Chevy Shows Off Fully Electric Silverado EV at CES Keynote

The truck arm of Chevrolet has been teasing its all-electric pickup for some time now, promising a rig that will do fisticuffs with the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T, among others. While no one from GM’s keynote was on the ground at CES in Vegas (thanks, Covid), a packaged presentation spelled out all the details – including one surprising and exciting new trim level.

In contravention of the usual product rollout, Chevy will launch the Work Truck variant of the Silverado EV first, then follow up with a pricey RST First Edition trim. Generally, the bucks deluxe models are first off the line, padding company coffers and building a war chest for future efforts. It would seem this play intends to focus on getting the Silverado EV in the hands of many before handing sets of keys to the moneyed set who haul horse trailers in leather-lined comfort.

The fleet-oriented WT trim will launch in Spring 2023 offering GM’s longest-range battery with an expected range of over 400 miles on a full charge. It will pack up to 510 horsepower and 615 lb-ft of torque in its electric gubbins, and be able to hoover enough electrons from robust 350kW DC fast-charge stations to replenish about 100 miles of driving distance in about 10 minutes. Trucks that are first out of the gate will be able to tow 8,000 lbs and have a payload capacity of 1,200 lbs. Later models will be capable of hauling up to 20,000 lbs, GM said.

We’ll take a moment to acknowledge that payload figure. If a customer hitches up a max weight trailer, one can bank on an 800 lb tongue weight. This leaves just 400 pounds for passengers and their stuff. Let’s hope yer buddies aren’t too well fed.

Elsewhere, there will be a handy weatherproof frunk (eTrunk, in GM parlance) on the Silverado EV, one which can be appended with all manner of accessories including a power bar that can configure the Silverado EV’s PowerBase charging system to 10 electrical outlets. This could provide a total of 10.2kW of all-electric power for countless worksite or recreational duties, and the Silverado EV is apparently capable of charging up other electric vehicles should the need arise. Price for the WT is listed at $39,900 plus freight but you can be guaranteed that’s for a ‘coming soon’ variant of the Work Truck with a smaller battery and lesser range than the one described for launch in Spring 2022.

The second Silverado EV will be the RST First Edition, set to be stickered at – ahem – $105,000 plus fees. This will be a luxury cruiser, laden with ample cabin technologies and driving aids such as Super Cruise. It is also expected to have a driving range of 400 miles, but power output is juiced to 664 horses and 780 lb-ft of twist. When the launch-style Wide Open Watts mode (WOW Mode – dad jokes at GM, apparently) is activated, this pickup should scoot to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds. This variant will be rated to tow 10,000 lbs and bear 1,300 lbs of payload.

As the flagship, it’ll pack the likes of four-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension, plus a Multi-Flex tailgate that’s already appeared on gasoline-powered GM trucks. What hasn’t recently appeared on General Motors pickups is this Multi-Flex Midgate, a feature most of our readers will recall from the Chevy Avalanche. Proving that everything old is new again, this feature is being touted as permitting almost 10 feet of length in the cargo area with the tailgate up. This time around, it has a 60/40 function with the rear window staying in place. Meaning you won’t have to kick your kids to the curb when bringing home 2x4s from Lowe’s. Electric motors will live in the front and rear of the RST First Edition, with independent suspension on both ends and a 24-module Ultium battery pack hove underneath.

Interior shots show a cabin that’s leaps and bounds over the existing Silverado, and even eclipses the new-for-’22 model in some respects. The massive infotainment and gauge cluster screens are impossible to ignore, as are the modular console and let-them-eat-cake seats on the RST. The Silverado EV will be offered exclusively as a Crew Cab, so get any thoughts of a regular cab shorty outta yer mind. In terms of the footprint it lays on pavement, it’s in with a shout of the existing Crew Cab short-box gasser at 233 inches long and 76 inches tall.

Making sure to bury the lede like any good TTAC post, that surprising new EV trim mentioned at the top is a Trail Boss edition that was displayed briefly on video during the keynote. Shown sending dirt high into the desert sky, it appears the Trail Boss EV will come with all-terrain tires and other off-road goodies. That’s one truck your author looks forward to wheeling.

The Silverado EV will be assembled with ‘domestically and globally-sourced’ parts at The Generals’ Factory ZERO in Detroit.

[Images: Chevrolet/GM]