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What It’s Like To Tow With The 2024 Silverado EV RST: Video

So there I was, on a sunny day in May in metro Detroit, behind the wheel of the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV RST with an electric boat in tow. The irony of using Chevy’s first-ever electric truck to tow an electric boat was quite fitting. Though the cargo weighed somewhere in the vicinity of 6,500 pounds combined, well below the Silverado EV RST’s 10,000-pound max towing capacity, it was enough to get an understanding of the RST’s towing chops.

If you prefer to watch a video instead of reading, then scroll on down and click play on the video below.

A leisurely application of the throttle makes an instant argument for towing with an electric truck. The acceleration is so smooth and effortless that I admit to (almost) forgetting that I was towing anything at all. While a truck with an internal combustion engine, which – even with the big boy Duramax V8 – must work to pull the cargo, revving, shifting gears, and then repeating that symphony over and over again, the instant delivery of power and torque in the Silverado EV’s powertrain makes towing a breeze.

Indeed, the Silverado EV’s 754 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque, put to the ground via a dual-motor e4WD setup, is delivered instantly and quietly. These qualities transfer directly to towing. In fact, I would argue that – based on acceleration alone – Chevy’s first-ever electric truck makes towing substantially more approachable for those who haven’t towed or don’t have much experience in towing while equipping seasoned towing veterans with a healthy grin thanks to the truck’s no sweat demeanor and the confidence that this brings.

Now, my personal vehicle fleet consists of three vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and a grand total of zero powered by batteries. In fact, my daily driver is a Corvette C7 Grand Sport (with the seven-speed manual) that makes all the proper sounds, which I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate, and which will be difficult to replace with an EV, no matter how quick or fast it may be. But when it comes to towing – which is typically fraught with more stress than driving without a trailer – the equation changes. Rather than listening to a truck engine under load, the Silverado EV delivers a near-silent operation with no muss, no fuss, and a lot of go.

Braking is as important as acceleration when towing, and I’m happy to report that the Silverado EV RST excels here, too. Braking with the 6,500-pound rig in tow felt sharp and solid. The brake pedal is almost perfectly modulated, with the right amount of travel before the pads begin to make contact with the rotors. But wait, it gets better.

Like all of GM’s electric vehicles released over the past decade, the Silverado EV RST features Regen-On-Demand braking via a paddle on the left-hand side of the steering wheel. In the case of the Silverado EV, this feature is progressive, meaning that the harder you pull on the paddle, the more regenerative braking you’ll get. This is opposed to an on-off paddle, which either engages regenerative braking at 100 percent or doesn’t engage it at all. Regardless, give the paddle a pull, and the truck’s motors begin to spin in reverse, slowing the vehicle while also recharging the battery by capturing energy that would have otherwise been lost to heat. Already a neat feature by itself, Regen-On-Demand takes on a new level of importance when towing since the added mass and “push” of the trailer will enable the truck to recapture even more energy. It gets even better yet.

The Silverado EV RST features Super Cruise with Towing. Using the semi-autonomous highway driver assistant with a trailer is quite literally the definition of the future, as it enables hands-free towing – a trifecta of words that never occurred to me until GM launched it. I turned on Super Cruise, let go of the wheel, and let the truck deal with the rest. And deal with them it did, building on the effortless, smooth, and silent operation of the powertrain and the confident braking ability.

A quick note about Super Cruise: Though this version of the technology will perform automatic lane changes and change lanes on demand, neither of these extensions is available when towing.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Silverado EV RST features Rear Wheel Steering (RWS), which helps the truck make tighter turns and handle better at speed. As you may imagine, RWS also helps when making tight turns when towing. I managed to find an empty three-way intersection on a desolate dirt road and proceeded to make three continuous tight turns that would have probably required a three-point turn in a Silverado 1500.

Hit the play button below for my first-hand impressions of towing in the Silverado EV RST.

I can think of three demerits, but not one is directly related to towing in the Silverado EV RST.

First, the near $100K price of the Silverado EV RST First Edition is no chump change, even for a smooth and effortless towing machine. For that amount, one could buy two well-equipped Silverado 1500s or a fully loaded Silverado HD and still have a few grand left over for fuel.

Second, the materials in the EV RST are pretty good and certainly better than in the Silverado EV WT. However, I would have liked to see higher-quality materials at this price point. As it stands, the Silverado 1500 LTZ or High Country has better materials than the EV RST First Edition, particularly as it relates to the outboard (door) armrests, the door card in general, and the dash.

Third – the sunroof. The EV RST features a glass roof, finally bringing an oversized or panoramic roof to the Silverado nameplate. This has been a much-requested feature of many Silverado owners, fan and enthusiasts the world over, including yours truly. Though it’s fixed, meaning it can’t open like a traditional moonroof or sunroof, it makes the interior feel quite spacious and has a certain “cool” factor about it. In other words, it presents very, very well.

The problem is, it doesn’t have a cover of any kind, at least from the factory. The glass is tinted and treated with anti-UV and anti-heat properties, but the sun and heat still get into the cabin. This wasn’t much of an issue when it was overcast during the morning in metro Detroit, but started becoming a bigger issue as clouds dissipated later on in the day. I imagine that it will be much worse in areas that receive a lot of sun like Texas, Arizona or Florida. Some kind of a cover or shade is needed, no matter how much that glass is treated.

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Comments

  1. Alex… thanks for a great review. I have my order in for an RST FE based on your initial review of the Silverado EV Work Truck last year. I managed to test drive a Silverado EV Work Truck at a dealer a few days ago to see how good it will be… and was impressed with how well it drove… I can only imagine how great towing must feel on the more powerful RST.

    Reply
  2. It’s rather obvious that an EV has the power to tow, the issue is range. Towing a boat (or a Tesla on a trailer) would probably result in decent range. Towing a travel trailer horrible range. The issue towing travel trailers isn’t weight, it’s aerodynamic drag. No one is going to want to tow a travel trailer if they have to stop every 150 miles to recharge.

    I’ll add though that it’s absurd to suggest a Duramax V8 would even notice a 6,500 trailer behind it.

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    1. Fortunately the Silverado has no aerodynamics either, so the additional aero-drag from a travel trailer won’t be as pronounced as it would be with just about any other EV truck.

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      1. Not sure if that was intended as a joke, but not at all correct if it wasn’t.

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        1. Kary – some thoughts regarding your original comment.

          1. I’m not sure that EVs having the power to tow is something I would call “obvious.” A substantial amount of the populous who have no idea what it’s like to tow with an EV, let alone drive one.

          2. The drive time with the trailer wasn’t exhaustive enough for me to test range anywhere close to properly. But, as I discuss in the video embedded in the article, I was told by engineers that the drop in range (loss of efficiency) for the Silverado EV when towing is roughly the same as for ICE trucks. It all depends on driving conditions and trailer size, weight, shape, etc.

          If range is an issue, then an EV might not be for you. This is exactly the reason you have Silverado 1500 and Silverado HD on sale today, and for many years to come. I can see range NOT being an issue for those who work with their trucks. That obviously changes if one is planning on driving cross country with a trailer.

          3. Regarding a Silverado HD not “even noticing” a 6.5K trailer – it seems you missed my point, which is that an ICE truck’s powertrain tells you full well that you’re towing, whether you have 6.5K or substantially more. Regardless of whether you’re in a Colorado or a Silverado HD, you still get the revs, the up shifts and the downshifts for engine brake, and all the drama that comes with it. Though I personally like that, I can see many who would prefer the serenity and “no sweat” demeanor of the Silverado EV’s towing characteristics.

          – Alex from GM Authority

          Reply
          1. Alex,

            On the first point I was thinking more of those familiar with EVs and their attributes. I’m sure there are those who don’t know their attributes.

            I’d agree with the second point, but with adding that with EVs that are towing long distances the recharge time currently is much longer than the refueling time for ICE. It would get rather annoying for a long tow with multiple stops. And that’s why range is so important towing travel trailers.

            On the last point you mentioned not just the Silverado HD, but the Duramax version. Those V8 Duramax engines don’t really go above 2,000 RPMs very often. And they tend to have pretty high HP and torque numbers, so 6,500 pounds is really nothing for them too. You could tow that much with one of the under 3.0 liter turbocharged gas engines they put in some half tons today, but with the high revs you’re concerned about, and the range issue I’m concerned about (without the refueling issue).

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    2. What is the range with a travel trailer!!!???

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      1. When in doubt…ask AI!!!: (From google gemini)
        The exact distance a Chevrolet Silverado EV could tow a 6,500-pound travel trailer depends on several factors, but we can look at estimates and real-world examples to get an idea:

        Towing capacity: The Silverado EV comes in two trims with different towing capacities. The Work Truck starts with 10,000 pounds, and the RST goes up to 14,000 pounds. So, weight shouldn’t be a problem for towing a 6,500-pound trailer.
        Battery consumption: Towing significantly increases battery drain. There aren’t official figures yet, but a YouTube video [YouTube video of Silverado EV towing] showed a Silverado EV towing a 6,500-pound trailer for about 232 miles on a single charge.
        Other factors: Speed, terrain, weather conditions, and trailer aerodynamics can also affect towing range.
        Considering these points, the Silverado EV could potentially tow a 6,500-pound travel trailer for around 200-250 miles on a single charge. However, it’s best to factor in a buffer and be prepared to recharge more frequently when towing.

        Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

        Charging availability: Finding charging stations suitable for towing large trailers can be more challenging. Planning your route with charging stops in mind is crucial.
        Trailer weight: While the Silverado EV can handle a 6,500-pound trailer, staying under the maximum towing capacity is always recommended for optimal performance and safety.
        For the most accurate information on towing range, it’s best to consult the official Chevrolet Silverado EV towing guide once available or refer to real-world towing tests as they become more common.

        Reply
        1. Unfortunately AI bases its answers on Internet posts, so is inaccurate. Most the towing information on Reddit is wrong.

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          1. This did reference a youtube video that showed 232 miles range. Seems about right in real work use cases. Similar to an ICE…mpg gets cut about 40% when towing something big and bulky…

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  3. No mention of range in the article, an EV truck’s towing Achilles tendon

    EV trucks are a novelty in their current form. Need some SIGNIFICANTLY improved battery density to make them logical as a family vehicle that tows boats and goes on trips

    Reply
    1. Boats aren’t that much of an issue for the reasons I mentioned in my other post. It’s the aerodynamic bricks that are travel trailers that are the problem.

      And I see the issue being more about recharging times. People tow travel trailers with midsize trucks that probably only go about 150 before refueling (e.g. Ford Rangers), but they can refuel in 5 minutes. Some people put up with that. Not me.

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      1. Sorry but a 6500lb boat WIlLL greatly impact the range. lol what!? And I said “towing” , not specifically towing a boat. Gotta read before you write.

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        1. You did specifically mention boats. And towing on flat at steady speed they will not impact much. Uphill or stop and go, sure

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  4. I just bought a used Lexus GX 460 because I need to tow a light 1400lbs. travel trailer…the Silverado EV is the only EV out there that I would consider as it could probably go 275 while towing compared to 200 on anything else. But add in the $100k+ price and it’s a joke.

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  5. I was looking forward to a review of the electric boat too.

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  6. $100k for a half ton truck is not realistic for the general public. These are for rich people for virtue signaling.

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    1. I would buy this at $60k because that’s what I think it’s worth. Even if people are rich it doesn’t mean that much money for a car makes financial sense!

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  7. It’s not worth $100k! Lets talk about the range when you hook up a 6500lb trailer! You might make it 100 miles?? Then take another 3 hours to charge and be on your way another 100 miles?? What a joke. So it would literally take me one full day to get out to the black hills and go side by siding!!! No thanks!

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    1. Sorry but that’s not true. The guys on Out of Spec reviews did a test while towing with this and i think it got around 300 miles. It has 450 miles range when full, but you only really get about 85% of that so that you don’t end up with 0 miles somewhere so realistically, you’d get about 285 miles per full charge. Just saying you don’t lose 75% of range towing a 6500 lbs trailer.

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      1. As I recall, Out of Spec was towing a Tesla on a flatbed trailer. Not exactly the same as towing a travel trailer where the loss of range will be much greater. Aerodynamics is the key difference.

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        1. Maybe so but a travel trailer vs. a 6000lb tesla isn’t going to automagically make you lose an extra 185 miles worth of range per charge. It’s just isn’t. It’s likely closer to a 10% deviation.

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          1. You are really underestimating the effect of drag. But just a guess, I’d estimate maybe losing at least another 80 miles, or 20 percent more. I get about 50 to 60 percent of range with an ICE towing a 5000 pound trailer that is only 7 feet wide. No reason to think an EV would do better, especially since regenerative would be nill except on very steep grades.

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  8. This is an impressive machine. I personally look forward to more affordable versions coming soon.
    With 440miles of range this towing an 8000lb trailer should still be able to do 200 – 250 miles comfortably. And with 350KW charging it charges reasonably quick. This has the larger 24 module >204KWh usable pack.

    Personally I think the 20 module >170KWh usable battery pack will be the sweet spot. More affordable, higher payload and towing. Still get’s >300KW peak charging rate. And still get’s great range (~390miles). Towing range for this should still be 175 to 200 miles with a fairly large and heavy load.

    I look forward to a Tahoe EV with a 20 module pack.

    And I think the 2026 Bolt will have an 8 module LFP pack that will come in about 60KWh.
    A base double stack version of this pack 16 module LFP 120KWh would make for a great base battery pack for the GM BT1 SUV’s and Trucks.

    Reply
    1. You raise another issue. Battery eating into payload, another factor unfavorable to travel trailers which tend to have higher tongue weights (and much higher pin weights on 5th wheel trailers). The F-150 Hybrid basically is limited to towing a travel trailer that could be towed by a midsize due to rather limited payload.

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  9. Based on another comment I Googled the payload on this. If the 1,500 answer is correct, that’s midrange truck payload. Actually, some midrange trucks have greater payload.

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  10. It’s the perfect vehicle for very rich people who live just a few miles from a lake to tow their boat to.

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  11. I guess he doesn’t know Chevy? They don’t go all out with leather for people who the money for it. You have to move up to GMC for that. Chevy is for everyone big and small. It’s a EV Truck RST.

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  12. I will stick with my Sierra 1500 Duromax, thank you. I can easily get 300 miles range when towing our 5500 pound travel trailer, and close to 600 miles when running light.

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  13. Perhaps a tinting system similar to the Celestiq’s could be devised for the Silverado EV.

    Reply
    1. A sunshade is on the way in 2025…

      Reply

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