Chevrolet Silverado EV debuts at CES

CHEVROLET has lifted the lid on its Silverado EV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas overnight, the challenger to Ford’s F-150 Lightning offering up to 495kW/1065Nm in dual-motor guise, and a driving range of as much as 644km – almost double that of the Ford alternative (386km).

The all-new Silverado EV rides on General Motors’ Ultium electric vehicle platform – with independent suspension front and rear – shared with the GMC Hummer EV and is set to go on sale in the United States in the second quarter of next year (2023).

Chevrolet says it will initially offer two dual-cab variants of the Silverado EV: the single motor 380kW/833Nm entry-grade Work Truck (US$39,990 / $A55,250) aimed at trade and commercial buyers, and the dual motor 495kW/1065Nm RST First Edition (US$105,000 / $A145,400) aimed at family and recreational markets. 

A dedicated Trail Boss off-road model is expected to follow in due course.

Both Silverado EV variants are offered with 350kW DC fast charging while the range-topping RST First Edition adds 24-inch alloy wheels, adaptive air suspension, passive rear-wheel steering, fold-down rear seats (extending the length of the tray from 1800mm to 3300mm), a frontal storage area under the ‘bonnet’.

High grade models also receive leather upholstery, a glass roof, handsfree entry and start, an 11.0-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.0-inch full-colour HUD, and a 17.0-inch rear-seat entertainment screen. 

The RST First Edition is also available with GM’s new Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving technology which can travel hands-free of up to 320,000km of US and Canadian roads.

Chevrolet says the Silverado EV can tow up to 3629kg (braked) in Work Truck guise with a payload figure of 544kg. The RST First Edition offers a slightly higher payload of 590kg and an improved towing capacity of 4536kg (braked).

The dual motor Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition boasts a 0-60mph (0-97km/h) time of just 4.5 seconds.

It is unclear if General Motors Special Vehicles (GMSV) plans on brining electric versions of the Silverado Down Under, a company spokesperson simply saying “GMSV is not making announcements about the new model at this stage”.