Although it shares its electric powertrain with the brash GMC Hummer EV, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV resembles a more classic take on the electric pickup truck. An available midgate design allows users to fold down the wall between the bed and the cab for additional storage space, a feature that some may find reminiscent of the now-discontinued Avalanche pickup truck from the early 2000s. A large battery pack is said to provide up to 450 miles of range per charge and DC fast-charging tech can juice the battery with 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Dual electric motors provide standard all-wheel drive and up to 754-hp, and the Silverado EV will be capable of towing up to 10,000 pounds and hauling up to 1440 pounds of payload. The Silverado EV faces stiff competition from the Ford F-150 Lightning as well as upstart offerings such as the Rivian R1T and the Tesla Cybertruck.

The Silverado EV is new to the Chevrolet lineup and will start to roll out to customers in 2023 as a 2024 model year. The fleet-specific 4WT Work Truck will be first, followed by consumer-oriented trims.

At launch, the Silverado EV will be offered in price-leader Work Truck (4WT) guise as well as in off-road Trail Boss and loaded RST trims, but Chevy says mid-range trims will be added later to round out the lineup. The WT model lacks many of the truck's coolest features. Instead, we'd aim high for the Trail Boss or RST or wait for a nicely-equipped mid-range trim to become available.

Unlike the Hummer EV, which comes with up to three electric motors, the Silverado EV will be powered by two. The setup should still provide robust acceleration performance and, in the top-spec trim, Chevrolet claims a horsepower rating of up to 754 hp; the base WT trim makes do with 510 hp. All-wheel drive is standard while a rear-wheel steering system and an adaptive air suspension are optional; a set of huge, cool-looking 24-inch wheels is also available. The Trail Boss model will likely add locking differentials, meaty all-terrain tires, and other adventure-ready items to the Silverado EV's suspension. When we sampled the 4WT model, we were impressed by its rapid acceleration and we estimate it will hit 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds. The truck's ride is smooth and, overall, handling is decent for a vehicle its size, with precise handling and confidence-inspiring braking.

The Silverado EV's maximum towing capacity is 10,000 pounds and its payload capacity is up to 1440 pounds. Chevrolet has said that a model with a 20,000-pound towing capacity will eventually join the lineup.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The Silverado EV will utilize General Motor's novel Ultium battery technology, which can be scaled up to create a battery pack as large as 200-kWh. The EPA has given the Silverado EV Work Truck an estimated driving range of 450 miles from 100 percent. Obviously, real-world range will vary, especially when towing, a task that the Silverado EV should be able to handle with relative ease. DC fast charging capability will be standard, and Chevrolet claims that 100 miles of range can be added to the battery in just 10 minutes at a public DC charging station.

The EPA has given the Silverado EV WT variant fuel economy ratings of 67 MPGe city and 59 MPGe highway. When we get a chance, we'll take the Silverado EV on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route and update this story with real-world test results. For more information about the Silverado EV's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

We were able to get a peek inside the loaded RST model and were impressed with what we saw. That truck featured a fixed glass roof, black-and-white two-tone leather upholstery with red piping, and about the same passenger space as a regular Silverado crew cab pickup truck. The base 4WT model is far more spartan, and we found its black plastic interior quite drab. However, its use case as a work truck requires less creature comforts and the easy-to-clean cabin dressings are sure to be a welcome feature for tradesmen. Rather than a console-mounted shifter, Chevrolet's designers have opted for a column-mounted stalk, which creates space for a massive storage bin between the dashboard and middle armrest. Speaking of space, the Silverado EV's cabin is generously sized and adults should have no trouble finding a comfortable space in either row of seats.

All models will come with a mostly digital dashboard, with an 11.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 8.0-inch digital gauge display as standard. Upgrading to the top-level RST unlocks an even larger 17.0-inch infotainment screen and an 11.0-inch gauge display. Both systems are reconfigurable to the driver's preferences but, thankfully, climate controls remain simple analog knobs mounted in a slim panel on the lower part of the dashboard for easy access. Chevrolet hasn't released all the information yet for the Silverado EV's infotainment system, but we expect Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to be standard, with in-dash navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an on-board Wi-Fi hotspot also being part of the package.

Chevrolet hasn't disclosed information on the Silverado EV's standard driver-assistance features, but we're told the brand's hands-free Super Cruise system will be offered, at least on the high-end RST trim. For more information about the Silverado EV's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features are likely to include:

The Silverado EV comes with a similar warranty to other General Motors products, which means three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage.

Specifications

2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV 4WT Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup

PRICE Base: $79,800

POWERTRAIN Front Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC Rear Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC Combined Power: 510 hp Combined Torque: 615 lb-ft Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 215.0 kWh Onboard Charger: 11.5 kW Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 350 kW Transmissions: direct-drive

DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 145.7 in Length: 233.1 in Width: 81.6 in Height: 78.0 in Passenger Volume, F/R: 71/65 ft3 Front-Trunk Volume: 11 ft3 Curb Weight (C/D est): 8500 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST) 60 mph: 5.4 sec 100 mph: 10.8 sec 1/4-Mile: 13.9 sec Top Speed: 110 mph

EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 63/67/59 MPGe Range: 450 mi