GM’s Electric Transformation and its First Full-Size EV Pickup
GM has transformed itself from a car company that offered a single EV, the Chevrolet Bolt, to one that now offers over 10 all-electric vehicles from its many divisions. And there’s more on the way. As a big player in the all-important North American full-size pickup truck segment, GM now offers three EV pickups – the Hummer EV pickup, GMC Sierra EV, and the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
The Silverado EV is arguably the most important EV pickup from GM. Pickup buyers have been duking out the “Chevy-versus-Ford” battle for over 70 years. The Silverado has been Chevrolet’s ongoing answer to Ford’s wildly popular F-150.
So, it makes sense that Chevrolet would launch the consumer-facing trim of its first full-size EV pickup, the Silverado EV RST First Edition, squarely at Ford’s all electric F-150 Lightning. While the F-150 Lightning has enjoyed the EV spotlight for the last couple of years, Chevy fans have had to wait for the Silverado EV to arrive.
We recently had an opportunity to drive the Silverado EV RST First Edition. This is one impressive truck and was definitely worth the wait.
Silverado EV Design and Engineering
Like GM’s other EVs, the Silverado EV was designed from the ground up as a battery-electric vehicle (BEV). In fact, it has more in common with the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV than the gas-powered Silverado, with which it only shares a name. The Ultium skateboard platform that underpins GM’s other EVs has been stretched in all directions to create a unibody full-size pickup – a great example of the flexibility of GM’s Ultium engineering.
Big, bold, and beautiful describe the new Silverado EV RST. From many angles, it is more reminiscent of the Chevrolet Avalanche from the early 2000s than the current Silverado, thanks to its sloping C-pillar. GM execs must have debated about calling it the new Avalanche or Silverado, but likely realized that the Silverado nameplate has more equity among pickup buyers.
The sleek front end is perhaps the biggest departure from the Silverado that you know. There’s no large grille like in its gasoline sibling. In its place is a body-colored panel with a thin illuminated light bar complemented by an appropriately-sized illuminated Chevrolet bowtie logo. You even get a light show when approaching or charging the Silverado EV.
There’s no mistaking that it’s a full-size pickup from the side. At 233.1 inches (5,921mm) in length, it’s slightly shorter than the gas-powered Silverado short bed at 241.4 inches (6,132mm) – but about the same length as the Ford F-150 Lightning at 232.7 inches (5,911mm).
Unlike body-on-frame pickups, there’s no visible gap separating the cabin and the bed – another Avalanche-like design touch. Out back, it’s more like a conventional pickup, with large LED tail lights that extend to the side flanks. The RST trim definitely brings the “bling” with super-sized factory 24-inch wheels that nicely fill the huge wheel arches.
Chevy Silverado EV RST Interior
As you’d expect from such a large truck, the cabin is equally massive, with no shortage of headroom, legroom, hip room, and knee room for any of the five passengers. Once you’re planted in the front heated and ventilated seats, you’ll notice that they’re comfortable for all body types. Back seat passengers are swallowed up by the limousine-like space, while they enjoy the large standard fixed glass roof. Too bad Chevrolet didn’t include a shade for the massive glass roof for hot, sunny days.
If you’ve familiar with some of GM’s latest vehicles, you’ll recognize the RST’s column-mounted shifter, the large 11-inch driver information center, and the enormous 17.7-inch infotainment screen; work Truck trims make do with smaller gauge and infotainment screens.
Apple lovers be warned – like GM’s other new EVs, Apple CarPlay is not available in the Silverado EV RST. Don’t let that stop you from considering this truck. Keep in mind that all Tesla models, including the Cybertruck, also don’t support CarPlay, and those millions of Tesla owners don’t seem to mind. Instead, GM uses a Google built-in system that’s snappy, offers good EV charging route planning, and even allows you to download apps like Spotify and Waze.
Premium touches like the Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system, a digital rearview mirror, 360-degree camera, head-up display, and heated steering wheel are what you’d expect in a truck at this price range.
Our RST First Edition tester had some attractive red and blue stitching and piping around the seats and dashboard, along with a “First Edition” badge on the center console. However, for a price approaching $100,000 U.S., I would expect genuine leather instead of the Evotex synthetic leather seating surfaces, as well as a bit more luxury and pizzazz – like the F-150 Lightning Platinum and RAM Longhorn offer for thousands less.
Chevy Silverado EV: Versatility and Capability
You’d be forgiven for thinking that a unibody truck isn’t as capable as a traditional body-on-frame design, but the Silverado EV RST is actually a bit of both. Underpinning the unibody is GM’s Ultium skateboard chassis that houses the battery pack, electric motors, and other structural components. This results in impressive versatility and capability that competitors just can’t match.
Let’s start with the usual truck stats. The Silverado EV RST can tow up to 10,000 lb (4,536 kg). Payload tops out at about 1,500 lb (680 kg). Yes, this is below its gasoline sibling, but pretty impressive nonetheless. A fully-loaded Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum, for example, is limited to 8,500 lb (3,855 kg) in towing capacity, and has a bit more payload at 1,656 lb (751 kg). The smaller Rivian R1T and more elaborate Tesla Cybertruck can tow a bit more and haul a bit more – but you don’t get some of Silverado EV’s versatile features.
This is one of the few GM EVs that gets a front trunk. At 10.7 cu ft (303 L) it’s smaller than the Lightning’s 14.1 cu. ft (400 L), but bigger than that of the Cybertruck and R1T. It’s super easy to load items in and out with a power open-and-close lid and a low loading floor. The frunk has a drain and cupholders for those “frunk” parties. I’m surprised that Chevrolet only went with a single 120-volt 20-amp outlet versus the Lightning’s four outlets and two USB ports.
The power-opening tailgate has the same standard Multiflex Tailgate which is found in other GM pickups. This is incredibly useful, and offers six different configurations, where the top portion can be flipped down to serve as a load stop or a step for ease of entry into the bed.
At 5’ 11”, the spray-on protected bed is longer than most short beds and has a number of tie-down anchors and bed illumination points. Like the Lightning, the Silverado EV RST has four 120-volt 20-amp plugs and one 240-volt 30-amp plug for all sorts of power tools and equipment. I found it odd that it lacked an air pump, especially since the RST comes standard with air suspension. For the high sticker price, I would also have expected a hard retractable bed cover instead of the standard vinyl rolling one – although Chevrolet will happily sell you one as an accessory.
The Silverado EV RST’s unique party trick and best feature is its Multi-Flex Midgate, made possible by its unibody design. No other gas or electric truck offers this. Chevrolet first introduced this feature on the Avalanche. The rear cabin wall can be opened up to allow for longer items. With the seats folded down and the midgate open, the Silverado EV RST can easily haul items up to 10ft 10 inches in length. Remove the rear window and you can fold down the entire midgate structure to swallow taller items. The 60/40 folding seats also allow you to carry a passenger with longer items. This is a fantastic feature for DIYers and weekend warriors. Just be sure to keep an eye on the weather, as you’ve now just exposed the cabin to the elements.
Silverado EV: 754 Horsepower and 440 Miles of Range
If you want horsepower and torque in your pickup, look no further. The Silverado EV RST’s standard dual-motor set up is capable of a whopping 754 hp and 785 lb-ft torque in the Wide Open Watts (WOW) mode. This makes it the most powerful Silverado ever – and can propel the heavy truck from 0-60 mph in just over 4 seconds.
According to GM, range is an astonishing 440 miles (708 km) – one of the longest range EVs in North America and the longest-range EV pickup. This makes the Silverado EV excellent for towing versus its competitors.
Keep in mind, though, that this is made possible due to the Silverado EV’s massive battery pack, which is just over 200 kWh. To put that into perspective, the F-150 Lightning’s extended range battery is a “mere” 131kWh and can only deliver up to 320 miles (515 km). While the large battery delivers outstanding range, it’s also very heavy and contributes to the Silverado EV RST’s curb weight of almost 9,000 lb (4,082 kg). By comparison, a gasoline Silverado High Country with the bigger engine comes in at just over 5,100 lb (2,313 kg) and a F-150 Lightning Extended Range is just over 6,300 lb (2,858 kg). The Silverado EV RST is a lot of truck to love.
Charging Faster Than Lightning
The Silverado EV RST comes equipped with a standard 19.2-kW (80-amp) onboard AC charger. With the correct Level 2 charger, GM says that it can charge the truck from 10 to 100 percent in about 12 hours. That’s longer than most EVs – but keep in mind that the Silverado EV’s battery is more than double the size of most EVs. If you’re out and about and low on charge, finding an 80-amp Level 2 public charger may be difficult. You might be sitting there for a while if you’re charging the Silverado EV’s big battery on a lower-power Level 2 charger.
Thankfully, the Silverado EV RST’s Level 3 DC fast charging is lightning-fast with a peak charging rate of 350 kW. It’s capable of holding over 300 kW for a long period over the entire charging curve. GM says that the Silverado EV RST can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 45 minutes. Again, that might not sound impressive, but for a battery that’s over 200 kWh, it’s pretty impressive. You’ll be able to regain 100 miles (160km) in just 10 minutes according to GM.
The caveat is that you’ll need to find a 350-kW CCS DC fast charger. With GM now having access to the Tesla Supercharger network, it’s also worth pointing out that the current V3 Superchargers won’t be able to support that level of power for the Silverado’s optimal charging. Until Tesla updates to the V4 Superchargers, you’re better off charging the Silverado EV RST at a high-power CCS charger.
The Silverado EV RST is the first GM EV that is capable of bi-directional charging from the factory. With a vehicle-to-home (V2H) kit available in certain states, the Silverado EV RST can put out up to 10.2 kW of offboard energy and is capable of powering a whole house for up to 21 days.
Chevrolet Silverado EV Driving Experience
Words like “nimble” and “full-size pickup” aren’t usually used together. However, the Silverado EV RST is surprisingly very easy to drive around town, even in tight spaces.
As soon as you get behind the wheel and make your first turn, the Silverado EV RST feels much smaller than it is. One of the main reasons is the standard four-wheel steering, which gives the Silverado EV a turning radius of just 42 feet. That’s closer to the compact Ford Maverick’s 40 feet than the F-150 Lightning’s 48 feet. The smooth ride and handling from the standard air suspension make the truck feel more like a large SUV than a large pickup.
There’s no problem with power and acceleration, either. Like other GM EVs, acceleration is more gradual than instant. But once you get moving, the Silverado EV RST just bolts down the road, ready to unleash its 754 hp.
There’s a lot of weight to slow down, but the Silverado EV RST does it quite well, especially when using regenerative braking. One-pedal driving has three settings – off, normal, and high. The high setting is very aggressive and can be a bit unsettling even for experienced EV drivers. I found myself driving in normal mode, and using the left regen steering wheel paddle for extra regen and braking when needed.
The standard 360-degree camera and front and rear sensors are particularly useful for such a large vehicle. However, you need to dig through the infotainment menu in order to access the cameras. When approaching objects from the front, the Silverado EV vibrates the driver’s seat to let you know that you’re close. Unfortunately, the camera doesn’t come on automatically like in some other vehicles. It’s odd that the Silverado EV RST also lacks the camera-based trailer assist and trailer blind spot features found in the gasoline Silverado.
Pricing and Competition for the Silverado EV
The Silverado EV RST comes standard with a bit of sticker shock. The 2024 RST First Edition has a starting MSRP of $94,500 USD (excluding destination), but you do get a lot of truck with all those unique features.
You could save a bit and opt for its closest competitor – the Ford F-150 Lightning. A fully loaded Lightning Platinum will set you back $84,995, but you get much less power (580 hp), less towing capacity, and a lot less range. Plus, the Lightning doesn’t offer the Silverado EV’s four-wheel steering, air suspension, or the versatile midgate.
The Rivian R1T has a base starting MSRP of $69,900 for the Dual Standard. The R1T Tri at $99,900 can achieve up to 405 miles (652km) of range, offers more horsepower, and faster acceleration. However, it’s a much smaller truck with less towing capability.
If you want something a tad more flashy, the triangular Tesla Cybertruck has a lower starting MSRP at $79,990 for the AWD model and $99,990 for the Tri-Motor Cyberbeast. It’s fast, powerful, and has four-wheel steering, but it’s arguably less useful as a practical everyday truck.
2025 Silverado EV: Changes
Chevrolet recently announced changes and pricing for the 2025 Silverado EV. A new LT trim is now available with a more affordable base MSRP of $73,100 (excluding destination). It offers up to 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) of towing capacity, but less power at 645 hp, and less range at 408 miles (656 km) compared to the RST.
The RST will now be available in two different battery pack options. The Extended Range RST provides a range of up to 390 miles (628 km) with a MSRP of $87,300. The new Max Range delivers up to 460 miles (740 km) with an MSRP of $95,800. A new Sidewinder setting for the four-wheel steering is similar to the Hummer EV’s “crabwalk” function, where all four wheels can be angled in the same direction to allow the vehicle to be driven diagonally at slow speeds.
Chevy Silverado EV: Unbeatable Versatility, Range, and Charging
If you’re in the market for a premium full-size EV pickup and can look past the price tag, the Silverado EV RST is a very unique all-electric option in the full-size pickup segment. No other competitor can offer the Silverado EV’s midgate versatility, class-leading EV range, maneuverability, and lightning quick DC charging speed. It might just be the best all-electric pickup truck available.
