The Sci-Fi genre of the 20th century set us up to believe that things would be very different by the year 2020: Flying cars, cars that operated on garbage, self-driving cars, and personal rockets that would zip us to our space-age houses in the ephemera. Ok, so we aren’t quite there yet, but major car manufacturers are working diligently to harness the power of technology to release a bevy of electric vehicles (EVs) upon the world, and you will soon find the results at your Chevy Silverado dealer in Houston.
In theory, it’s a good idea to take major news announcements made at the beginning of April with a grain of salt. After all, nearly everyone has fallen victim to an April Fool’s Day prank at some time or another. But when General Motors officially announced the 2023 Chevy Silverado EV on April 6, 2021, it was abundantly clear that this was no joke. The announcement came amongst a flurry of confirmation from a variety of automakers that electric work trucks are in the making. From proven producers like Ford and Tesla to newcomers like Rivian, it’s clear that the roads will soon be populated by zero-emission cars and trucks alike.
So what do we know about the Chevy Silverado EV so far? Not a lot, but enough to be curious.
Riding the Electric Wave: The Chevy Silverado EV
Electric vehicles are hardly a new concept. In fact, some of the earliest horseless carriages of the 1890s were battery-powered electric vehicles. Chevy even dabbled with the concept in the 1960s, releasing electric prototypes of popular models like the Chevette. As we entered the new millennium, consumers and engineers alike became increasingly curious about the potential of electric, hybrid, and vehicles powered by alternative fuel sources. It seemed every major auto manufacturer made a contribution to the EV world, with Chevy producing the Volt, the Spark EV, and the Bolt EV.
But there were complications. Despite the vehicles having all the bells and whistles of gasoline-powered cars, they weren’t what the public wanted. The range was too short, the interior was too small, and battery bumps made putting passengers in the back seat impossible. Acceleration was also too slow, and finding a way to charge up was too difficult.
Technology came to the rescue, however. After some tinkering, Chevy’s Bolt EV took off as one of the first production cars to offer a driving range that made sense for the daily driver, charging that could be accomplished in the comfort of your own home, and a backseat that could comfortably seat multiple people. Chevrolet suddenly became a major player in the EV game. In 2017, the CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra, announced that GM would produce a lineup of 20 electric vehicles by 2021, all of which would have a range of over 300 miles and make sense for the general public’s needs.
The timeline has changed, but the scope of the project has not. At the 2020 Barclays Global Automotive Conference, General Motors announced that 30 electric vehicles would be released before 2025, including the Chevy Silverado EV. And with the GM Hummer EV getting a boost in production scheduling, the Silverado, which will share many of the same components, gets a fast-forward as well.
The 2023 Chevy Silverado EV: What We Know
As with many brand-new concept cars, Chevy is keeping the details close to the pocket for now. Allegedly, images have been shared with the automotive press, but those privy to the sketches were asked not to photograph or share them.
On the other hand, General Motors has been somewhat upfront about the Hummer EV, and Chevy has confirmed that the Silverado EV will share several components with the Hummer. If that’s true, the Silverado EV will be able to power through 400 miles of range on a full charge. Up to three electric motors may be offered, mimicking the Hummer lineup, and drivers can anticipate all-wheel drive on these trucks.
Specs regarding payload and towing capacity haven’t been announced, but the public has been assured that the Silverado EV will be as work-capable as the gasoline and diesel-powered Silverado 1500. That may have an impact on the range and performance of the EV, but Chevy is clearly ambitiously working on those details.
Nor have trim levels been announced yet. Early speculation from experts portends three to four trims, ranging from basic Work Truck models for fleets to a tricked-out premium trim. This aligns with Chevy’s promise that there will be a full range of Silverado EVs for every driver. The Hummer EV has a variety of electric motors based on trim, so it is very likely that the Silverado EV will feature different corresponding trim and performance levels, as well.
The Powerhouse Behind the Chevy Silverado EV: GM’s Ultium Battery
So what makes today different than any other day in the EV timeline? Battery technology. GM’s proprietary Ultium battery has changed the game for how the automaker will produce EVs in the coming years. The Ultium battery is large but not in a cumbersome way. Virtual production capabilities have established new ways to engineer vehicles to reduce the battery bumps of the olden days and create a greater sense of balance, which in turn increases overall vehicle performance.
The capacity of Ultium batteries ranges from 50 kWh to 200 kWh, which would make it the largest battery to date. 50 kWh is fairly standard in today’s market, with Tesla’s largest offering coming in at 100 kWh and Rivian promising a 180 kWh option. Chevrolet has already noted that their enormous 200 kWh battery is intended for the Silverado EV, as well as other GM vehicles like the Hummer EV.
The increase in battery performance is linked to the reduced usage of cobalt in the battery components. Required for the manufacture of lithium batteries, which power today’s EVs, cobalt is rare, expensive, and difficult to source. GM has indicated the Ultium battery requires 70 percent less cobalt for a more affordable battery.
In the April 6, 2021 announcement, GM President Mark Reuss indicated that the GMC Factory ZERO assembly plant in Hamtramck and Detroit, Michigan, will be at the forefront of production for the Hummer EV and Silverado EV. Following a $2.2 billion investment in 2020, the Factory ZERO plant has been fitted to produce exclusively electric vehicles. The name refers to GM’s commitment to vehicles that produce “zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.” With a goal of producing over 1 million electric vehicles by 2025, the plans are ambitious but well-considered. CEO Mary Barra has confirmed that over half of GM’s total spending continues to be allocated to the project.
A New Era for Trucks
While the electric vehicle has waxed and waned in popularity since the invention of the automobile, it seems that the time has come for the trend to take hold. With California banning gasoline vehicles by 2035, it seems more urgent than ever for automotive manufacturers to create a sustainable, enjoyable, and easy-to-operate lineup of electric vehicles for public consumption.
There are many electric trucks on the horizon, with Tesla, Ford, and Rivian all racing to produce the first functional work truck with zero emissions. Still, the Silverado version holds particular interest to drivers across the United States. Can Chevrolet create an electric version of a long-term classic? Will it perform adequately? Is this the turning point for the future of the automotive industry? We have minimal details at this point, but GM’s confidence in their project is inspiring. The public has time to speculate and daydream about the possibilities, while Chevy feeds us just enough details to keep us interested. But remember: All will be revealed by 2023.
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