There’s a lot of grumbling in the industry as demand rises for electric vehicles. For truck purists who see the pickup truck as an integral part of American life, it’s hard to imagine a future where they will search for an electric Silverado dealer. After all, isn’t a pickup truck supposed to be loud, powerful, and ready to work?
The shift to an all-electric future leaves many to question whether the American truck we know and love will soon meet its demise. Is this the point where we have to exchange the jaw-dropping capability of our road warriors for the purr of an electric motor and unimpressive mediocrity? Naysayers seem to think so, but they obviously haven’t been introduced to modern marvels like the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV, a truck that offers a glimmer of hope for the future of America’s beloved workhorse.
A Modern Take on a Beloved Icon
It’s impossible to talk about the 2024 Silverado EV without first addressing the elephant in the room. That elephant is none other than the unique design that likens it to a modern version of the former Chevy Avalanche. It’s not hard to see the resemblance; you don’t even have to squint. But there’s more to the Silverado EV’s design than what meets the eye.
Chevrolet’s done something significant, courtesy of GM’s innovative approach to building a zero-emissions future. While Ford built the F-150 Lightning on the same body-on-frame platform as the best-selling F-150, Chevy took a different approach with the Silverado EV. Of course, the longstanding rivalry between the automakers is nothing new. However, the Silverado EV’s Ultium platform takes the friendly competition to the next level and ultimately gives Chevy the lead when it comes to innovation and the future of the truck segment.
Truck purists might appreciate the Lightning’s traditional platform since it gives them an easy argument that there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel. However, the remarkable Silverado EV takes the practicality of a traditional body-on-frame platform and blends it with a unibody frame to create a single-structure hybrid platform that redefines the American truck. The Silverado EV doesn’t discount its heritage but uses it as a stepping stone to evolve to better meet the needs of drivers.
Meet Ultium: The Platform That Redefines the American Truck
For GM, the future is electric, but the automaker anticipated its customers would need convincing. After all, electric vehicles haven’t always been accessible to the masses—as only people like Elon Musk and other wealthy drivers could afford lavish, self-driving cars that plug into the wall as easily as plugging in a smartphone. That was GM’s first obstacle; the automaker answered with Ultium.
GM’s Ultium Platform is designed to make EVs more accessible to everyday Americans, laying the groundwork for GM’s vision of building a zero-emissions future. The Utlium Platform’s modular design reduces overhead costs since it can be used on a variety of models, from SUVs like the GMC Hummer EV to trucks like the Silverado EV. This cost-effectiveness trickles down to customers—along with a host of other benefits.
Functional Space
The Ultium Platform is responsible for the Silverado EV’s unique design and its capability and handling. Physically speaking, the platform makes use of every inch of available space in the modern powerhouse. The result is an expansive truck that offers an astonishing amount of passenger and cargo room, versatile storage options, and a functional design that works with you and for you. For example, the Silverado EV’s electric powertrain frees up the engine bay, which translates to more storage via the eTrunk, a lockable weatherproof compartment that offers many accessories for customization. It’s hard to argue with additional storage, especially when hauling passengers and a full load in the bed.
Functional Features
Chevy is well-established as a pioneer in the automotive industry. Innovations like the Multi-Flex Tailgate and Multi-Flex Midgate help Chevy maintain that reputation over a century later. The Silverado EV’s Ultium Platform gave Chevy the freedom to design the most functional truck in the segment. The platform’s modularity and single-structure design made features like the Multi-Flex Midgate possible.
The Silverado EV’s Multi-Flex Midgate extends the truck’s versatility by giving you more options to haul passengers and cargo. The Midgate is integrated with the rear 40/60 split-folding second row. Its design allows you to carry passengers and cargo as you would in a traditional Silverado, or reconfigure the layout to better suit your needs. For example, you can fold the single passenger seat in the second row and open the smaller section of the Midgate. Or, you can fold the larger section of the seat and open the accompanying Midgate for more cargo room. In doing this, the Silverado EV’s 5’ 11” bed stretches to 9’ of storage—or 10’ 10” when used with the available Multi-Flex Tailgate and the primary gate load stop.
Capability
The Silverado EV’s Ultium Platform is also responsible for the truck’s capability and performance, which is really what American truck lovers are anxious to see. The million-dollar question is whether or not the Silverado EV will match the capability of its gas- and diesel-powered siblings. When Chevy unveiled that the Silverado EV isn’t a traditional body-on-frame truck, the question took on even more significance. Could this modern marvel even dare to match the capability and performance of its namesake? Spoiler alert: you can breathe a sigh of relief.
The modularity of the Silverado EV’s Ultium Platform means the truck offers a broad spectrum of power. The Silverado’s fleet-ready WT relies on the 24-module Ultium battery pack to deliver 510 horsepower and 615 lb-ft of near-instant torque, making it exceptional to accelerate off the starting line. Its power is also responsible for its 8,000-lb towing capacity and 1,200-lb max payload. Chevy even promises a future model capable of towing up to 20,000 lbs.
The Silverado EV RST is even more capable than WT and leverages its battery pack to deliver 664 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of near-instant torque, with exclusive technology like the Wide Open Watts Mode. This jaw-dropping power pushes the RST from 0 to 60 MPH in under 4.5 seconds. It’s also responsible for the truck’s 10,000-lb towing maximum and its 1,300-lb payload, which satisfies many cargo-hauling needs.
The Future of the American Workhorse
What does the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV say about the future of the American workhorse? First and foremost, it shows the pioneering spirit that defined Chevrolet in the 1900s is still alive and well over a century later. Chevy’s pioneering approach is responsible for the Silverado EV’s hybrid platform that challenges the traditional body-on-frame platform of rival models like the Ford F-150 Lightning. While Ford relies on an age-old platform to get the job done, Chevy thinks outside the box.
As a result, Chevy lays the groundwork for the future of American trucks like the Silverado. The Silverado EV proves that the beloved American icon isn’t on the road to its demise as the industry dramatically shifts to building a zero-emissions future. Trucks are indeed meant to be loud, rough, and ready to work, but that doesn’t mean they can’t evolve to meet the growing demands of drivers around the country. The Silverado EV is proof of that evolution. And, while it may not be as loud as its gas- and diesel-powered predecessors, it’s certainly ready to work—and in America, that’s what’s essential in a workhorse.
