Chevrolet has released a short video of the towing capabilities of its Silverado EV ‘Work Truck’ ahead of the electric pickup’s arrival later this year.
The video shows the Silverado EV WT, one of the first editions of the Silverado EV announced this time last year alongside the off-road dedicated ‘RST,’ towing a 7,700 lb (3,492 kg) ‘Cougar’ RV. This is just a shade under the 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) towing capability Chevrolet specified for the Work Truck last January. The test was conducted by Chevrolet’s in-house engineering team, with vehicle chief engineer Nichole Kraatz’s comments on the importance of the WT to “tow, haul and do everything they can do in a ‘traditional’ pick-up truck” in-keeping with the American brand’s previous hopes that the EV, built from the ground-up as an electric pickup truck, offers “a boundary-breaking combination of capability, performance and versatility.”
The test is also in-keeping with claims from the vehicle’s 170,000 reservation holders: surveyed late last by Chevrolet itself, 87 per cent claimed that towing capacity was the prime reason behind their decision.
The Chevrolet Silverado EV engineering vehicle undergoing testing at General Motors Milford Proving Ground. Preproduction model shown.
The test doesn’t, however, demonstrate the range of the pickup under towing. The Ford F-150 Lightning has come under fire recently with various independent testing that show a dramatic drop in its electric range when towing heavy trailers.
Interestingly, this video is just the latest stage of the EV’s towing tests. The RST, for example, is boasts up to 10,000 pounds (4,534 kg) of capacity, while another unspecified “fleet model” set to be unveiled later this year could be capable of up to 20,000 pounds (9,027 kg).
The Chevrolet Silverado EV engineering vehicle undergoing testing at General Motors Milford Proving Ground. Preproduction model shown.
Alongside the video, Chevrolet has also confirmed further preliminary technical specifications for the Silverado EV. While updates on previously announced claims that the WT would feature at least 510 hp and 615 lb of torque have not been refuted (or updated), the ‘e-Trunk’ luggage area at the front of the vehicle – in lieu of the Silverado’s conventional V8 – provides 303 litres of storage space, while the ground clearance of the off-road dedicated ‘RST’ model is 227 mm. All editions of the Silverado EV will share the same 3,700 mm wheelbase – built on General Motor’s EV-dedicated Ultium platform – and feature the same ‘e4WD’, dual e-motor drivetrain.
Finally, Chevrolet has also released images of the 2024MY Silverado EV engineering mule being tested at GM’s Milford Proving Ground in Michigan. Plans are said to be on schedule for a Fall release this year.
