Transfer over, Lucid. There’s a brand new world file holder in EV vary. Engineers at Normal Motors just lately took a minimally modified model of the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck out on a real-world check and traveled a complete distance of 1,059.2 miles from a single cost.
The Chevy Silverado EV might differentiate fairly a bit mechanically from its ICE counterpart, which has been in manufacturing for almost 30 years, but it surely has made a reputation for itself as a flagship mannequin in Normal Motors’ all-electric lineup.
After debuting in 2022, the Silverado EV was launched a 12 months later as a full-size pickup in 2023. The 2 preliminary trims had been fleet-focused work truck variants earlier than a passenger-friendly RST model arrived in 2024. This summer time, Chevy launched the 2026 model of the Silverado EV, that includes an EPA vary of 493 miles.
That vary estimate additionally applies to the Max Pack Work Truck trim of the 2026 Silverado EV Work Truck, which GM engineers just lately used to attain a brand new world file for EV vary, besting the earlier chief by over 300 miles.
Silverado Work Vehicles nabs EV world file for vary
GM shared particulars of its latest world record-breaking EV vary check this morning. Per the American automaker, this engineer-led problem started as a ardour venture earlier than evolving right into a real-world check of a 2025 Chevy Silverado EV optimized for effectivity.
After we say “optimized,” we don’t imply this pickup was closely modified to attain such spectacular vary. Per GM, each the {hardware} and software program of the Silverado EV Work Truck had been left untouched. Listed below are the modifications that had been made earlier than testing:
- Windshield wiper blade place lowered to cut back drag
- Tires inflated to their highest acceptable strain for decrease rolling resistance
- Spare tire eliminated cut back weight
- Wheel alignment optimized
- Tonneau cowl added for smoother airflow
- Local weather management turned off at some stage in the check
- Testing was carried out in summer time for optimum ambient temperature for battery effectivity
With these optimization strategies in place, a group of 40 engineers at GM drove a manufacturing mannequin Silverado EV WT on public roads close to its Michigan proving floor over the course of seven days. To additional optimize the EV’s vary in hopes of a world file, GM stated the engineers used “sensible driving strategies” and restricted the pickup’s velocity to 20-25 mph all the time.
The outcome was an trade milestone and, per GM, a brand new world file in EV vary. The Silverado EV WT traveled 1,059.2 miles on a single cost, beating the earlier file of 749 miles held by the Lucid Air Grand Touring. The pickup’s vary tally additionally blew away the WT’s EPA-estimated vary of 493 miles.
Opposite to GM, Guinness documented and confirmed Lucid’s EV vary world file. Moreover, Lucid nonetheless wins in effectivity, because the Air Pure achieved 5 miles/kWh in comparison with 4.9 miles/kWh by the Silverado EV. Nonetheless, that isn’t to remove from the group at GM, as this newest real-world check has achieved a welcome trade milestone that must be acknowledged and celebrated.
Congrats to GM and the engineers at Chevrolet!