2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV: The Avalanche Resurrected (and Electrified)
Competes with: Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV pickup and Sierra Denali EV, Rivian R1T
Looks like: The Chevy Avalanche and Volkswagen ID.4 have a large adult son
Powertrains: Ultium battery pack and dual electric motors; up to 510 horsepower and 615 pounds-feet of torque (Work Truck), or at least 664 hp and 780 pounds-feet (RST Launch Edition)
Hits dealerships: Spring 2023 (Work Truck for commercial buyers); fall 2023 (RST First Edition); other trims to follow
Chevrolet will become the latest brand to enter the electric pickup truck market when the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV arrives at dealerships. The Silverado EV uses an Ultium battery pack like its GMC Hummer EV pickup cousin (Chevrolet and GMC are both GM brands). It looks like a modern take on the old Avalanche pickup, including a potentially useful midgate pass-through for longer cargo.
Related: Up Close With the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition
As of this writing, details are still being finalized — and it’s possible that stated specs could change before the Silverado EV goes on sale — but what’s been revealed so far certainly shows promise from a utility perspective, as well as for the growing segment of luxury truck buyers.
Under the Hood … Well, Not Exactly
For both RST First Edition and Work Truck guises, Chevrolet estimates the Silverado EV will have up to 400 miles of range on a full charge. That would make it the longest-range electric pickup on the market, assuming no other manufacturer releases a longer-range truck before the Chevy goes on sale.
Power will vary depending on the trim. WT versions will have “up to” 510 hp and 615 pounds-feet of torque, Chevrolet says, while the RST First Edition will have “at least” 664 hp and 780 pounds-feet in what the brand is calling “Wide Open Watts” (“WOW”) Mode. It’s likely that the truck will use less power during normal driving, but Chevrolet hasn’t provided additional specs yet.
Other performance-related features include an available automatic adaptive air suspension (standard on the RST First Edition), wheel sizes ranging from 18 to 24 inches and four-wheel steering for a decreased turning radius.
According to Chevrolet, the Silverado EV will charge at rates up to 350 kilowatts, adding roughly 100 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes.
Interior and Exterior
On the outside, the Silverado EV evokes the Chevrolet Avalanche pickup of 2000s and 2010s vintage, with similar but more functional buttresses extending from the cab to the top of the bed sides. There’s no traditional grille (or need for one), which enabled Chevrolet to add a lighting element that extends across the Silverado EV’s face from headlight to headlight.
In back, the bed is just under 6 feet long with both the midgate and tailgate closed, extending to just over 9 feet with the midgate open and almost 11 feet with both the midgate and tailgate open. Chevrolet says an available tonneau cover will still allow the midgate to open, protecting longer loads from outdoor exposure. The midgate glass is also removable and can be stored behind the 40/60-split, folding backseat, though you’ll have to fold both sides all the way down to store the glass. The tailgate is also available as a configurable multiposition unit.
Inside, the Silverado EV RST First Edition will have a 17-inch touchscreen and configurable 11-inch digital instrument panel. The touchscreen will use GM’s new Ultifi operating system. The WT gets an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital gauge cluster. An available all-glass roof should increase the feeling of spaciousness inside the cabin, which Chevy says should be a bit roomier than that of the gasoline Silverado 1500.
Towing and Payload
According to Chevrolet, the RST First Edition should have towing and payload capacities of 10,000 and 1,300 pounds, respectively. There’s no word yet — and there may never be, at least in an official capacity — about what reaching those capacities will do to the truck’s range.
The Silverado EV’s Work Truck grade will have 8,000 pounds of towing capacity and 1,200 pounds of payload capacity, but Chevrolet says it’s planning to release a WT version with 20,000 pounds of maximum towing capacity at a later time.
Chevrolet says the Silverado EV will have up to 10 outlets, including both 120- and 240-volts, providing “a total of 10.2 kW” of juice to power various tools and devices. That could also include another electric vehicle.
Pricing and Release Date
The Silverado EV RST First Edition should arrive in dealerships in the fall of 2023, priced at a whopping $105,000 (prices don’t include destination, which has yet to be announced). WT versions will start at $39,900, but individual buyers will likely need to wait awhile to purchase one, as Chevrolet plans to sell its initial run of Silverado EV WTs to commercial buyers. Over time, the plan is to fill in the middle of the Silverado EV lineup with additional variants including the RST and Trail Boss, with prices ranging from $50,000 to $80,000 “or more” depending on equipment.
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