Prototypes for the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV have been on public roads for the past six months, and Chevy has released a video showing some of the ongoing testing.
The video shows a prototype for the standard commercial version of Work Truck, aimed at businesses, performing a towing test with a 7,700 pound trailer. The work truck’s maximum towing capacity is 8,000 pounds, but a top-of-the-line RST class offers up to 10,000 pounds of towing capacity. The two versions have payloads of 1,200 and 1,300 pounds respectively.
Chevy said it has more than 170,000 reservations for the Silverado EV, though that number is likely to drop once order pricing begins later this year. The automaker said around 87% of reservation holders said they plan to use their electric trucks to tow.
However, towing can be a big drain on an EV’s range, and Chevy hasn’t said what distance the Silverado EV will travel as it nears its maximum towing capacity. The RST will have a 200kWh battery and an estimated range of around 400 miles without a load. Chevy has yet to confirm a battery and range estimate for the Work Truck.
We know the Work Truck will come with a dual-engine, all-wheel-drive drivetrain good for 510 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. The RST will have a similar powertrain, but 664 hp and 780 lb-ft.
Underpinning the Silverado EV is the General Motors Ultium EV platform and battery pack found in vehicles like the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq. At 233 inches long, the truck is about an inch longer than a Silverado 1500 with crew cab and short bed. A trunk is featured up front, while opting for a multi-flex tailgate allows you to fit items up to 10 feet long in the bed.
Prices start at $39,900 for the Work Truck. Chevy hasn’t announced pricing for the RST, but a special RST First Edition launch model, available this fall, will start at $105,000. Both prices without destination.
The Silverado EV and a related GMC Sierra EV Denali will be built at GM’s Orion Assembly Plant in Orion Township, Michigan, which is currently undergoing a $4 billion upgrade to accommodate production of the electric trucks and other future electric vehicles support.
