-to-swallow figures, the new Silverado EV in its top-level First Edition RST trim will require that you pay to play by the tune of $105,000 plus destination. However, the 2024 Silverado EV at its base level will start at $41,595, which includes an estimated destination charge. If you’re taking a tally on that price, you’ll notice that it is about $74 less than the new F-150 Lightning. Talking about a close match, here! We guess it comes down to if you are a Ford or Chevy loyalist because this Silverado EV will be quite competitive when it arrives as early as Spring of 2023 for the commercial truck versions or Fall of 2023 for the consumer truck.
