We hear terms such as “all-new” and “reimagined” used all the time in the auto business, but the Chevrolet Silverado EV is a vehicle that more than deserves to be spoken of in such terms. At a quick glance, the Silverado EV is a new full-size pickup truck exclusively in a crew cab body style that’s powered by electricity instead of fossil fuels, but dig a little deeper, and you soon learn that it’s way, way more than that. If you think you know all about what it’s like to drive a pickup truck around Sudbury, the Silverado EV will make you think again.
Chevy isn’t going to bring a full and expansive lineup of Silverado EV trim levels to market right away, but the two versions that will be offered at launch will certainly illustrate the wide spectrum of what to expect from this exciting new model going forward. The first of the pair will be an affordable, fleet-orientated WT version of the Chevrolet Silverado EV, but the other will come from entirely the other direction as a flagship RST First Edition that will showcase how far you can go with this groundbreaking new truck when it comes to capability, style, comfort, performance luxury, and technology.
As you may or may not know, electric vehicles don’t have their propulsion systems in the traditional place under the hood. The Chevrolet Silverado EV is no exception as under the hood is actually a small but useful cargo hold capable of accommodating something like a full-size suitcase.
But when it comes to where the power actually comes from, you certainly won’t be disappointed as even the entry-level WT is going to be putting out a seriously impressive 510 horsepower and 615 lb.-ft. of torque. Inevitably, the flagship RST version of the electric Chevy truck will see that and raise it with 664 horsepower and more than 780 lb.-ft. of torque. What that translates to in terms of capability, the WT will be able to tow up to 8,000 pounds and offers a maximum payload rating of 1,200 pounds, while RST First Edition models get a 10,000-pound tow rating and a 1,300-pound payload capacity. You may also be interested to know that the RST will be capable of getting from 0 to 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds, and a future fleet model will arrive sometime after the initial launch that will be capable of towing up to as much as 20,000 pounds when fitted with the max tow package.
Every feature you expect from a modern full-size truck can be found on the Silverado EV, and then some, but as soon as you climb inside the new Chevy, you’ll realise you’re in something very special. The RST First Edition is designed to impress with its four-wheel steering, Automatic Adaptive Air Suspension, 17-inch-diagonal LCD freeform infotainment screen that comes paired with an 11-inch-diagonal reconfigurable driver instrument display, and there’s even a multi-colour head-up display for the driver with a field of view over 14 inches.
The moment you tell someone you’re interested in or that you’ve bought a Silverado EV, it’s highly likely the first thing they’ll ask you is how far it can go before you have to stop and recharge the battery. The good news on that score is you’ll be able to tell them that the Silverado EV delivers a well above average range on a full charge of up to 400 miles. You’ll also be able to tell them that if you need to recharge to get you an extra 100 miles on your journey, the Silverado EV’s 350 kW DC fast-charging capability means that amount of charge will only take 10 minutes to achieve. And if you are to come across another electric vehicle that’s been unlucky enough to run short of battery power, the Silverado EV is available with an accessory charge cord that gives you the ability to donate electrical charge with another vehicle in such times of dire need.
The Chevrolet Silverado EV is a full-size pickup truck that will completely reshape the way you think about trucks, but at the same time, it will also handle any task you would expect any other truck to be able to contend with. To find out more, and there’s a load more to discover about the Silverado EV, come and see the Southside Chevrolet team here at 2601 Regent St, Sudbury, ON P3E 6K6, or give us a call anytime at (705) 523-2438.
