Last December, Ford announced the official cancellation of its all-electric F-150 Lightning. Despite a plethora of early interest and pre-orders, fluctuating customer demand meant there was no longer a place for the EV pickup in Ford’s lineup, particularly given the extensive popularity of its internal-combustion engined namesake.In its wake, the F-150 Lightning left a still-decent number of aspiring customers, plus the Chevrolet Silverado EV, the GMC Sierra EV, and, to a lesser extent, the Rivian RT1 as the sole surviving, all-electric mainstream pickup trucks you can buy, brand-new. Of the three, it’s the more affordable Silverado that’s most likely to become the niche segment’s eventual game changer. Though not, perhaps, for the reasons you might think… Chevrolet Debuts The Multi-Flex Midgate… And A Truck To Go With It ChevroletAt the Consumer Electronic Show in 2022, Chevrolet unveiled its answer to the then curiosity-piquing Ford F150 Lightning. The Chevrolet Silverado EV had a distinguishing look without being too EV "modern". It was the first electric Chevy built atop General Motors’ electric exclusive Ultium EV platform, and thus offered the supple ride – both on-road and off it – and expanded range expected of GM’s technologically advanced electric vehicles.ChevroletIn a nod to its target audience, the first model sold in Spring 2023 was the clunkily named Silverado EV Work Truck. It packed two electric motors producing a combined 510 horsepower and 615 pound feet of torque. More significantly, the WT offered up to 1,200 lbs of payload, 8,000 lbs of towing capability, a very usable 400-plus miles of estimated electric range, and a reasonable $39,900 asking price (which, admittedly, was bumped up to $57,095 for 2024).Fleet operators, who could also benefit from $7,500 federal tax credits on brand-new EVs, quickly took notice.The more premium – and more headline-grabbing – Silverado EV RST First Edition, meanwhile, was launched a few months later. The $105,000 asking price was far heftier, true, but alongside comfort-focused goodies like four-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension, the RST also upped electric grunt to 664 hp and 780-plus lb ft of torque (hiked further for 2024 to 760 hp and 785 lb ft).Despite its massive 4.5-ton curb weight, this new Silverado EV could sprint from 0 to 60 mph quicker than a V8-powered, 2015 model year Ford Mustang GT. For its new, F-150 Lightning rival, Chevrolet seemed to have ticked all the necessary boxes.So impressive were these facts and figures, in fact, that another impressive feature of the Silverado EV RST – Chevrolet’s new Multi-Flex Midgate – slipped almost completely beneath the radar. A shame, because the concept is actually quite clever. How The Midgate Works ChevroletPut simply, the Multi-Flex Midgate manages to extend the Silverado EV’s 5-foot-11-inch bed without literally extending the 5-foot 11-inch bed (that Ford has been experimenting with an extendable cargo bed floor since late 2024 emphasizes how complex the process is). Granted, the standard bed can already hold just under 58 cubic feet of cargo. Should owners need further haulage space, however, the Multi-Flex Midgate – the wall dividing the bed and the rear seats – can be folded flat to extend the available cargo space to just over nine feet. Fold down the tailgate on top of that, and there's 10 feet, 10 inches of available storage space.In practice, this means contractors can comfortably transport 8-foot sheets of drywall and/or 10-foot lengths of 2x4 lumbar inside the truck without damaging them. Similarly, moderately-extreme sports fans can transport 10-foot kayaks and/or stand-up paddle boards to the lake without lashing them to the cab’s roof. While not as newsworthy as a Ford Mustang-besting 0 to 60 mph sprint time, the Multi-Flex Midgate was, nevertheless, a strong selling point for potential Silverado EV customers. Why The Midgate Is A Potential Game Changer There Are Multiple Layout Options ChevroletAdmittedly, innovative truck bed designs were hardly new in 2022. Ford has been hiding cubbyholes for several years now, and rival manufacturers consistently roll out their own distinctive tailgate designs. Even Chevrolet itself introduced a similar Midgate concept on the Avalanche truck back in 2008. It’s the flexibility, and, more importantly, the usability of Chevy’s new version, however, that truly raises the eyebrows.The Midgate-rear bench combo, for example, folds completely flat, making loading and unloading far easier. The Midgate is also backed with the same, Chevytec spray-on bed liner, meaning loaded contents are unlikely to damage the cabin upholstery. Should you also need to transport four passengers and your 10-foot kayak, the rear glass can be removed by itself and stowed on-board.Indeed, Chevrolet’s decision to launch the Silverado exclusively as a Crew Cab, with four full doors and plentiful legroom, showed just how much practicality was prioritized on the Silverado EV. Hence also the Midgate’s 60:40 rear-bench split, which allows either seat to be folded down individually, leaving plenty of room for a single rear passenger. It Works In Tandem With The Tailgate ChevroletOn top of all this was a hidden secret weapon: the Multi-Flex Tailgate. Offered as standard, the versatile tailgate features an inner gate "load stop" as one of its six configurations. Essentially a small lip, this allows items – up to 10 feet, 10 inches long, don’t forget – to be transported without the absolute need for said contents to be strapped down.A huge time-saver, even if Chevrolet did still suggest customers should still strap cargo down. Notably, this is an option that the equally innovative, arguably more distinctive likes of Ram’s barn-door-style split tailgate and even Ford’s Pro-access "mini door" did not offer. Either way, it meant Silverado EV customers were no longer reliant on a trailer when transporting larger items. The Multi-Flex Wasn’t Standard Equipment Though… ChevroletThat’s not to say, of course, that the Multi-Flex Midgate doesn't have its drawbacks. That additional storage space, for example, could tempt many owners to ignore the manufacturer’s recommended payload, with costly results. On that note, and unlike the Tailgate, the Multi-Flex Midgate is not available as standard, and, from launch, couldn't be optioned on the entry-level Silverado.In short, interested customers would have to fork over at least $75,195 (some $18,200 more than the Standard Range, entry-level Work Truck) if they wanted the Midgate. A decision contractors and construction workers, quite rightly, found baffling.Even then, the Multi-Flex Midgate was only available as part of the optional, $6,800 LT Premium Package. Granted, this also threw in "Super Cruise" hands-free trailering and larger, 22-inch wheels. But those who wanted the innovative Multi-Flex Midgate were still looking at the sharp end of a whopping $81,995 price tag. And, given the additional weight that came with it, a depleted estimated electric range.ChevroletWhether Chevrolet’s Multi-Flex Midgate will truly become a game changer in the trucking world, or just another designer fad, remains to be seen, of course. Unlike the once segment-headlining Ford F-150 Lightning, the Silverado EV is still available to buy, and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.Questionable pricing could still prove a critical stumbling block, true, but the fact that the Midgate is now available on the ICE-engined 1500 and 2500 Series Silverados shows just how much faith Chevrolet has in the concept.Don’t be too surprised if a low-profile feature that once struggled to escape the shadows at CES starts making big waves from 2026 onward.Source: Chevrolet