Chevy unveils its all-electric pickup truck for pre-order

One of the newest, soon to be available electric vehicles is the Chevrolet Silverado RST EV, an all-electric pickup truck that is currently available for pre-order.

As General Motors CEO Mary Barra looks to transition the company to focus more on EVs, it is no surprise cars like the Chevy Bolt EV and now, the all-electric Silverado, are starting to enter the market.

Car manufacturers are beginning to announce all-electric pickup truck options that are barely reminiscent of traditional EV cars like the Nissan Leaf. Since Ford announced their F-150 all-electric truck, other automakers knew they had to compete: enter the Chevy Silverado RST EV. Let’s see what you can expect from the EV pickup that was built to rival Ford. 

The basics: cost, mileage, and charging

The suggested starting price is $39,900 MSRP for the RST first edition, which is more expensive than the starting price of the gas version, which starts at $30,995. 

You can reserve it now, even though it will not be available for purchase until 2024. Because of this, the Chevrolet Silverado EV’s final price is subject to change, and will also vary based on the trim that you choose. 

While the truck hasn’t actually been built yet, it is expected to have a 400-mile range on a single charge. Typically, the EPA-estimated mileage range is the one to go by, but since this car is not yet available for purchase, the EPA has not been able to test the range. 

The battery pack, dubbed “Ultium” by GM, is set to start production in 2023 and is still a bit of a mystery. The Ultium platform batteries are expected to range in size from 50 kWh to 200 kWh. If achieved, 200 kWh would be a first for car battery capacity. 

As for charge time, Chevrolet claims that the car will have a charging capability of 100 miles in 10 minutes at DC fast-charging stations. 

You can expect to use a Level 2 charger to charge up your Silverado, and currently Chevy offers free installation of a Level 2 charging outlet with a purchase or lease of a Chevy Bolt. We can assume that they will offer the same with a purchase or lease of the pickup truck. 

Can it perform like a truck?

Short answer, yes. Electric EVs are leveling up, competing for the business that gas-powered pickups generate. 

The Chevy Silverado EV is no different, and boasts a 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 4.5 seconds. You can also expect a horsepower rating of 660, and 780 lb-ft of torque. The towing capacity is expected to be 10,000 pounds, performing just as well as a gas pickup. 

What else can you expect from the Chevy Silverado EV?

The all-electric Silverado also comes with modern features like forward collision alert, following distance alert, four-wheel steering, and a touch screen monitor. The only thing you will miss if you replace your gas car with this one is paying for gas. 

You can also count on it to help you move whatever you need - its trunk can fit items that are up to 10 feet long. An added bonus of an EV is that there is no engine, so you also get a trunk in the front of the car. 

Another key feature of EV pickups, the Silverado included, is that they allow for bidirectional charging. Basically, this means you can use the battery within your truck to power things like your electricity during a power outage, or power tools when you’re out on the road. 

How does it compare to other EV pickup trucks?

The most comparable EVs are similar trucks like the soon-to-be available Ford F-150 Lightning and the GMC Hummer EV. Pickups are the newest car model to break into the EV market, so it’ll be a little while still before there are a multitude of options. With that said, there are other non-sedan models, like the Tesla Model X, if you are looking for an SUV.  

The F-150 offers less mileage than what we can expect from the Silverado, at 300 miles of range per charge. The starting price range, which begins at $39,974, is similar to the Silverado, so it comes down to brand preference and mileage needs. The F-150 is slated to be available this year in 2022, so if you want an EV quickly, the F-150 might be your best bet. 

The Hummer EV is definitely in a higher price range, starting at $79,995. Depending on the model, you can expect to get 250-350 miles per charge. You can reserve the Hummer EV now, but to us, this seems to be more of a truck for show than practicality. 

The Silverado EV promises to be a pretty standard pickup truck that can tow what you need or use it as a work truck, with the only discernible difference being that it will need a charge instead of a gas fill-up.

Should you invest in the Chevy Silverado EV?

The Chevy Silverado RST apparently already has 110,000 pre-orders - a clear sign that EVs are popular and people are eager to get their hands on an electric pickup truck. Because all-electric EV trucks are in the pre-order phase, it is hard to tell how they will perform once they are out on the road.

But since Chevy has a reputation to uphold, we know that the EV that makes it onto the market should be worth the wait. If you do not need a new car right away, there is no harm putting down a deposit to wait for the Chevy Silverado RST. 

If you are on the fence about an EV, it might help to know that they are cheaper to own over their lifetime than gas-powered cars. They’re also cheaper to charge than fill up with gas, require no oil changes, and they need less maintenance. 

Charging them with solar panels will be even cheaper. So if an all-electric life is in your future, connect with an installer today and see if they can help you install an EV charger alongside rooftop solar panels.