2024 Chevy Silverado EV 4WT Gets to Work

Issues are heating up within the electrical pickup phase. Rivian’s R1T makes for a daring preliminary displaying from the startup producer, whereas Ford’s F-150 Lightning is a robust counteroffensive geared toward warming up clients to the concept of a standard full-size truck powered by electrons. Basic Motors, alternatively, went full ship with the outrageous GMC Hummer EV SUT, which kinds the premise for the newest participant on the sector, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV. Though the bow-tie model has solely allow us to drive a fleet-specific 4WT model to date, this comparatively humble work truck serves as a primer for what we will anticipate when the primary buyer fashions go on sale later this yr.

Casting the silhouette of a born-again Chevy Avalanche, the Silverado EV is a clean-sheet design that shares just about nothing in frequent with present internal-combustion Silverados. Consider it as a extra palatable model of the bonkers Hummer, with the simplified 4WT model outfitted for the roughly 350 fleet clients who’ve raised their palms for extremely succesful, long-range electrical vehicles they will combine into their job websites. For Chevrolet, the advantages of this method embody a single preliminary construct configuration, plus useful suggestions on how its new rig handles rigorous obligation cycles, or so the pondering goes.

A Compelling Basis

The 4WT is a no-frills different to the Silverado EV RST First Version that Chevy will launch to the general public this fall. That truck’s dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain will produce as much as 754 horsepower and not less than 785 pound-feet of torque, and it’ll characteristic commonplace air springs, rear-wheel steering, a detachable mid-gate mattress extender behind the passenger compartment, and upscale inside furnishings that higher mirror its $106,895 beginning worth. In distinction, the dual-motor 4WT is spartan inside, rides on standard coil springs, and does with out the mid-gate and rear-steering {hardware}. Output is available in at a tamer 510 horses and 615 pound-feet.

Nevertheless, each preliminary Silverado EV fashions characteristic the identical Ultium battery pack—a 24-module, 2923-pound behemoth—shared with the Hummer EV pickup. Based mostly on Chevy’s declare that it has barely improved upon the estimated 205.0 kilowatt-hours of usable capability within the GMC’s pack, we estimate the 4WT’s battery at 215.0 kilowatt-hours—sufficient to earn it a 450-mile vary determine from the EPA (the RST is rated for 400 miles, and a 3WT with a lesser pack and a 350-mile vary launches later). It is also sufficient juice to help the truck’s seven energy retailers, together with an array of hookups within the mattress, which collectively present as much as 7.2 kilowatts of energy to run a set of instruments and home equipment—even your home for restricted durations. Including an adjunct inverter will increase these figures to 10 retailers and a heady 10.2 kilowatts. In contrast to GMC with the Hummer, Chevy will print the Silverado’s not-great MPGe effectivity numbers (63 mixed/67 metropolis/59 freeway) on its window sticker although its weight is way above the 8500-pound GVW threshold the place the corporate does not should.

The Silverado EV employs a 400-volt structure, however a neat trick that enables the 2 layers of its battery pack to modify from a parallel to sequence connection for fast-charging permits it to cost at 800 volts and gobble electrons at up 350 kilowatts. Chevy claims that 100 miles of vary will be added in round 10 minutes. GM’s built-in charging community at the moment encompasses greater than 130,000 areas. Extra might be added within the coming years as its EVs are tailored for compatibility with Tesla’s 12,000-unit community of U.S. quick chargers, with the eventual objective being GM’s full-scale swap to Tesla’s North American Charging Normal (NACS) plug. Maybe simply as necessary for these working in distant areas, the Silverado EV additionally can be utilized to dump energy to different EVs.

The Silverado EV 4WT’s vary, mixed with an estimated 60-mph time of 5.4 seconds, is respectable contemplating the truck weighs round 8500 kilos—about half a ton lower than the final Hummer EV pickup we examined but nonetheless heavy sufficient to crush our scales, to not point out nearly something that will get in its manner. However Chevy has made good use of the Silverado EV’s basis: The 4WT is now rated to tow as much as 10,000 kilos (up from Chevy’s early 8000-pound estimate) and is nice to haul 1440 kilos (up from 1200) in its five-foot-11-inch cargo mattress. It can also swallow a number of carry-on luggage in its 11-cubic-foot frunk. For a tough comparability, Ford’s considerably lighter F-150 Lightning (by greater than 1600 kilos) tops out at 320 miles of vary, whereas its towing and hauling maximums stand at 10,000 and 2235 kilos, respectively.

Type and Operate

As a full-size truck, the 4WT EV is simply marginally extra large than a traditional half-ton, crew-cab, short-bed Silverado. At 81.6 inches large, it is 5.1 inches narrower than the Hummer EV pickup, but its 233.1-inch size stretches 16.3 inches longer. Whereas the RST First Version will sit on flashy 24-inch wheels, the 4WT vehicles we drove had 18-inchers wrapped with LT265/70R-18 Bridgestone Alenza A/S 02 all-season tires. The EV’s futuristic design contributes to a slippery drag coefficient of 0.33, making it probably the most aerodynamic GM truck extant, however there is not any mistaking this rig for something however a Silverado.

Step contained in the 4WT with its low door sills and flat, rubber-covered flooring, and also you’re greeted by a sea of darkish, grained plastic that is somewhat miserable contemplating this model’s $79,800 beginning worth (excluding the obtainable $7500 tax credit score). However sturdiness and ease of cleansing are the objectives right here, as no work truck leads a glamorous life. A straightforward-to-read 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster is commonplace, as is an 11.0-inch middle touchscreen that frustratingly incorporates the headlight controls and the settings for the truck’s regenerative braking, which vary from somewhat to full one-pedal operation. Fortunately, a row of straightforward climate-control buttons and dials sit beneath it. The column-mounted shifter frees up area within the middle console for spacious storage cubbies, together with a seven-gallon principal compartment.

It is the rear of the Silverado EV’s cabin that advantages probably the most from the truck’s cab-forward design and Chevy’s ensuing resolution to scoot the entrance seats ahead. Stretch-out area in again is limousine-like, with the EV’s 44.3 inches of legroom extending about an inch farther than an everyday Silverado crew cab’s. The rear seatbacks fold as much as reveal further storage. If this had been a fancier model with the mid-gate characteristic, the rear bench might be folded down into the ground, successfully lengthening the cargo maintain to somewhat over 9 toes.

A Refined Workhorse

Present GM truck homeowners will rapidly acclimate to piloting the electrified Silverado. The 4WT strikes together with the quiet refinement anticipated of an EV, with a synthesized hum enjoying by way of its stereo audio system solely below laborious acceleration. It feels as fast as any Silverado we have pushed, with a responsiveness that makes brief work of passing maneuvers on nation roads. Even when hooked to a 9000-pound development trailer, the truck shrugs off the additional weight like a diesel-powered heavy-duty pickup. Activating Tow/Haul mode revises the programming of the EV’s powertrain for optimum efficiency, whereas the power of its regenerative-braking system meant we barely wanted to make use of its friction brakes when bringing the virtually absolutely loaded truck to a cease on flat floor.

Aided by unbiased entrance and rear suspensions, plus a decrease middle of gravity in comparison with an internal-combustion Silverado, the 4WT’s driving expertise is outlined by its sorted composure. Say goodbye to the common Silverado’s bump-induced wheel chatter from a primitive stable rear axle, and common maneuverability is sort of good even with out the assistance of rear-wheel steering. Although its delicate suspension tuning and appreciable physique roll in corners maintain you conscious of its sheer dimension and mass, the Silverado’s steering within reason exact for an enormous truck, and its brake pedal is reassuringly agency. Add within the smoothness of the electrical powertrain, and we frequently discovered ourselves touring at greater speeds than we meant.

After all, the Silverado EV does have a couple of caveats: Working it laborious will drastically cut back its vary, and absolutely replenishing such an enormous battery would require prolonged pit stops even at fast-chargers. For Stage 2 charging, the Silverado can handle solely 11.5 kilowatts somewhat than the 19.2 kilowatts obtainable on the Hummer, which implies a full cost will take greater than 20 hours versus simply over 12. Additionally, Joe client cannot purchase one but. However the 4WT model is a formidable workhorse for fleet operators keen to pay the value for early adoption—and it is an thrilling teaser for what’s to return. Together with the RST, further Silverado EV variants will be part of the lineup over the subsequent 18 months, together with an off-road-oriented Path Boss trim with a lifted suspension, in addition to shorter-range fashions with extra approachable costs. Ram’s electrical 1500 REV pickup additionally ought to hit the streets in that timeframe, at which level this bourgeoning phase might be ripe for its first correct comparability check.

Technical Editor

Mike Sutton is an editor, author, check driver, and common automotive nerd who has contributed to Automobile and Driver‘s reverent and irreverent ardour for the auto since 2008. A local Michigander from suburban Detroit, he enjoys the outside and complaining concerning the climate, has an affection for off-road automobiles, and believes in federal safety for naturally aspirated engines.