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GM just electrified truck wars with announced Silverado EV's estimated range

The electric version of truck wars just got a jolt with the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV work truck.

General Motors' newly named president of North America, Rory Harvey, said Friday that the Chevrolet Silverado EV work truck will get a whopping range of 450 miles on a full charge.

That range will top the Ford Lightning pickup, which can get up to 320 miles of range on a full charge, as well as the Rivian R1T, which gets 314 miles; a Lordstown Motors Endurance at 200 miles, and even GM's own GMC Hummer pickup, which gets 329 miles.

General Motors President of North America Rory Harvey during a virtual media call on May 18, 2023.
General Motors President of North America Rory Harvey during a virtual media call on May 18, 2023.

"When you look at that range, particularly in respect to the work truck which is predominantly a fleet vehicle, we believe that gives us a competitive advantage in terms of those fleet customers," Harvey said of the Silverado EV during a news media briefing Thursday.

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The Silverado might be passed up in the future. Stellantis introduced the 2025 Ram 1500 REV pickup last month saying it will offer two all-electric options, one of which would offer a larger battery and the target is for it to hit 500 miles on a full charge. It is expected to market later next year.

The 2024 Silverado EV work truck will be offered in two range specifications. At launch, it’ll have an EPA-estimated range of 450 miles on a full charge, Harvey said, and "then we’ll have other variants that start to be introduced and we will have an option in terms of different configurations in terms of mileage.”

Shortly after the launch of the first Silverado EV work truck, the automaker said, another will follow with a GM-estimated range of 350 miles on a full charge.

Harvey said GM is on track to deliver the first work truck to customers this spring and start production of the RST later this fall. The RST is a more upscale model. According to Chevrolet's website, the starting price for a Silverado EV is $39,900.

The 2024 Silverado EV RST will travel an estimated 450 miles on a full charge. Image provided by Chevrolet.
The 2024 Silverado EV RST will travel an estimated 450 miles on a full charge. Image provided by Chevrolet.

Harvey credited GM engineers with having the “tenacity and working through all the different solutions" to surpass GM's initial target of 400 miles of range to reach the 450-mile mark.

“We look at refinements, we look at aero, we look at the way the vehicle is calibrated, the way the vehicle is set up," Harvey said. "There are so many factors that go into it. The team was able to refine it."

Separately, Harvey provided some additional highlights about GM's North American business this year:

  • Cadillac is on track to reveal three new EVs this year, but he declined to give any details.

  • The availability of semiconductor chip parts has improved, allowing GM to offer more affordable entry-level variants of its models compared with putting chips into higher-priced luxury packaged vehicles.

  • Sales of the Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV continue to strengthen, up 230% in total sales growth in April compared with a year ago. But GM stands by its decision to end production of the Bolt by year's end, after a nearly seven-year run. "It was time for the Bolt to come to an end,” Harvey said.

  • Chevrolet, Buick and GMC estimate sales of more than 1 million vehicles starting below $30,000 through 2023 and 2024 led by small SUVs.

  • The new 2024 Chevy Trax and Buick Encore GX are arriving in showrooms now, and the redesigned 2024 Chevy Trailblazer will arrive in the fall.

  • The new 2023 Buick Envista, which is coming this summer, starting at $23,495, Harvey said, will "be a conquest champion for Buick and General Motors."

More: GM has 15 EVs in lineup for China: Here's why they won't work in the US

More: GM Silverado EV, Ford Lightning buyers might toss brand loyalty to get electric pickup

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletterBecome a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 Chevy Silverado EV expected to lead in electric pickup range