DETROIT — General Motors sold approximately 14,000 Chevrolet Silverado EV units in the U.S. and Canada last year. This volume represents a smaller portion of the company's overall truck sales compared to its fossil fuel-powered Silverado models.

General Motors sells 10 times as many fossil fuel-powered Silverado trucks in a single quarter as it sold Silverado EVs in the entire previous year. The Silverado EV is available in an LT Extended Range model with a list price of $71,000 and a range of 410 miles on a full charge. The LT Max Range model costs $91,000 and offers a range of 478 miles.

Future plans for the Silverado EV include a shift to a lithium-manganese-rich battery chemistry later this decade. General Motors has indicated this new battery chemistry will reduce costs by approximately $6,000. The company plans to introduce this change sometime within the next six years.

The Silverado EV includes a 205 kilowatt-hour battery pack located midships. It is nearly 20 feet long and features four doors with a short bed that can be extended into the cabin. A stylistic "sail" between the cabin and the bed is designed to minimize drag.

Additional features of the Silverado EV include rear-wheel steering and a Google-powered infotainment system. Physical volume and temperature knobs are located below the vents, alongside HVAC buttons. Drivers can use the navigation system to estimate the duration they can use Super Cruise, a Level 2 advanced driver-assistance system, on a chosen route. General Motors has removed Apple CarPlay from its electric vehicles.

While the Silverado EV's towing range is 60% shorter than its non-towing range, approximately 75% of full-size truck owners tow at most once per year, according to Strategic Vision. An average full-size pickup buyer spends about $66,000 on a vehicle. Tim De Chant drove a Chevrolet Silverado EV in the Detroit metro area and recorded an efficiency of approximately 2.1 miles per kilowatt-hour.

Why It Matters

The sales figures for the Chevrolet Silverado EV indicate its initial market penetration compared to traditional internal combustion engine trucks. General Motors' plans to transition to a lithium-manganese-rich battery chemistry suggest a strategic focus on reducing production costs for its electric vehicles in the coming years. Features such as an extended bed option, Google-powered infotainment, and advanced driver-assistance systems represent the manufacturer's approach to electric truck design and technology integration.