Chevy shows electric Silverado

100,000 pre-orders on the books

Last month NZ4WD took a deep-dive into the full-on Chevyfest that is opening up the big pickup sector for New Zealand 4WD buyers. We drove the Silverado Trail Boss and the Silverado LTZ Premium, and noted the impending arrival of the mighty diesel Silverado HD.

Only weeks later, General Motors in the USA announced an electric version, and almost immediately banked 100,000 preorders for the big truck.

The Silverado EV will be GM’s second EV pickup (the first is the Hummer EV). It will be based on the company’s Ultium battery and drivetrain and built in a 400,000 square metre assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan. Following a massive investment of USD$300 million and an addition of 400 workers in 2019, the plant re-opened to build the Chevy Bolt EV and will now add the Silverado as a key facility in plans to build 600,000 EV trucks by the end of 2025.

The Silverado will have a range of up to 640km (400 miles) with the larger 200-kWh battery option. Other important numbers: while also serving up 477kW (664 bhp) and 1057Nm (780lb-ft) of torque in dual-motor (4WD), giving a 0-100km/h time of less than 4.5 seconds.

This version of the Silverado will also have a tray-based payload of almost 600kg and will tow up to 4.5 tonnes, matching the tow rating of the versions on sale in New Zealand.

A GMSV New Zealand spokesperson said the Silverado EV is another vehicle in the General Motors line-up that demonstrates its vision of an all-electric future. The local organisation is not making announcements about the new EV model at this stage.