The Chevrolet Silverado EV has an official date for its global debut at the 2022 CES Show on Jan. 5. The all-electric pickup truck follows the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV as the brand’s third battery-electric vehicle. It will also be the first Chevrolet vehicle with the Ultium battery and propulsion systems.
After teasing the truck’s four-wheel steering capability, Chevrolet chose to show off the Silverado EV’s massive glass roof this time around. Like in many modern EVs, it’s fixed and can’t be opened. The trade off is that you get more headroom and a cabin with a more spacious feel. However, Chevrolet says the feature is limited only to retail models. You also get a glimpse of the interior of what appears to be a crew cab with two people sitting up front. Based on the screen glow, the infotainment system also appears to be different from the one found in current Chevrolet models. The Chevrolet Silverado EV may be the first to get a massive display or dual-screen layout.
Designed from the ground up as an EV, the all-electric Silverado joins the GMC Hummer EV pickup and Cadillac Lyriq as the third vehicle using the Ultium platform. According to Chevrolet, the Silverado EV will be able to travel 400 miles on a single charge. It will feature four-wheel steering, which enables it to make tighter turns so that it’s easier to maneuver the truck on narrow roads and urban areas. It will be offered in both retail and commercial versions, the latter of which could be available in luxurious versions like the High Country trim.
Expect the Silverado EV to get the latest driver assistance features from General Motors. That should include the newest version of its Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver assistance feature. Combining the functions of adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane centering and steering assist, Super Cruise eases the task of driving by letting the car do most of it. Unlike some semi-autonomous systems from competitors, Super Cruise lets you take your hands off the wheel on over 100,000 miles of eligible roads. The only requirement is that the driver keeps his/her eyes on the road. A camera mounted on the gauge cluster facing the driver monitors you to make sure you’re paying attention to the traffic situation. Newer versions of Super Cruise like the one found on the Cadillac Escalade can execute automatic lane changes.
The Chevrolet Silverado EV is the third Ultium vehicle from General Motors. It will be followed by the GMC Hummer SUV and the Cadillac Celestiq sedan. I’m addition to consumer vehicles, the Ultium platform will also be used to make commercial vans like the BrightDrop EV600, a delivery vehicle with a range of 250 miles per charge. Chevrolet hasn’t revealed what will power the Silverado EV but we expect the standard version to have a dual-motor layout and less range than the claimed 400 miles, which will likely be for a specialized version. If it’s configured like the Hummer EV pickup and SUV, the range-topping version will have a three-motor setup with upward of 800 hp on tap. The truck could also share battery packs with the Hummer EV pickup to achieve its 400-mile range rating on a full charge.
