Silverado 4WT (Work Truck)
Cost: $78,000
Weight: 8,560 lbs
Payload: 1,427 lbs
Tow Capacity: 10,000 lbs
Unloaded Distance/Charge: 450 miles

 

Nuther truck priced out of the reach of every man. Fugly as sin too.

 

I watched a couple of other good videos on the Silverado EV this afternoon, and I’m impressed. It’s pretty clear where the money is going: the battery capacity of the 4WT is nearly twice the size of that under the Lightning Extended Range. That’s more than 3x the capacity of my Model Y, which enables the impressive range.

A couple of big downsides, though. It weighs 500 lbs more than my diesel F350 did and carries a GVWR of 9,900 lbs. I’m not sure I’d want to put something that heavy on the old concrete slab in my garage, and it would be really dangerous for other vehicles in an accident. This is over 1,000 lbs heavier than the R1T, which is the next-heaviest pickup on the road today.

Another big downside is charging time for that huge battery. I charge with about 45A out of my 240v charger. That’s about 12.5 kW, which would take nearly 20 hours to charge from empty. Very workable for most daily running around, but I’d want a bigger charge circuit if I took frequent long trips. This model Silverado goes significantly further than my current car, though, so I’m not sure I’d need it.

Compared against a comparable Lightning, you’re getting fewer options and a much bigger battery. It’s still pretty well-equipped though, and I’d happily take that trade. I’m keeping my reservation for the Silverado.

 

I'd just like to meet the people that design these EVs. I have yet to see one that is visually appealing to me. I also wish Ford wouldn't have brought back the lightning name for an EV. Shoulda been a single cab shorty F150 with a turned-up 5.0. But that's just my opinion.

 

I think it looks great. Less content than the Lightning XLT, but priced lower with a massive battery. Function is always above features for me, and I think the estimated 212 kWh battery would be a much better overall value. Lightnings are starting to accumulate on the lot, and this could be the nudge they need to start cutting prices.

I lost a bunch when Tesla cut prices shortly after I bought mine. I'm not in the market now, but I could be if the deal were right.

 

Looks like Chevy pulled the plug on the Work Truck. I can't tell if Chevy is coming or going!

Chevy Pulls the Plug on Affordable Silverado EV Work Truck (msn.com)

 

Such a misleading article. Their source material was this much better one:

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2023/06...not-happening/

The unit tested in the Youtube link you posted is currently in production. It’s a 4WT trim, which is the top level of their Work Truck trim at $78K. Almost all of that price difference goes into the massive battery pack. They’re not making the base 1WT trim, which was to start at $40K. But GM Authority thinks the lineup will start with the 2WT trim in the low $50K range. I don’t know that they intended to be misleading, but their headline is just wrong.

For perspective, the target pack price everyone talks about is $100 per kWh manufacturing cost. Most sources suggest that Tesla is the only one to beat that, so the packs GM is using likely cost more. That puts the production cost of that huge 212 kWh battery at over $21,000. That’s much of the price difference between the base trim and the big-battery one they showed to the press. The Lightning has either a 100 or 130 kWh battery, which is why they’re cheaper for an equivalent trim.

 

Thanks for clarifying