There’s so much to go over with Chevy’s Silverado EV, however what makes it actually distinctive is the large 200+kWh battery and the 450+ mile vary that it supplies. However that monster battery additionally has a couple of properly disguised drawbacks, together with placing the truck at a whopping 8500 lbs. Let’s dive in…
Chevy flew us out to Ann Arbor to be taught in regards to the Silverado EV work truck after which off to an area farm to see the Silverado in its native habitat, full with nation music and BBQ. There we received to tow a ten,000 lb. John Deere tractor, head out on some filth roads, and drive the Silverado by some small cities with even smaller parking spots.
Then we received to talk to among the specialists on Chevy’s workforce in regards to the nuances of this automobile. There’s a ton occurring right here, however by far the most important differentiator between this automobile and the competitors is the large battery and the next 450+ miles of vary. I take advantage of the ‘+’ as a result of all through many of the testing, I used to be seeing larger than 450 miles of vary typically near 500 miles in very regular round city utilization, much like what a fleet work truck would do in a typical day; clearly when towing, that vary will get lower as a lot as in half. However when beginning out so excessive, abruptly towing lengthy distances turns into approach much less worrying.
The draw back of that vast battery is the load and measurement. The driving dynamics have been tremendous spectacular nevertheless, even on filth roads. Chevy recommends a surprisingly excessive 61 PSI on the wheels and ours have been displaying 63 PSIs, but the experience was extremely easy. Nonetheless, nevertheless, you might be schlepping round a 200kWh battery in every single place which consumes a number of further vitality and the inertia of a 8500 lb. automobile turns into all that rather more harmful in an accident.
Silverado EV has 50% extra battery than F-150 Lightning or Rivian R1T
There’s no denying the standout function of the Silverado Work Truck is its enormous, honking 200+kWh battery. To place it into perspective, it’s 50% larger than Ford’s F-150 Lightning lengthy vary battery at 131kWh and double the beneath 100kWh customary vary battery. That’s an additional automobile battery on high of an F-150 Lightning battery (Chevy’s Bolt is 65kWh for example). Rivian clocks in barely larger at 135kWh however that’s a rounding error, and its upcoming Max battery pack nonetheless falls considerably brief at 180kWh.
That unbelievable Silverado 450 mile vary isn’t simply from battery alone nevertheless. It has the identical measurement battery because the GMC Hummer EV which has a 329 mile vary.
Curiously, Chevy was super-coy in regards to the battery measurement and saved saying it was totally different than the Hummer EVs although they did concede it as the identical module and kWh spec.
How did Chevy eek out a whopping 121 miles from the identical measurement battery?
Properly to start with, the Hummer EV isn’t an train in effectivity. Its enormous tires, gaping drag coefficient, detachable roof and absurd 10,000 lb. weight make a number of low hanging fruit when optimizing.
However Silverado additionally has smaller, extra environment friendly (and one fewer) motors. So this isn’t a velocity burner with a mid-5 second 0-60 however can be positive for almost anybody. When towing 10,000 lbs., nevertheless, I had an 11+ second 0-60 time which could be troublesome for getting on highways, particularly uphill.
The aerodynamics aren’t simply good however they made “some of the environment friendly vans ever” with a .331 drag coefficient. Rivian claims a decrease flat, .3, however each are nice aero vans.
Silverado EV Work Truck additionally drops nearly a literal ton of weight from the Hummer EV with some simplicity which additionally helps with value financial savings. Additionally we noticed as much as 180kW of regeneration energy when utilizing the 1 pedal driving mode and even larger with a trailer hooked up. That provides up.
Chevy Professional Energy on Board Offboard energy
The ability system for these EV vans nonetheless fascinates me even when we’ve principally “seen this earlier than.”
Chevy principally replicated Ford’s extraordinarily widespread energy station on board. It’s a related quantity of energy 10kW in related locations – Rear mattress, Inside, charging port and Frunk (Chevy calls it the E-Trunk however even the specialists, see above, have been calling it a “frunk”).
Total you get 10.2kW of energy together with a 30A, 7.2kW generator plug output that may manually backup your property at launch. Chevy is engaged on one thing much like Ford’s automated dwelling backup by the charging port and expects to have one thing that can coincide with the launch of the RST on the finish of this 12 months.
For the second, nevertheless, Chevy does have some cool cost port equipment just like the 6kW charger cable that can cost one other automobile (one would assume you possibly can additionally cost a automobile utilizing the 7.2kW generator port with an adapter). It additionally has some neat add-ons like charging port powerstrips with totally different charging choices together with the RV favourite NEMA TT-30 30A 110V plug.
To indicate its prowess, Chevy ran the 2 meals vans from its off board energy, with out breaking a sweat and barely registering on battery utilization. This truck has sufficient energy to run a number of meals vans for days whereas subtracting the standard loud working, petroleum spewing energy technology which isn’t an amazing pairing with meals preparation and consumption.
Silverado EV pricing
Let’s begin with the dangerous information: To everybody’s shock and shock (/s), Chevy is not going to be promoting a Silverado EV beginning beneath $40,000 like they initially deliberate. I’m unsure how lots of the 185,000 reservation holders have been banking on that however with a couple of years of inflation, elements shortages, delays, and so forth, right here we’re. I do suppose that they are going to get into the $50+Ok vary beginning subsequent 12 months once they provide a considerably decrease vary mannequin Work Truck. After incentives that can get near $40K. Chevy says vary and value can be aggressive with Ford’s customary choices which at the moment begin at 230 miles/100kWh and $55K.
The 450-mile work truck we drove will begin at $77,905 and be out there to fleets within the coming weeks. That’s notably a couple of weeks later than Chevy’s deliberate “spring rollout,” however in comparison with the years of delays Tesla has proven on its fashions like Cybertruck, it’s only a blip. In the meantime the marginally smaller battery 350+ mile Work Truck will debut on the finish of the 12 months with a $72,905 price ticket.
Chevy Silverado RST First Version
Additionally on the finish of the 12 months, Chevy will unleash the RST First Version for a whopping $105K which is getting fairly near a Hummer EV lite. Right here’s a fast take a look at the RST which options the mid-gate for elevated storage and a complete lot of different choices. I think about a big share of our viewers is right here for this:
E-Trunk is a Frunk
Identical to the F-150, Chevy’s Silverado has a big frunk, however once more, they’re giving it a reputation which received’t stick referred to as the “E-trunk” (Being a primary mover has its benefits). Whereas notably smaller than the F-150 – 14 cubic toes vs. 10 – it additionally presents a plug in entrance for charging instruments even whereas driving or idle through the app. Chevy mentioned these wider sidebars have been to deal with a greater entrance suspension than Ford’s. I believe for many work makes use of, 10 cubic toes can be sufficient, however for a couple of this could be a dealbreaker.
Silverado DC Quick charging at 350kW
On each EV drive, one of many first locations I am going is the DC quick charging station, even when it isn’t on the itinerary (it by no means is).
We have been solely given automobiles with over 50% cost, however I nonetheless wished to see what sort of velocity I might get out of an EA station and possibly piece collectively a charging curve. From 61-63% cost, it charged regular at about 208kW, which is a powerful velocity till you notice it might take an hour to fill a full battery at that velocity. In fact the charging can be a lot sooner at first and far slower on the finish of the cost. Chevy put collectively this small clip on the matter:
And that’s the factor about having an enormous battery like this: you possibly can cost it at actually excessive energy, but it surely nonetheless takes a very long time to essentially refill. Chevy says at its quickest tempo, you possibly can add 100 miles in 10 minutes. Condolences if there’s solely a 50kW quick charger round – that’s a 4+ hour “quick” cost to go from empty to full.
House and work degree 2 AC charging goes as much as 80A right here which can take over 10 hours to go from empty to full. On a extra typical 40A charger, it can take 20 hours, however once more that’s including over 450 miles of vary. Most fleet truck eventualities draw approach much less energy in a day so 40A might be enough so as to add ~300 miles in a 12 hour night time.
Silverado EV Drive dynamics
Perhaps the most important shock of the Silverado EV, apart from its vary, is its potential to drive like a commuter automotive (not that it needs to be used for commuting!) I used to be shocked at how simple it’s to drive and the way fast my stress ranges went right down to a typical automotive ranges. The automotive drives easy and could be very responsive for an 8500-lb beast with 61+ PSI tires. The suspension people at GM needs to be counseled. It shouldn’t be this simple to drive an 8500-lb automobile!
Turning is passable, however I can’t assist however suppose 4-wheel turning needs to be an choice within the Work Truck just like the Hummer EV. Parking was robust and it took me an additional go or 2 to slide into the EA station and parallel parking on the town wasn’t enjoyable. Nevertheless, 4 wheel steering can be supplied in larger finish shopper variations of this truck.
Silverado EV inside
The Work Truck inside is what you’d count on from a piece automobile. One thing you possibly can dampen after a day within the mud. Darkish plastic and vinyl so far as the attention can see, however in a great way.
That doesn’t imply you possibly can’t drive in consolation, and I discovered all 4 seats to be comfy. Not as soon as through the hours of driving did the motive force’s seat really feel uncomfortable. The sound system and entrance display have been positive, although nowhere nearly as good because the RST model coming on the finish of the 12 months. Although it received’t include a mid-gate choice, the Silverado Work Truck does have ample storage beneath the rear seats and nonetheless sports activities the biggest-in-its-EV-class 5’11” lengthy mattress.
Carplay/Android Auto
One among Chevy’s most controversial latest strikes was to announce the removing of the cellphone projection in its EVs. Nevertheless the Silverado EV Work Truck, which nonetheless makes use of Google’s Android Automobile system, will enable projection of CarPlay and Android Auto, this 12 months anyway. Apparently its shopper going through Silverados beginning subsequent 12 months received’t enable projection. I believe this an simply correctable mistake by GM and you’ll inform that almost all at Chevy are taking a wait and see strategy with the reception this resolution will get.
Word: within the video above I used to be initially instructed CarPlay can be eliminated in a software program replace however it might solely be “eliminated” in a mannequin 12 months replace.
Electrek’s Take
For some employees who drive actually lengthy distances and have towing, chilly climate, and so forth. necessities, that is the one electrical pickup that can meet their wants. Not solely did we hit 450 miles, however we frequently succeeded it with as much as 485 miles proven in Chevy’s estimator, in my expertise. Nothing else prefer it even comes shut.
However that functionality of vary isn’t free. Not solely does the additional weight make for a costlier truck that additionally prices a bit extra on $/kWh. That 8500 lbs of weight additionally impacts the dealing with although I’ll concede that Chevy suspension engineers labored miracles right here.
So I’m wondering what number of fleets really need 450+ miles of vary and even 350+miles. Certain it’s good to have for that uncommon occasion, but it surely additionally means you might be carting round and paying for an enormous, unused battery round city more often than not.
Then there’s the entire, why are folks driving round 8500-lb. vans when one thing like a Ford Maverick measurement automobile will do. And everyone knows that there are a ton of those which might be going for use for commuting when a 3rd of the sized automobile with a 3rd of the battery will just do positive. However that argument is for one more day, and this Silverado EV will take a ton of ICE pickups off the highway. And we’re right here for that.
The Silverado EV is a super-compelling, no compromise work truck that can meet the wants of fleets that no different EV pickup can.
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