The Chevrolet Silverado EV RST is Now in Production
We’ve been hearing about the Chevy Silverado EV for what seems like forever, but the first mainstream models have finally entered production. The automaker is building the top RST version of the truck at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant, where it also makes the basic Work Truck (WT) configuration.
The First Edition trucks sport an impressive 440-mile range and an almost-$100,000 price tag. Chevy uses GM’s Ultium 200-kWh battery pack, but the 3WT trim uses a smaller unit that delivers 393 miles of range.
Though it looks a lot like the old Chevrolet Avalanche pickup, the new Silverado EV RST comes with a wealth of luxury and tech features. The automaker equips a massive 17-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital gauge cluster. Vehicle-to-load functionality is also on board, bringing the ability to temporarily use the truck as a generator to power home equipment or charge another EV.
The Silverado EV is only currently available in the range-topping and fleet-oriented trims, but Chevy plans to release several other configurations aimed at everyday buyers. It promises more affordable variants, though it and other companies have never really hit the target when it comes to pricing.
Chevy’s new truck faces more competition than it would have a couple of years ago, as there’s the Tesla Cybertruck (not really a rival), the upcoming Ram EV, and the already-released Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning.
[Image: Chevrolet]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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100k. What happened to the 40k version I reserved back a year + ago? Regardless, since you could by a new Silverado Trail Boss V8 for 60k and put the remaining 40k in a Money Market at 4-5%, why would anyone spend the extra $$$? And please don't make it about the environment. Moving a 3 ton truck through the air is going to take a lot of energy and energy doesn't fall out of trees. Whether Solar, Wind, Nuclear or Mermaid farts, there's a financial and environmental impact. Why not go with the least expensive impact?
I predict this won't sell any better than the F150 Lightening. People with money to burn will buy it for the "hey look what I got" factor. They'll tire of it quickly once they have shown it to friends & family and then sell or trade in at a huge loss. It will be their first and last EV PU truck until the technology & charging infrastructure matures.
Another golf cart that will be collecting dust on dealers' lots.
I bet these will sell ok- as fleet vehicles. They will take on in town pick up duties for power companies when an hd with tool boxes aren't required, they will show up on any company that wants to push a 'green image' but still needs to haul ladders and such like solar and roofing. It will be a strange truck in a strange market but I bet it doesn't do too bad