Update: ‘Price & Release Date’ section updated.
Undercutting its closest competitor by just USD 74, the Chevrolet Silverado EV aims to be America’s most affordable electric pickup. We’re talking about the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck (Chevrolet Silverado EV WT), which will compete with Ford’s F-150 Lightning Pro.
GM is squarely targeting fleet customers with the Work Truck trim of the Silverado EV. The company says that it will first launch the Silverado EV WT for fleet customers, indicating that individual customers will have to wait to get their electric truck. The Silverado EV WT won’t be the most performance-focused configuration in the mix, but it could be the perfect companion at the job site.
Powertrain
GM expects the Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck to have one of the lowest drag coefficients in its class. The electric truck comes with a 5’11 bed. Image Source: GM
GM has confirmed that the Chevrolet Silverado EV will be available with an e4WD system comprising front and rear motors. It has confirmed the power and torque figures, though, which clearly indicate the fitment of two motors in the Work Truck. The company says that the Silverado EV WT’s powertrain produces 510 hp and 615 lb-ft of torque. A single-motor configuration looks highly unlikely for any Silverado EV trim level.
Towing
The Silverado EV WT trim comes with Tow/Haul mode, trailer hitch provisions, and an integrated brake controller and Hitch Guidance. It will offer 1,200 pounds of payload capacity and 8,000 pounds of towing capacity. Sometime after the launch, an optional Max Towing Package will become available for the WT trim, and that will lead to a significantly higher towing capacity of 20,000 pounds. The Max Towing Package will also offer rear-axle steering, Silverado EV chief engineer confirmed to GM Authority on February 17, 2022.
This is not the first time that GM is offering four-wheel-steering. In the early 2000s, GM’s ‘Quadrasteer’ was developed by Delphi Automotive (now Aptiv), and at USD 7,000, it was offered as an optional extra on the Silverado, Suburban, Sierra, and Yukon models. GM lowered prices in the subsequent years to make it an attractive proposition before removing the option.
Battery & Motor
The Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck features a lockable and weatherproof frunk, which GM calls ‘eTrunk.’ This is a safer option than placing tools in the bed of the truck. Image Source: GM
The peak charging power of the Silverado EV is 350 kW as standard. GM expects ten minutes of charging through an 800-volt DC charger that can charge at up to 350 kW to provide a range of approximately 100 miles. The company is estimating a range of over 400 miles on a full charge, hinting that it’s not downsizing the battery pack (24-module pack). The Silverado EV WT includes bidirectional charging support, so, it can supply up to 10.2 kW of power from its battery pack to charge electric equipment or even another EV at the job site, while not leaving the driver stranded after a day’s work.
We will launch a Work Truck model in spring of 2023, offering an expected GM estimated range of at least 400 miles on a full charge. Additional lower range Work Truck models will follow, giving customers a variety of choices with different ranges and price points to meet their needs, including a base model and a very competitive starting MSRP of USD 39,900 plus dealer freight.
Mary Barra, Chair and CEO, GM (CES 2022 keynote on January 5, 2022)
Accessories
GM will offer a wide range of accessories for the Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck. Image Source: General Motors
GM will offer a wide variety of accessories with which customers can customize their Chevy Silverado EV to suit their own unique business needs. Multiple storage boxes for the electric pickup’s frunk or on its bed, tonneau covers, sliding tray system, accessory power bar, bed caps, and more official accessories will be available to modify the new electric pickup truck. The PowerBase charging system, combined with the accessory power bar, will offer up to 10 outlets that provide a total of 10.2 kW of power for charging/running power tools, other EVs, or home equipment.
After initial launch, we will introduce a model with a Max Tow of 20,000 pounds. There are also nearly endless options to accessorize the Work Truck as dictated by our customers’ unique business needs.
Nichole Kraatz, Chief Engineer – Chevrolet Battery Electric Trucks, GM (CES 2022 keynote on January 5, 2022)
Price & Release Date
GM plans to launch the Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck in the U.S. in spring 2023. The base configuration will cost USD 39,900 MSRP (excl. destination charge), but it won’t be available until production ramps up. It’s implied that GM will start by delivering higher WT variants next year. Silverado EV WT customers will be able to access GM’s Ultium Charge 360 Fleet Service, which includes access to 100,000+ public chargers in the U.S. and Canada. Fleet customers will get to purchase the Silverado WT first, and then individual customers.
The Chevrolet Silverado EV WT Canada release is also programmed in spring 2023, with a similar variant strategy. At launch, GM Canada will offer one or more higher-end configurations(s). Once production ramps up, a base model costing CAD 52,448 will become available. Like in the U.S., fleet customers will get a priority in the launch of the WT trim of the Silverado EV.
The work truck and fleet owners are very interested in the lower cost of ownership. Overall you can see the differences in the design of between the Work Truck and the RST in the reveal footage. And that’s done purposely because we understand that they are going to be using the frunk more, as an example, and so rubbing up against the painted surface isn’t the best, and we put mold in color in places where we know those workers and owners are going to be interfacing more to the vehicle.
Nichole Kraatz, Chief Engineer – Chevrolet Battery Electric Trucks, GM, talking to EV Revolution Show (via Youtube)
About 400 fleet operators have reserved the Chevy electric truck
GM has received 140,000 reservations for the Silverado EV so far, and these include pre-bookings for the Work Truck trim. Nearly 400 fleet operators, up from 240 in Q4 2021, have reserved the Silverado EV. Mary Barra, Chair and CEO, GM, revealed the development while saying there’s “a surge in Silverado EV demand” during the company’s Q1 2022 earnings conference call on April 26, 2022. Barra confirmed that trial production of the 2023 Silverado EV will begin in a few weeks and that series production in Detroit-Hamtramck will begin in March 2023.
Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck FAQs
What is the Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck release date?
Spring 2023 is the Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck release date in the U.S. & Canada.
What is the Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck price?
The Silverado EV Work Truck is priced starting at USD 39,900 MSRP (excl. destination charge).
Which are the Silverado EV Work Truck competitors?
The Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck will primarily compete with the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro.
Featured Image Source: GM
Keyword: Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck (WT): Everything we know as of Apr 2022