When I was a teenager, I used to spend winter’s cold Saturday afternoons watching a classic Sci-Fi lineup on the local FOX affiliate. Now, as an adult, when I see the jumps ahead we’ve taken in the automotive industry, I feel like I’m that teenager again. That’s how technology should make us feel when it’s used in the best way.
For the 2025 model year, there are more electric vehicles for sale than ever before. If you’re a truck fan, then you’ve already heard the name Silverado before; it’s one of the most popular trucks in America. Now it’s embracing the future with a fully electric version, the Silverado EV. After its exciting debut in 2024, what does this newest model year have to offer? I’m glad you asked that. Let’s explore this newest iteration of the Silverado and see how it embraces a brighter, cleaner future for the planet.
Oh, the Distances You’ll Go!
The first question everyone asks is whether getting the Silverado in EV form is beneficial. The best way to answer that question is to look at the battery ranges. The LT trim with an extended-range battery has an EPA-estimated range of 408 miles, while the RST trim with the max range offers 460 miles of range.
Now, that looks good on paper, but let’s try a little real-world application. If you invest in a Silverado EV, you will be paying an EPA-estimated $1,100 per year to keep your pickup charged. If you opt for a gas-powered Silverado, you could be paying as much as an EPA-estimated $3,900 per year for fuel; that’s over three times as much as the EV! The cost of the Silverado EV is a little higher than the gasoline version. It ranges from an MSRP of $73,100 for the LT trim and $87,300 for the RST Max Range trim. Once you add in how much you’re saving with each full battery charge, though, the pricing gap closes quicker than you’d expect.
Electrified Towing and Payload Capacities
One of the most common reasons that people switch to electric vehicles is to help minimize their impact on the environment. It’s an excellent reason. But if you’re choosing the Silverado EV, you still want to get a truck that can work hard. (Unless you’re someone who drives a truck for the love of trucks, which is another excellent reason in my book!). The Silverado EV can tow 12,500 lbs and carry a max payload of 1,800 lbs, allowing it to compete with its gas-powered counterparts.
Enjoying the Ride
No matter how much hard work you have planned for your Silverado EV or how utilitarian you go with the available options, you still need it to be a comfortable ride. You’re not going to be very useful at the job site if you’re numb from waist to knees. It’s even more vital when you’re driving long distances or taking a road trip. There’s seating for five in the Silverado EV. Do you really want to deal with four cranky passengers?
The Silverado EV embraces its versatility and offers the kind of comfort that you need in a truck you drive daily. The interior is spacious, preventing elbow sparring sessions when someone wants to reach for their drink and giving everyone room to move their legs. There’s plenty of room on the floor for people to drop purses and backpacks. The center console has an impressive storage bin that has room for all of those miscellaneous small items that find their way into your truck.
The available panoramic fixed-glass roof is my recommendation for the best option to upgrade the interior. Imagine taking that away from the city lights and enjoying a meteor shower. Or sitting in the parking lot while you’re running around town on a Saturday and watching a thunderstorm roll in! If you’re going to be more environmentally friendly by driving an EV, it just feels right for it to help reconnect you with nature.
Stay Connected and Entertained
It seems elementary that a truck that is built on the latest technology would bring that into all aspects of the vehicle. That being said, I’m honestly impressed with their available 17.7-inch infotainment screen. It’s not much fun to have to squint to see the GPS. If you’re like me and can’t drive without music on, you’ll love the compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The onboard Wi-Fi hotspot is standard, a feature that should excite drivers whose travels often take them where their phone doesn’t get optimal signals. This is also where you can set the climate control system, which is easy to use and intuitive.
An 11-inch Driver Information Center will provide you with all the needed information for your journey, which includes speed, mileage, and directions. You can also use the available Head-Up display to project the information on your windshield in a 14-inch diagonal box. After all, your Driver’s Ed teacher always told you to keep your eyes up and on the road. Now, there’s technology to make that easier than it was back in high school.
The Comprehensive Chevy Safety Assist Suite
The Silverado EV is part of Chevy’s continued mission to make their vehicles safer than ever by having the Chevy Safety Assist suite standard on all newer models. This suite has a range of features aimed at giving your safe driving skills a boost of extra support. This is accomplished through a series of sensors and cameras that detect an imminent collision. For example, an alert will sound, and if you don’t respond, the system will depress your brakes automatically to avoid or mitigate the severity of the impact.
It also includes features that can help correct bad driving habits, such as tailgating or lane drifting. One of my favorite features is the IntelliBeam automatic headlamps. Even after two decades of driving, I still have those moments of “Should my headlamps be on?” With the Silverado EV, that question is answered automatically based on weather conditions, traffic, and speed. Brilliant! Seriously. The Chevy Safety Assist suite adds another layer of protection to your journeys, keeping an extra set of eyes on the road and your surroundings.
A Bright Future Driven by the Silverado EV
If I could go back and tell 16-year-old me that we now have fully electric cars, he would have been excited. After all, the USS Enterprise was awesome, but it would’ve been impossible to park in front of my parent’s one-story ranch in the suburbs. The Silverado EV, on the other hand, would’ve looked amazing in that driveway. The future has arrived and it’s behind the wheel of this electrified Chevy favorite.
This isn’t just what the best technology does, it’s also what the best vehicles do, which go on to be labeled “iconic” and “legendary.” They connect the past to the present and make us anticipate the future. The Silverado EV is already charting a bright course while honoring the Chevy tradition of durability, performance, and capability. The future is here, and it’s a bright one. A healthier planet restored in part by building amazing trucks that continue to get better every year. That’s a future well worth looking forward to.
