The Chevrolet Silverado EV drives like a car. It has a massive frunk, a roomy back seat, over 400 miles of range, and it can power your house during a blackout. It’s quiet, it’s smooth, and Super Cruise handles freeway driving hands-free. Sounds like a winner, right?
Apparently not. GM sold about 14,000 Silverado EVs last year across the US and Canada. The gas-powered Silverado sells ten times that in a single quarter.
So what gives? Price isn’t really the issue — a Silverado EV LT Extended Range lists for about $71,000, and the average full-size pickup buyer spends $66,000. Towing range takes a 60% hit, but 75% of truck owners tow at most once a year. Those aren’t dealbreakers.
The real problem might be inertia. Truck buyers worry about range, charging infrastructure, and probably a dozen other things. GM bet the EV would sell itself. It didn’t.
The good news? GM has hinted at a new lithium-manganese-rich battery chemistry that could cut costs by $6,000 while keeping the range. If those savings reach buyers, price parity with gas trucks becomes real. Maybe then the Silverado EV gets the attention it deserves.
It’s a solid first draft. But first drafts don’t win pickup truck buyers over.
