Here’s How Chevy Silverado EV Range Will Drop While Towing
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The hotly anticipated Chevy Silverado EV made its debut earlier this year at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, ushering in a fully electric iteration of the popular pickup nameplate. Although electric powertrains offer myriad benefits, including prodigious low-end torque and zero local emissions, questions over how an electric powertrain will fare when towing still remain, especially with regard to range. Now, we some insight into the issue.
In a recent interview with GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft, Chevy Silverado EV Executive Chief Engineer Josh Tavel addressed range estimates for the all-electric pickup while towing a trailer.
According to Tavel, “EVs aren’t too different from ICE vehicles, so they’ll typically lose 25 percent on the highway towing.”
At present, General Motors has unveiled two trim levels for the new Chevy Silverado EV, including the fleet-oriented WT trim level, and the well-appointed RST trim level. Silverado EV WT trims are equipped with the dual-motor e4WD powertrain rated at 510 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque, offering 8,000 pounds and 1,200 pounds of payload. Meanwhile, the RST trim is equipped with a more powerful dual-motor e4WD system rated at 664 horsepower and 780 pound-feet of torque.
Estimated range-per-charge for both 2024 Chevy Silverado EV trim levels is set at 400 miles. Both trim levels also feature public DC fast-charge capabilities up to 350kW, which is estimated to add upwards of 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Also of note is the onboard PowerBase charging system on offer, which includes up to 10 outlets and 10.2 kW of electricity to juice everything from worksite tools to recreational toys.
Under the skin, the all-electric pickups ride on the GM BT1 platform, the same platform shared with the GMC Hummer EV, including both the Pickup and SUV body styles. Providing the motivation is GM’s Ultium battery and Ultium Drive motor technology. Production is set to kick off early next year at the GM Factory Zero plant.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Silverado news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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Bull! We all know now that Josh Tavel is a lier, and I won’t be taking anything from him Here-on-out.
ICE engines are most efficient at WOT. That’s why a 4 cylinder straining on the highway is more efficient than a V8 cruising. WOT has no pumping losses and less thermal losses.
EV’s get less efficient with more load. Eletric motors are most efficient when current is low and less energy is being transformed to heat in the coils…. Like a ceramic coil heater. Batteries are most efficient at lowest discharge possible. As discharge and heat build, so does the internal resistance.
An ICE engine towing its own weight ( a Silverado 5.3 towing a tandem axle 7000lb trailer) will get ~ 12-13mph, a 40% reduction as the engine runs in its most efficient form.
An EV towing that same weight, albeit it’s not even its own weight will see it’s range cut in half or more as it drops out of its optimized power range. Expect the Silverado EV to get 30% its range when towing its 10,000lbs max rating.
This is very true regarding electric motor efficiency. Variable speed pool pumps/ Ac’s/ furnaces and air handlers have been using this method for a long time.
Running an electric motor slower (less power output) for longer will use a fraction of the energy compared to running it full tilt to do the same work in a shorter time frame.
Its work required, and energy consumption as a result. That 25% figure is likely only towing 2,000-3,000lbs.
The energy efficiency of an EV is staggeringly good, whether towing or not, the problem is it can’t store a lot of energy to go a far distance when towing. And then charging takes to long to refill that energy. A gas tank holds a lot more energy, and is filled 0-100 in 5 minutrs.
But an ICE wastes over 70% of that gasoline energy as heat, so you are not better off with gasoline as you may think.
Gas and diesel tanks still hold more kwhr storage, and have the greater potential output, than EVs. 130L gas tank in a pickuo truck holds 1200kwhr energy. Diesel even more, and more efficient further increaeing the spread disparity… versus max 200kwhr in a long range electric pickup truck. Until battery density greatly improves this will remain true. And the ICE truck is ½-⅓ the weight.
I’m an advocate of EV for commuter vehicles, like a sedan or midsize crossover, but they don’t fit the bill [yet] as a consumer pickup truck replacement if you’re actually towing and hauling.
We need more hybrid half ton trucks.
Ice is almost 40% efficient and fast approaching 50%. That’s the exact same you are getting with an EV while towing.
In the real world, gas engines in passenger vehicles are still only 25-35% efficient with the ultimate maximum limited by thermodynamics, which is precisely why they need to carry around so much energy. ICE will never approach the efficiency of an electric powertrain, whether it’s driving down the highway unloaded or towing 10,000 lbs.
One thing EV guys don’t talk about it how the power lost in the ICE happened with the EV also, it just happened at the powerplant, in the lines, and also in the charger itself. You’re most likely no better off converting from natural gas to electricity and sending it through the grid to an EV. I would like to see some numbers on it though. Wind, solar, etc, now there is a whole other set of issues to delve into.
The mass EV consumer (ie not the pure bred eco conscious) doesn’t care about that though. That fact is purely a copy and paste point from those against the EV push.
Mary B needs to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, go up!
You have to start somewhere!!! In the early 1900’s gas wasn’t nearly as efficient as it is today! I say move forward with electric!!!
Yes and when they adequately ready for towing, that is when to buy them for that purpose.
Towing will ALWAYS SPEND MORE ENERGY! Normal truck owners will burn more gas and get worse MPG, but I have never read any worries about that. So why make this an issue with electrics?
If you have to tow occasionally , then just forget about it. And if you have to tow every day, just change your lifestyle and accept the range drop as you would with gasoline trucks. Just as if had to carry you m-i-l or a back seat driver.
You’re the one that needs to change your life style city boy. Just because most of the population lives in cities you think the world revolves around cities. I know just like Biden says electricity comes out of the wall, city dwellers think milk and all their food comes from the supermarket. SURPRISE IT ONLY GETS TO THE SUPERMARKET AFTER MANY PEOPLE IN THE PRODUCTION OF IT WORK OUTSIDE THE CITY WHER EVs don’t work.
Brilliant response!! I wonder if he’ll even get it
Range drops 30-40% with ICE. It drops 50-70% with an EV. You’ll need an EV with 2X the range of an ICE for equivalent towing range. Considering EV’s currently have half the empty of ICE range, that is abysmal!
It all comes down to efficiency. EV’s are not efficient tow machines. You could make an EV’s opt for towing, but it would struggle with daily driving. It’s all about optimization. Ice is currently more flexible.
This is all the fault of Musk. If he had used his money to push forward hydrogen technology, this battery $h!t would be a non starter. Hopefully Toyota and BMW will accelerate hydrogen cell technology and we can all drive into the future with out digging up every square inch of this earth to find the last speck of lithium in every hostile country holding us hostage with their resources.
You forget that hydrogen powered vehicles need a $hit battery to store energy, too.
“Forgetting” implies that he knew anything about hydrogen power to begin with.
Hey if John Kerry says it’s best, who are you to question?
Just get in line lemmings and when the electric crashes from overload, just stay home like you did with the covid nonsense.
Never fear, the government will provide for you until they cant.
Meanwhile, enjoy paying to fill your tank while EVers have to fill…their washer fluid.
Hahahah
Do you know how much energy is required to make hydrogen?
I can’t think of a more upside down fuel.
Quit pandering to this embarrassing administration who know nothing .take your ev and stick them where the sun don’t shine
FJB
How about no? ICE vehicles can lose something more like 50 percent range and the EV isn’t going to be any better. A 5.3 Sierra will get 8 to 9 mpg towing a 7×18 4000 pound snowmobile trailer. And it can also get low 20s when not towing. But you can replenish the ICE vehicle fully in 5 minutes and go again.
One day you’ll be in line waiting two hours to get your rationed 10 gallons of gas. 1974 oil embargo and 1978 gasoline shortages. As you are waiting on line, EV’s will be driving by waving.
Rolling blackouts and no charge lol.
And don’t forget power outages from storms!
Cause gas station pumps run on what exactly?
They don’t take much power to run, can easily run off a building generator. Unlike the power needed for a DC fast charger. One of those might draw enough to brown out the grid.
EV owners can count on 1 hand how many times they use the fast charger.
Ah, so you will all charge off generators at home when the power is out, got it.
After you waited ten hours to recharge your EV….
It’s always the same constant bickering when an article on a EV bring up range and power. Anyone buying a EV truck should have enough common sense that an EV truck, at this time, is not for towing and heavy duty work. It’s perfect for city governments, municipalities and local utilities where most of the time the vehicle doesn’t leave its boundaries of service. Most PU sales are non working use, the home owner that uses it for travel to work, weekend jaunts to the big box stores or bring the kids to their ball game. There is a huge market for EV trucks.
I could have one since I’m retired, I use the bed for all kinds of stuff, bring boxes to our storage unit, bags of mulch, pressure washer, etc and usually not travel more than 20 miles a day. If I need to take a long trip, a 1000 miles or so I can rent a vehicle.
As far as efficiency the debate will never end. Too many place cost as an efficiency number, if it costs less, therefore it’s more efficient, only true on the wallet. Converting a energy source to mechanical energy is where you start. However, many will argue getting the energy out of the ground or mining minerals for batteries should be thrown into the equation.
Yeah, cause we totally want our municipalities wasting more money on even more expensive vehicles. I got a novel idea, how about they downsize, give us back 40% on our property taxes, stop these funky projects like EZ-go scooters that just get stolen or public transit rail that in every city only operates at survey verified 3% capacity. No. No. No, your ideas are idiotic…..just….stop.
….or public transit rail that in every city only operates at survey verified 3% capacity. ….”
Where the heck did you get THOSE statistics from?
Skytrain (Vancouver), C-Train (Calgary), Go Trains and Streetcar Light Rail (Toronto) ALL have greater than 50% of capacity loads during the day and at rush hour are approach 150% loads meaning people have to wait. You must live in the country! EVERY city with light rail has waaaaaay more people using it per hour than cities that use busses only!
That statement of yours is COMPLETELY and DEMONSTABLY FALSE !!! 3% capacity? NO! No! No!
In a place like VANCOUVER AND TORONTO it’s more like 50% to 70% capacity on average and 150% capacity during rush hours!
Those stats might apply in Canada but not in many Cities in the States. St. Louis is a great example where Metro-Link runs mostly below 15% due, in part, to the frequent shootings and other crimes committed on the Rails and at the Stations. The only time that overpriced fiasco runs at or near capacity, or even slightly over capacity, is before and after the Cardinals have a home game
It’s called hate and ignorance from people with zero experience, talking heads who repeat what they hear on TV. I have 2 EVs both my gas cars sit on battery tenders because they sit so long and I got tires of charging them when I wanted to take them out. I will always own an ev or 2
The “Bottom Line” is ENDURANCE! Travelling on the prairies or climbing over mountain passes are two different things when I’m pulling my 13,000 lbs. fifth wheel. My Duramax just goes where I point it and refueling is quick and easy. If I had an aux. fuel tank or a couple of extra 5 gallon jerry cans I can extend my range. “TIME” is very important when you are on vacation, working or retired! Waiting in line to “CHARGE” for extended periods of time is not practical, efficient or productive if you can even find a place to recharge. My rig is 60 feet long so stopping in at a charging station would NOT be practical unless it is a “Truck Stop”! Electric vehicles are good for short commutes but until battery technology or some NEW form of power can make ENDURANCE equal or better than Diesel /Gas we should go with what works and IMPROVE on it. Building massive charging beside the highways only destroys the beauty of our country. We have enough oil for generations to come in North America. Re-Inventing the wheel is NOT necessary if you have something that works.
Then an electric truck isn’t for you right now. But there are a lot of truck owners that don’t have a 60 foot long rig and all they’re doing is going to the local Home Depot or Best Buy.
“Zero local emissions “ and there it is… are we finally admitting EV’s aren’t as green as they are touting?
Only as green as your grid, and how many ev drivers even care.
Most people DON’T smoke, a pee takes me 60 seconds and when I’m on a 400 Mile Trip I don’t “shoot the breeze” with strangers or anyone else for that matter. Totally what’s wrong with this type of “thinking”
From my personal situation I can see some benefit from an EV truck. I don’t tow heavy weight, and range is more important. But, the limitation currently and for the near future is the lack of charging stations in areas I travel. Living in the SW the distances between points needs to be considered. And, when you arrive at your destination, say a campground / RV park … Can I conveniently find a charging station. Currently, the answer is no! Second consideration for me is warranty. I haven’t heard what GM is offering. I’ve always felt that if a manufacturer is offering a durable and reliable vehicle it’s reflected in the warranty. Therefore, if the warranty is not up to my expectations, the deal is off!
Current teslas take 3 days to fully charge on a 110v plug. I haven’t heard what it takes with the Silverado EV, but the bigger battery suggests 4-5 days without a dedicated 240V40A charger. Unless you only plan on going 20 miles a day, that won’t work.
You can plug an EV into any NEMA 14-50 “RV” outlet. Every state park in MI that allows RV camping has this type of outlet. I assume other states/parks have similar amenities for RVs.
Not everybody camps in a state park…I don’t, I boondock
Zero Local Emissions! Pay no attention to the power plant behind the curtain! EV’s are a novelty at best now when you consider high cost, small size and range anxiety. How much is that Silverado???
Per GM, it “starts” at $105,000 MSRP and who knows how much the stealers will add on top of that ? They are averaging $6K over sticker on the large GM SUV’s per the Tahoe/Yukon forum and it’s not unheard of for those wanting a new ‘Vette to see the stealers getting $30K over sticker for them.
The Rivian is unable to tow from Barstow to Needles without a charge in between which is unavailable and the new chevy is no different rendering it useless to me. I get that rhats not an everyday circumstance but if I can’t tow on a whim then my freedom is restricted which is what the greenies want by the way and that I cannot abide,
Wrong. The Chevy has a much larger pack and longer driving range.
EVs are a total joke and just a bunch of crap. Here are the reasons why.
1. The power grid we have now cant support them in mass.
2. Cant take a road trip in them of any distance (dont give me this bs of you can stop and recharge that will add hours to any trip at best).
3. The production and powering of them will produce more polution then ice by far.
4. Want last even half as long as a ice vehical under the same situation.
5. Battery replacement cost is atleast 30 to 50 percent of the vehical cost so hope you have deep pockets
6. Have to have a electrician install atleast 1 charging unit or have to count on using a pubic one everytime and hope you have 8 to 10 hours to kill enjoy.
7. You lose a little range each and every time you charge it and if you dont use it for a while it still degrades over time.
8. Extream cold kills batteries so enjoy if you live in a real cold climit cause a quick jump on a cold day like can be done with a ice not happen.
9. Cant get evs fixed easy or cheap almost everytime you have to take it to a dealership and pray you have enough in the bank to cover it or a limitless credit card handy.
10. Enjoy the brownouts evs cause because the powergrid we have cant handle the load of evs for even 25% of us and it will take years before it can and not just 2 or 3. The whole grid will require a total overhaul to handle things and that takes time and lots of it.
Where I live our power grids sure won’t be able to handle them…They cut the power on us as it is…We also have just in the last 3 years lost power from a storm, and the outages in EACH case was over 19 hours…EV?? Scary thought.
My Son, a Licensed, Journeyman Electrician, has been sent by his Company to install the higher-Amperage charging outlets in a few dozen homes that got a big surprise when they had to have an EV to keep up with the Joneses. Homes that already have 200 Amp boxes are almost always at capacity and need to be upgraded to 400 Amp service. In order to do that takes a healthy cash outlay. New Circuit breaker box, heavier gauge wiring in the home to feed it from the outdoor electric meter, new electric meter on the home’s exterior and permission from the local Electric Company to attach to their service after they do a lengthy survey of the area’s grid to see if the new “draw” on their service is within their capacity. Then, if the service comes in underground, that wiring needs to be dug out and replaced with larger Gauge wiring leading to the new Electric Meter. Most jobs are averaging about $4K and he’s had them cost all the way up to $6K depending on the circumstances. Meanwhile, the next customer with an EV and served by the same Substation might get a denial from the Electric Company when they petition to hook-up to the local grid …..SURPRISE ! This is another factoid the Government and GM don’t want you to know up front !
You are 100% correct. The GRIDS will not stand the load. Even Toyota knows the GRIDS will not carry the load.
MARY NEEDS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Installing an outlet for a EV charger is equivalent to installing a dryer outlet. And most houses are not pulling 200 amps.
Hey wisenheimer, … most current homes DO NOT have the remaining capacity in their 200A boxes for either another 40A or even 80A to be added. Their boxes are already full-up with circuits or the capacity is lacking ! I can tell you don’t have much experience at all after making that smartass crack. I was attempting to give you the benefit of the experience of a Journeyman Electrician who has been doing this for a while, but never mind, since you know it all already !
Big difference between the panel being full of circuits and being at capacity. VERY rare that a home would be maxing out 200A service. Installation of 400A service, to add an EV circuit, sounds like a complete sham. There are other ways to free of breakers in a fuse panel.
theflew is absolutely correct.
Okok whew
1st off I’m a journeyman electrician.
2nd I own 2 EVs a little spark ev and a porsche taycan
I ran power to both from the box with zero issues haha zero. I’ve installed about 40 EV home chargers. The biggest problem is running the conductors, it is as simple as hooking up a dryer outlet in fact you use the same breakers. EV charge at different rates depending on how many amps the vehicle is rated for my spark takes about 50 minutes from zero, but the tayacan takes about 35 minutes from zero because that car electrical system is rated at a high amp.
Clearly you don’t own a TESLA and want or need the supercharger, live where people haven’t employed their 200 Amp CB boxes to the point where an additional 40A or 80A is impossible to accommodate ( very unusual for a modern homeowner ) or live where Electrical Codes are very, very lax, or…you install without the proper Permit and post-installation Inspection by a Licensed Electrician. In any event, in my State and City there is a HUGE difference between a “journeyman” Electrician and the required studies and test Scores necessary to become a “Licensed” Electrician. IF your Porsche go-kart completely re-charges in 35 minutes it must have the range of around-the-block only.
You typed all that and still said nothing.
You’re saying you charge the 80 kW battery in a Taycan in 35 minutes on a home charger? A level 2 home charger only charges at a rate of 10 to 20 miles per hour…a DCFC that costs $100k+ couldn’t charge a Taycan that fast.
A journeyman electrician has thousands of hours of training under a master electrician after you pass all the classroom work, it takes years. I can work anywhere in the United States, you’re not an electrician so stop acting like you know what you’re talking about, you’re 1 of those guys that thinks he knows everything, eat the whole pie for breakfast
Awww, did you get your Knickers all in a Knot after being outed by two people ? I clearly said my Son is a licensed, Journeyman electrician, not me, so there you go again with the lefty trick of trying to put words in others mouths again to prop up your lies.
Exactly so like I said you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!!
Still trying to deny, deflect, discredit and demean because you got “caught” posting lies ? Too bad, so sad.
And I never said anything about a tesla, reading comprehension is a wonderful thing you should try it, have your “son” speak next time and stop trying to emulate him.
I didn’t claim that you did, but I sure did and explained that’s why you didn’t need more Amperage.. There you go again trying to put words and inferences into other’s mouths again. Another typical lefty trick that you never get tired of trying to pull. WISE UP, you’re wrong and will never admit that you got outed and are so terribly “hurt” over it !
You’re definitely an idiot, ignorance personified.
You said tesla earlier, senile and old also haha work on that Alzheimers and hurt for what, you kno what you’re the feminine type beta male, you can have the last word go ahead.
Turning off replies to your stupid, nonsensical, childish insults below because you got caught in your LIES by two different commenters is the typical trick of an extreme leftoid LIAR. Congrats, you fit the Bill and got caught at it making all those fabrications about being a “journeyman” electrician while lying thru your teeth. It’s people like you that are ruining this Country with disinformation. How’s Bidenflation working out for you…..since you’re clearly a Bidenite ?
You need a zoloft and a women.
Our area was just told no new power hook ups for the next ten years due lack of power available.
😏🥱
OMG for a bunch of people stating how important time is,
YOU SURE HAVE WASTED A LOT OF IT(TIME) on this argument
BLAHBLAHBLAH ICE BLAHBLAHBLAH EV. wow. get a life and stop wasting so much TIME on this argument!!!!!!!!
THIS is important to many people who have jobs & livelihoods that depend on transportation and this is the forum to talk about it and debate it. Why don’t you just move along and stop trolling
All the political BS, if you want a gas to tow, go for it, same for diesel and electric. IMO if you towing regional or have time on your hands go electric but anything that requires time and pace go for ICE.
I think the bottom line in all this is “Charging” and “Endurance” like I mentioned before. Those people like me who haul Commercial or Recreational vehicles will choose the vehicle that suits their lifestyle and requirements. If you live in a Condo, Apartment, Park on the Street you may NOT have access to any charging sources other than Commercial Charging locations. Yes, eventually charging stations will be more accessible. Think of the folks who deal with “Block Heaters” in cold climates and you will get the idea. The government wants us to move to electric vehicles but our Nations cannot provide the power to charge them when they reach the numbers they are pushing for and I don’t know about you but I don’t like waiting in line. ICE vehicles used to get good mileage before the pollution equipment came along. Spend the money on research to allow current and Future ICE vehicles to be pollution FREE and more efficient. We went to the moon, so lets channel that knowledge where it need to be. ICE vehicles should be the norm until a completely NEW self contained power source is discovered. We are NOT there yet!
100% CORRECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MAREY MUST GO!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE WILL LEAT THE TOTAL AND COMPLETE DISTRUCTION OF GM!!!
Agree, imagine a couple things. People trying to RV with an EV losing all their range if they are in the cold and towing. They will have to stop every 70 miles to recharge AND since there are no pull through charging stations, they will have to unhook go wait in line for an hour then go back and rebook up. Where are all those RVs going to park while their owners are waiting an hour or more in an EV line? Second, running out of a charge on the road….hmmmm….guess that means a tow truck. Run out on the road with a gas engine and someone can bring you a can or if you are smart in a truck you will have one in the back. All these governments rushing ahead are forgetting all the little things like this. Washington state being one with the 2030 deadline to no longer register any vehicles bought after 2030 unless it is an EV.
It not like these situations would just sneak up on you. In the cold as soon as you start your EV you know what the range will be. And why are you talking about the fringe cases? Most people just drive their vehicles back and forth to work, shopping and recreation. They are not crossing the country daily. If you have to do a lot of towing (up hill both directions) or you like driving 500 miles without stopping than an EV isn’t for you at this time.
They can build all the EV’s they want, I’ll walk before I ever own one. I do not want to stop every 100-150 miles or whatever it is to charge my car for maybe an hour or more vs 5 minutes to put gas in my car and back on the road. My wife and I travel and I will not risk getting stuck somewhere. You EV lovers will find quickly electric is not the answer and you will beg for gas. They can stick the EV up their backside and Biden and his cohorts can do the same!
yeah. One can always put a jerry can of gas in the back of a truck or have someone bring you gas if you run out on the road….how the heck is someone going to bring you a can of electricity???? LOL An EV vehicles will have to get a tow to a charging station if it runs out of charge.
You could always use a gas generator so your Jerry cans would still work, or carry a backup battery like people do with their smartphones. They’re just a lot larger than your standard phone power bank.