Chevrolet Silverado EV RST is less than a year away from dealers [Update]

Update: ‘2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV specifications’ table in the ‘Specifications’ section updated.

In its virtual CES 2022 keynote, GM took the covers off the highly anticipated Chevrolet Silverado EV RST. The new Ultium-powered electric pickup locks horns with Ford’s F-150 Lightning, and unlike its main competitor, the Silverado EV is not a ‘conversion’ of a gas-engined pickup, but rather an EV built from the ground up.

Design

GM has designed the Chevrolet Silverado EV to look completely different from the gas-powered truck. The Detroit-based automaker hasn’t gone overboard with something radical like the Tesla Cybertruck, though.

The Chevrolet electric pickup truck flaunts several new-age design cues. At the front, it features split headlamps with ultra-slim DRLs and marker lights on the top and compact main lights in the center, a rectangular concave enclosed upper grille, and an illuminated Chevrolet logo. A high-mounted hood with power domes and a rectangular lower grille are among the few conventional touches at the front.

The Silverado EV features a frunk or an ‘eTrunk’ in GM parlance. The lockable, weatherproof compartment where you’d normally see a big internal combustion engine has enough space to accommodate a large hard-side suitcase plus many accessories.

The Silverado EV looks almost like a normal pickup on the sides, featuring straight lines, trapezoidal fender flares, chunky rocker panels, etc. The huge 24-inch wheels in an extra-aerodynamic design are the only EV tell-tale sign here.

The Chevy Silverado EV is the first vehicle, at least in the U.S., available with factory-fitted 24-inch wheels. Even the outlandish Hummer EV Pickup doesn’t come with wheels larger than 22 inches. The Silverado EV RST First Edition GM showcased at the world premiere sported 24-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin LT275/50 R24 tires. At the rear, things look pretty standard. The tail lamps flow out further onto the sides, and their clusters carry a techy design.

Interior

HUD, digital cluster & infotainment

Inside, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV tries to pull off the modern car look with a contemporary dashboard featuring curvatures and bold cut-outs, a compact steering wheel, horizontal AC vents, a slim climate control panel, and a floating panel housing an 11-inch fully digital instrument cluster and a 17-inch touchscreen infotainment system (standard in RST First Edition). GM designers have thrown in a head-up display (standard in RST First Edition) as well, which projects information over 14 inches. Ultifi, a new Linux-based software platform, is at the helm of the various electronics in the cockpit area.

There’s room for a larger center console in the 2024 Silverado EV, as it doesn’t have a transmission tunnel. A dual-floor console with sliding cupholders and a storage capacity of just over seven gallons gives the driver and front passenger lots of space to store their personal belongings.

Google services

The infotainment system of the 2024 Silverado EV has Google services built into it, so customers won’t need to connect a smartphone to it to use Google Maps. Google Assistant is also available directly through the infotainment system. A native Google PlayStore app allows downloading more apps to the truck.

Fixed sunroof

A panoramic fixed-glass sunroof, which is “segment-leading” according to GM, keeps the cabin bright and makes it seem open and roomy. The 2024 Silverado EV is the company’s first full-size truck model which offers a fixed-glass roof. Providing a greater sense of openness and increased headroom, this feature is exclusive to the retail version. Also note the almost flat floor section in the rear seat, where three adults could travel comfortably.

Lear to supply Silverado EV seats

On March 9, 2022, Lear Corporation announced that GM had awarded it the contract for supplying front and rear seats for the Chevy Silverado EV. The seats will be manufactured at Lear’s new facility in Detroit. The finished seats would be transported to GM’s factory Zero in Detroit-Hamtramck.

The second-row seats have a 40:60 split design and allow four configurations, allowing customers great flexibility. On the RST grade, the second-row seats tumble at the press of a button. The second-row seats also fold flat. It seems like practicality and convenience would go hand-in-hand on the Silverado EV.

Production version to get redesigned door panels

The production model would have a crucial difference compared to the spec showcased at the 2022 New York International Motor Show: the door panels. On May 8, 2022, GM Authority reported that General Motors would redesign the Silverado EV’s doors before production. Silverado EV Executive Chief Engineer, Josh Tavel, told GM Authority in an interview that the door panels have a redesigned lower compartment with dividers and optimized storage spaces for essentials like water bottles.

The inner door design would be similar to the gas-powered Silverado, reports GM Authority. Even though the door panel appears neat in the official images, storage space is visibly lacking, and there are no scoops to hold water bottles or knick-knacks. The redesign would make form and function go hand in hand.

Specifications

Platform

GM says that it has developed the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV from the ground up on its Ultium EV platform. It’s referring to the “third-generation global EV platform” that underpins the GMC Hummer EV Pickup. Instead of a leaf spring rear suspension like the ICE Silverado, the EV features an independent rear suspension setup that should reduce body roll and improve ride comfort. An automatic adaptive air suspension (standard in RST First Edition) allows raising or lowering the height up to two inches.

45% fewer parts than the gas-powered Silverado

The Ultium platform is reducing complexity in the development of new vehicles. For instance, the Chevrolet Silverado EV should use 45% fewer part numbers than its ICE equivalent, Doug Parks, GM Executive Vice President of Global Product Development, Purchasing & Supply Chain, said at the company’s Investor Day 2022 event on November 17, 2022.

Fewer parts to design, validate, tool, and build means a significant reduction in development time and costs, which directly affect the launch timeline and pricing, respectively. Furthermore, GM can do things that would be complicated and expensive in a gas-powered vehicle quite easily with Ultium EVs. The availability of both front- and rear- wheel drive drivetrain layouts in the Chevrolet Blazer EV is a good example.

Performance & Range

The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST employs two motors, one at the front and one at the rear. In an optional ‘Wide Open Watts (WOW)’ mode, these motors can temporarily produce up to 754 hp and 785 lb.-ft. of torque. A 0-60 mph sprint in the Wide Open Watts mode takes just 4.5 seconds (GM-est.). This is similar to the Watts to Freedom (WTF) mode on the Hummer EV SUV and Pickup.

Payload and Towing

The RST variant of the 2024 Silverado offers 1,300 pounds of payload capacity and 10,000 pounds of towing capacity. It has a 5-foot-11-inch bed, and with an optional Multi-Flex Midgate (standard in RST First Edition), it’s possible to have just over 9 feet of storage between the cab and the tailgate while keeping the Midgate open. The rear seats, which have a 60/40 split, need to be folded down to achieve this space.

Source: Youtube/Truck King

There’s one other optional feature to free up space for longer items, called Multi-Flex Tailgate (standard in RST First Edition). Featuring six different functions, it gives up to 10 feet, 10 inches of load floor, and storage capability. Another point worth noting in the storage aspect is that the rear glass is removable.

Battery and Range

With an internally estimated range of up to over 400 miles, GM expects customers not to feel range anxiety. It could be planning the product with the biggest of the Ultium battery packs with an energy storage capacity of 200 kWh in the top-spec configuration. The 2024 Silverado EV RST supports 800-volt DC fast chargers and can accept up to 350 kW of power. The company expects a 10-minute charge to provide approximately 100 miles of range.

Bi-directional charging

The 2024 Silverado EV RST supports bidirectional charging, which means customers will be able to charge other EVs, light up their homes, and use power tools with the energy stored in the battery pack. GM has equipped this electric pickup with a ‘PowerBase’ charging system that offers up to 10 power outlets. The EV can supply up to 10.2 kW of power to external devices and appliances as well through specific ports mounted in the payload deck.

Rear-axle steering

The Chevrolet Silverado EV RST is available with rear-axle steering (standard in the RST First Edition), or ‘Four-Wheel Steer’ as the official branding. Rear-axle steering provides the electric pickup greater agility and stability at high speeds, like when changing lanes on the highway. More importantly, at low speeds, as in urban conditions, it reduces the turning radius, making U-turns easy. Greater trailering dynamics would be another advantage for customers checking this option in their orders.

Aspect	2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST Specs
Platform	BT1
Length	233.1 in.
Width	83.8 in. (w/o ORVMs)/94.3 in. (w/ ORVMs)
Height	78.7 in.
Wheelbase	145.7 in.
Overhang	36.2 in. (front)/51.2 in. (rear)
Track	68.7 in. (front and rear)
Turning Circle (w/ rear-axle steering)	42.16 ft.
Ground Clearance	8.9 in.
Approach Angle	21.7º
Departure Angle	22.9º
Bed Length	5 ft. 11 in.
Front Trunk Volume	10.7 cu. ft.
Headroom	43.9 in. (front)/38.7 in. (rear)
Legroom	44.8 in. (front)/44.3 in. (rear)
Shoulder Room	64.9 in. (front)/63.8 in. (rear)
Hip Room	62.0 in. (front)/61.5 in. (rear)
Drivetrain Layout	AWD
No. of Motors	Two (one at the front and one at the rear)
Max. Power	754 hp (available temporarily in Wide Open Watts mode)
Max. Torque	785 lb.-ft. (available temporarily in Wide Open Watts mode)
0-60 mph Acceleration Time (GM-estimated)	<4.5 seconds (in Wide Open Watts mode)
Max. Charging Power	350 kW
Max. V2L Power	10.2 kW
Payload Capacity (GM-estimated)	1,300 lbs.
Towing Capacity (GM-estimated)	10,000 lbs.
Range (GM-estimated)	400 miles

Safety & autonomous driving

The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV comes with plenty of safety features as standard. The Chevy Safety Assist package, which includes Autonomous Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Intelligent High Beam Assist, and Following Distance Indicator, is part of the standard equipment.

Super Cruise trailering

The 2024 Silverado EV RST is available with trailering-capable Super Cruise (standard in RST First Edition) for autonomous driving. The infotainment system of the Silverado EV could automatically display Super Cruise-compatible roads in the navigation and show them during route selection. Super Cruise capabilities available on the full-size electric pickup may include hands-free lane change on highways and hands-free trailering. GM currently does not allow hands-free lane change while trailering, but that could change in the future.

GM claims that Super Cruise is the first true hands-free driver-assistance technology. Drivers will be able to use Super Cruise over 400,000 miles of compatible roads across the U.S. and Canada, double the area from the current 200,000+ miles. The company plans to offer it on 22 models across brands by 2023. To date, customers have driven approximately 10 million miles using hands-free driver-assistance technology.

Production

Production of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV will take place at GM’s Factory Zero assembly plant in Detroit and Hamtramck (Michigan), USA, starting in March 2023.

GM’s Orion Assembly plant (Michigan), USA, will also build the Silverado EV, starting in 2024. This factory, which currently builds the Bolt EV, will undergo a conversion to build Ultium-powered electric pickups, and GM plans to pour USD 4 billion into the transformation. Changes at this site brought by the new investment will include facility and production capacity expansion, including new general assembly and battery pack assembly areas and new body and paint shops.

Production of the Silverado EV will begin at Factory ZERO in Detroit-Hamtramck in just 11 months, followed by Orion Assembly in 2024.

Mary Barra, Chair and CEO, GM (Q1 2022 earnings call on April 26, 2022)

GM has confirmed that it will manufacture the 2024 Silverado EV’s EDU castings at its Bedford Casting Operations facility in Indiana. With an investment of more than USD 51 million, the company will install new equipment needed to support manufacturing the EDU castings of the electric pickup truck and other current casting applications at the aluminum die-casting foundry. Renovation work at the 1 million sq. ft. site, which currently produces EDU castings for the 2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup and 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, began in 2021.

Price & Release Date

The Chevrolet Silverado EV launch in the U.S. will be held in Spring 2023, starting with the Work Truck (WT) trim, which will cost USD 39,990 MSRP (excl. destination charge) onwards from a later date (once production ramps up). In Fall 2023, the fully loaded RST First Edition trim costing USD 105,000 MSRP (excl. destination charge) will follow. Eventually, the Silverado EV’s line-up will include RST, Trail Boss, and more trims, and customers will be able to buy it at various MSRPs, around USD 50,000, USD 60,000, USD 70,000, USD 80,000, and more, GM said.

In an interview with Bloomberg, released on September 30, 2022, Mark Reuss, President, GM, reaffirmed that the Work Truck trim will arrive in Spring 2023, followed by the RST (First Edition) trim in Fall 2023, just as announced at the time of the model’s debut.

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)

Showcased at regional auto shows

GM is taking the Silverado EV across America, allowing potential customers to see it in person well ahead of its arrival at dealerships. After showcasing the electric truck at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show, the company put it on display at the 2022 New York International Auto Show (April 13-24, 2022).

On August 20, 2022, GM brought a blue Silverado EV RST to the 2022 Woodward Dream Cruise. Currently, the Silverado EV RST is on display at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS 2022), which opened on September 14, 2022, and ran through September 25, 2022. The video embedded below, courtesy of YouTube channel Truck King, is a quick tour of the Silverado EV RST that was on display at this event:

Video Source: YouTube/Truck King

RST Test Prototypes spotted

In a set of new spy shots that emerged on GM Authority on December 28, 2022, an almost-production-ready Silverado EV, in its RST guise, can be seen subtly but cleverly camouflaged. It’s quite possible that the test prototype was spotted in the Detroit-Hamtramck region, which would make sense as GM’s production facility for the Silverado EV is located close by. In almost all aspects, the design of the prototype is similar to what we have already described in the story earlier.

The few differences worth pointing out here include the test vehicle’s front bumper, which is not body-colored, and of course, the brand’s signature ‘bowtie’ emblem is absent. The 24-inch alloy rims look almost identical to the ones seen in GM’s official pictures but have been altered ever so slightly. The window surrounds and wheel-arch extensions aren’t finished in glassy black, while there’s a small shark-fin antenna on the roof, a subtle spoiler extension, and a simpler plastic bumper but with an integrated tow hitch.

Silverado EV gets 170,000 reservations

Reservations for the Silverado EV opened just after the premiere on January 5, 2022. On October 3, 2022, GM revealed that it has received 170,000 reservations for the Silverado EV, some of which are from nearly 400 fleet operators. During its Q2 2022 earnings conference call on July 26, 2022, when that figure was 150,000+, GM had said that fleet customers are requesting more than 200 units on average.

The Silverado EV is attracting many new customers to not only Chevrolet but also GM. Nearly half of the reservation holders have never been a GM customer before, Chair and CEO Mary Barra said during the company’s 2022 Investor Day event.

Nearly one half of the Silverado EV reservation holders are new to GM.

Mary Barra, Chair and CEO, GM (2022 GM Investor Day on November 17, 2022)

According to a GM Research survey, 95% of the reservation holders will use their Silverado EV as a daily driver. 87% of the respondents plan to use it for regular “truck needs” like towing and trailering. 72% of the respondents want to get the Silverado EV for off-roading, so GM might want to launch the Silverado EV Trail Boss as early as possible.

In an interview with Bloomberg Technology (via YouTube) on January 6, 2022, Barra said that the First Edition of the Silverado EV RST was sold out in 12 minutes. However, it is unclear how many First Edition units were up for grabs, to begin with. In Canada, too, the First Edition of the Silverado EV RST has been sold out.

How many reservations will convert to firm orders?

A study from Recurrent suggests the actual demand for the Silverado EV is far lower than what reservation numbers indicate. Less than 20% of reservation holders intend to purchase the Silverado EV, Recurrent stated in the findings of its study on June 11, 2022. Perhaps, some of the reservation holders who don’t want to commit yet feel its delivery timeline is too far. Others may fear GM rolling out a price hike, taking the model out of their budget.

Ford started selling the F-150 Lightning at USD 39,974 in May 2022, and by August 2022, it had increased the base price to USD 46,974. A second price hike followed in October 2022, after which the pickup truck costs USD 51,974 onwards. Before the end of 2022, a third price hike, of USD 4,000, shot up the base price to USD 55,974. A 40% hike in less than a year is abnormal, and it could’ve shaken the confidence of reservation holders of other electric pickups as well, as they take a wait-and-watch approach.

GM has committed $35 billion to electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles between 2020 and 2025. By that year, it plans to launch 30 EVs and make two-thirds (20) of them available in North America.

TopElectricSUV says

With its robust design and presence, the Silverado EV has evoked enthusiasm among truck buyers in the U.S., and the 170,000 reservations figure is a testament to that. It remains to be seen if it drives the adoption of electric vehicles in the truck category, in a big way, among both fleet and personal vehicle buyers. The Silverado EV is attempting to take pickup trucks to a new level based on the capabilities of the Ultium platform. With zero emissions, long-range, pickup capability, innovative storage, and a powerful design, Chevy is on the front foot from the word go!

Chevrolet Silverado EV FAQs

Featured Image Source: GM