TEST DRIVE: The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck is the best case yet for an electric truck

It is exhausting to not embrace some great benefits of an electrical truck: low upkeep, decrease gas prices, on the spot torque, improved dealing with particularly whereas towing, exportable energy, and nil emissions.

However vary, charging infrastructure price, lengthy transport occasions, and excessive upfront prices increase considerations for fleets.

Chevy has labored exhausting to handle these considerations with the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV work truck and better upfront price financial savings for inner combustion, and it is making notable strides.

A media occasion in Michigan just lately gave reporters, together with this one, an opportunity to be taught extra about Chevy’s first full-size all-electric truck.

Some might keep in mind Chevy’s first foray into battery-powered pickups some 25 years in the past. Midsize fully electric S-10 It entered the California fleet market within the late Nineteen Nineties. The primary launch for the 1997 mannequin 12 months offered 44 miles of vary with lead-acid batteries. The 1998 mannequin jumped to 95 miles because of its nickel metallic hydride chemistry. Each vans got here with an electrical dump mattress. Very nice.

The inside of the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV work truck is pretty plain besides for 2 screens.Tom QuimbyChevy now presents 450 miles of vary with the 2024 Silverado EV work truck because of its Ultium battery. That is the primary iteration. A inexpensive 350-mile work truck is due later this 12 months alongside the first-ever 2024 RST that may provide 400 miles. Path Boss will observe subsequent 12 months. Sorry, there isn’t any dump mattress in retailer for both of those fashions, and there is a good motive for that.

Engineers defined that the Ultium battery is an integral a part of the Silverado EV’s building, placing it within the unibody class and paving the way in which for extra cells and extra energy. However with that added energy comes the added weight. The rim weight of the 450-mile truck is about 8,000 kilos, making it a Class 2 truck. Whereas that improves dealing with, particularly whereas towing, its added weight will increase DMV submitting charges.

To assist make the transition to electrical car possession simpler, Chevy is encouraging fleets to change to a 220-volt Degree II charger for in a single day charging within the yard, avoiding the additional price and infrastructure adjustments that include DC quick charging.

Whereas on the highway, drivers can flip to the corporate’s Ultium Cost 360 ​​initiative and cellular apps that may present entry to 134,000 charging units, in addition to an extra 12,000 Tesla Superchargers.

Because the Silverado EV can deal with a formidable 350 kW cost price (the Ford Lightning lags behind at 150 kW), the truck can add 100 miles in 10 minutes with a DC quick cost.

Remember that DC quick charging is dearer. After an 800-mile highway journey with the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, a fast cost price 32 cents per kWh whereas an in a single day 220-volt AC cost dropped to eight cents per kWh. That was Florida. Costs will range relying on the situation and time of day you cost.

In a single day charging throughout off-peak occasions results in a decrease price, and within the case of Lightning, it can ship 100% cost versus a most cost of 90% with quick charging. However, the Silverado EV can deal with a 100% cost whatever the charger kind. Nicole Kratz, Silverado EV chief engineer, mentioned she and different engineers have been testing the truck constantly getting it to 450 miles on a full cost and past. We solely managed 288 miles on a 100% cost with the Lightning and never the marketed 320 miles with the prolonged vary battery pack. Ford famous that previous driving habits corresponding to towing and freeway driving will have an effect on common total vary. For starters, it is a tough transition coming from inner combustion as all of the fill-ups carry the automotive again to full vary.

In addition to the decrease price, in a single day AC charging is simpler on the battery, which is one thing to think about for the car’s life and resale worth. In any case, telematics can reveal the general well being of the battery, which is on the coronary heart of each electrical car.

Prepared, prepared, pull!

It might have been troublesome for Chevy to have chosen a nicer location for the towing take a look at. Valley Farm in Ann Arbor presents a quaint barn scene amidst acres of vibrant farmland for household reunions, weddings, and, in our case, a take a look at drive.

Reporters arrived on the ranch a couple of 54-mile drive from our resort on principally two-lane nation roads. We swapped the seats midway via to permit for equal driving time. The journey was principally uneventful: it was predictably clean and quiet with essentially the most spectacular moments coming from the curves the place the truck carried out remarkably effectively with its low middle of gravity.

Put the scrap within the field. 9 cubic ft of storage within the trunk of the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV work truck simply accommodates two hand luggage so long as we put them to their sides.Tom QuimbyTowing was extra spectacular, which is essential as a result of the crew cab is designed as a piece truck. As soon as within the valley, I used to be behind the wheel of one other Silverado EV work truck that is been hooked as much as a 16-foot dual-axle flatbed truck topped with a John Deere tractor that Chevy mentioned has a 9,000-pound payload. The towing restrict is rated at 10,000 kilos.

Proper from the beginning, towing was clean and simple. Keep in mind, that is the equal of a Class 2 truck that is rated at 510 horsepower and 615 lb-ft of torque. The instantaneous torque supply makes a pleasant distinction from a standstill and when downhill.

With as much as 14 cam views, together with two plug-in choices close to the hitch that present higher visibility to the trailer, it is exhausting to not really feel comfy towing. Many of the credit score goes to the truck’s total dealing with, although. The trailer seems to be a pure extension of the truck. “driving smaller It was a remark that got here up greater than as soon as amongst reporters. We took a part of that roughly 12-mile journey off-road on dry dust roads the place the truck confirmed its suspension a number of occasions by taming bumps and dips at pace.

Vitality administration and consumption are the place the truck actually stood out for me. It did not have the worrisome vary recalculations I stored getting with the F-150 Lightning, and extra importantly it offered much more vary.

I began towing with a spread of 150 miles. On the finish of this run, the digital display was exhibiting 139 miles of vary with a 55% cost standing. The Lightning offered 122 miles of vary on a 100% cost situation for the lightest 6,000-pound carry. large distinction.

Brake regeneration is a giant assist when it comes to vitality conservation. There are three settings on the electrical Silverado to select from: off, normal and excessive. I like to make use of the excessive setting to get as a lot energy again as doable, particularly whereas towing.

The vitality meter on the dashboard reveals how a lot vitality you acquire again whereas decelerating. For an extended, clean cease, you solely have to ease off the accelerator pedal step by step. To cease sooner, depress the accelerator sooner, and the truck will cease sooner. In fact, you possibly can at all times use the brake pedal, one thing I’ve hardly ever had to make use of throughout my time with the truck.

The excessive brake restoration setting will push you ahead for those who let go of the throttle too shortly. For me, mastering brake regeneration is an fascinating problem. It jogs my memory of mastering the downshift with a handbook transmission as you come near a cease.

A ten-mile journey the day earlier than actually confirmed how good brake restoration might be. Whereas driving the unloaded electrical Silverado via metropolis streets, the excessive brake restoration setting works in stop-and-go site visitors to maintain the vary meter barely transferring from 372 to 370 miles the complete route. You actually will not get the identical efficiency whereas driving on highways until you encounter frequent site visitors jams that require a whole lot of stopping and going. And for those who’re not a fan of utilizing the excessive setting to recuperate the brakes, you will not recuperate as a lot energy.

Spartan Plus Motion Truck

The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck’s inside is pretty fundamental aside from the digital shows, that are a fast reminder of its all-electric pedigree.

The 11-inch and 8-inch middle shows are simple sufficient to navigate aside from the truck’s off button. It is a small icon about an inch in diameter on the high of the middle display that you will have to search for because it’s lined with different equally sized icons.

The rear seats lock into place to disclose loads of flooring area and trunks for added storage.Tom QuimbyI am unsure how a lot GM saved by eschewing a bigger on-dash button, nevertheless it comes off as one irritating cost-cutting measure that makes the off button really feel like a hasty afterthought. When you press the icon, a message seems on the display asking if you wish to proceed with the shutdown. At this level, you possibly can both flip off the truck or cancel.

The ground appears sturdy sufficient and seems to be made from a rubber like materials made to deal with plenty of muddy footwear and low accidents.

Whereas the manually adjustable chairs are comfy, they will not raise, which was a little bit unusual once I first bought in. At 5 ft 10 inches, I am not precisely the tallest or shortest driver on the market, however within the electrical Silverado, I felt fairly low within the seat.

The seat presents quantity of cushioning, and the again of the chair feels very comfy as effectively. The fake leather-based gives a premium look and appears able to deal with a tough day’s work.

Underneath the middle console is a compartment the place you will see two USB C plug-ins and a 12V spherical plug. Rear passengers have two USB C plug-ins together with a spherical 12-volt plug at the back of the middle console. I did not discover any charging ports inside the middle console.

The rear seat lifts up and locks into place to supply ample flooring area and entry to smaller compartments for added storage. Drink holders are plentiful all through, however I’ve by no means seen one sufficiently big to deal with a quart bottle.

We did not have an opportunity to make use of the mattress, which has a most load score of 1440 lbs. It may be chosen with a twig mattress liner and a tough or smooth backside cowl.

The field gives a terrific area for added storage. On this case, one other reporter and I stowed our carry-on baggage. The hood sadly didn’t rise after urgent the unlock button on the important thing fob. We needed to increase it manually every time. The hood will routinely rise on RST.

Exportable energy is delivered via seven ports with the usual possibility of seven.2 kW of off-board energy. Improve to 10.2 kW of energy and rise up to 10 retailers with this included energy strip.