There are very few automakers as iconic as Chevrolet. After all, they are as American as baseball, hotdogs and apple pie! But, while Chevy has been a part of the American automotive world since 1911, thanks to storied Chevy models like the Corvette and Impala, one Chevy vehicle has garnered the reputation as being a true workhorse of a work truck. Of course, we’re talking about the Silverado pickup truck, the trusty truck that’s served America for decades and is General Motor’s best-selling vehicle. 

But, as more truck buyers seek to ditch the standard internal combustion engine and join the hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) revolution. Plus, the upcoming release of electric pickup trucks like the GMC Hummer EV and Ford F-150 Lightning means Chevrolet has to stay competitive in an already crowded field of heavyweights.

So to help you get prepared for the release of this new electric pickup truck, here’s everything you need to know about the Chevy Silverado EV.

History of the Chevy Silverado 

While the first Chevrolet dates back more than a century, the Silverado helped usher in the modern Chevy pickup truck with its debut for the 1999 model year. Back then, the first-generation Silverado featured three cab styles: a regular two-door, a double cab (with two rear-access doors) and a crew cab with four full-sized doors. You can also see these same styles in the Silverado today. As for the engine, drivers had options that ranged from a 195-horsepower V6 to a 5.3-liter V8 that could push out as much as 275 horsepower. The Silverado 1500 also became the first pickup truck to feature an automatic transmission with a tow mode.

Second and Third-Generation Silverados

For the second generation of the Silverado (2007-2013), Chevy started from scratch with an all-new body and interior. Chevy also embraced a fresh engine for the Silverado and a completely reworked frame and suspension. Modern safety technology such as anti-lock brakes and side airbags became standard across the lineup. And at its peak, the robust V8 offered 403 horsepower and had a four-speed automatic transmission.

Due to some rising pressure from arch-rival Ford, Chevrolet launched the third-generation Silverado for the 2014 model year. For this iteration of the pickup, it featured a 4.3 liter V6 capable of 285 horsepower, while an available V8 cranked out 420 horsepower. A six-speed automatic became the standard transmission across the lineup. In addition to having a bolder, more blocky body, Silverado took advantage of hydroforming technology to incorporate a beefier frame. High-strength steel also upgraded the cargo bed.

Fourth-Generation Silverados

Sensing it was losing ground to Ford, Chevy hurriedly brought the fourth-generation Silverado to market for the 2019 model year. The boxiness of its predecessor was softened with curvy edges and a sculpted hood. But, distinctive body lines and a modern front end convey the Silverado’s muscular heritage. Thanks to a slight redesign to reduce some weight and a standard 310-horsepower turbo four-cylinder engine, the fourth-gen Silverado became Chevy’s most fuel-efficient full-size pickup capable of 20 miles per gallon (mpg) city and 23 mpg highway. 

Other engine choices include a 4.3 liter V6 with 285 horsepower, a pair of V8s and a turbocharged six-cylinder Diesel. The largest V8, with a 6.2-liter displacement, dishes out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to reach a 0-60 mph time of just 5.4 seconds! Not bad for a pickup. The smaller of the two V8s, the 5.3-liter, reaches 355 horsepower. 

Amid more than two decades of Silverado improvement has helped this pickup become one of America’s most popular vehicles. They are also one of the most reliable full-size pickup trucks available on the market, ranking 5th out of 17 total vehicles in its class, according to RepairPal. But, while the Silverado may be one of the tops in terms of reliability, unexpected breakdowns and repairs can happen. And unless you have recently purchased your Silverado and are covered under its factory warranty, you’d be left paying for these costly repair bills yourself. 

Instead, protect your gas-running Silverado with the Advantage auto protection plan from Endurance. This comprehensive coverage package can not only help with unexpected repairs and breakdowns not covered by any typical car insurance policy but will also include up to $3,500 in regular maintenance services to keep your Silverado running longer. That means you can get essential yearly services such as tire rotations, engine diagnostic exams, alignment checks and more, including help when it comes to a state safety inspection. Not only that, you will even have several other special, one-time services available to you, including a battery replacement, cooling system maintenance and more. 

About Electric & Hybrid Vehicles

First appearing in Japan in 1997, the Toyota Prius hybrid helped usher in the idea that cars didn’t have to rely exclusively solely on an internal combustion engine. Put simply, hybrid vehicles use an internal combustion engine paired with an electric motor and battery pack to operate, helping to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) also provide a limited electric-only range by charging the vehicle at home or at public charging stations throughout many major American cities and suburbs. 

And EV pioneers like Tesla further showed drivers that owning a vehicle that doesn’t require trips to the gas station or oil changes can help make car ownership a little easier. This concept gained further strength with mainstream all-electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt and inspired other EV automotive companies to spring up, such as Rivian. The appeal of EVs continues to grow as more car shoppers discover that fewer moving parts mean fewer repairs and maintenance.

But just because hybrids and EVs may need less overall repairs or can help you cut down emissions or how much you need to fill up at the pump, both hybrids and EVs need regular maintenance and can have unique repair situations. For example, hybrid cars still have conventional engines, so everything required for a normal car is needed for a hybrid as well, including oil and filter changes, fluid replacements and more. 

And while EVs don’t rely on an internal combustion engine, suspensions and brakes still need periodic work, and tires require attention. Plus, both hybrids and EVs have battery packs that are expensive to repair or replace. 

Everything to Know About the Chevrolet Silverado EV

While introduced to the public in early 2022, the Silverado EV will officially debut in Fall 2023 as a 2024 model year vehicle. Due to this, we won’t know all the details until closer to its release. For instance, Chevy hasn’t disclosed the warranty information for this electrified pickup truck. But, the Chevy factory warranty coverage for the Chevy Bolt EV features 3 years/36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and 8 years/100,000 miles of battery protection which can be crucial for owners of EVs, as hybrid batteries can cost upwards of $10,000 for some vehicles. For example, the cost to replace the high voltage battery of the Chevy Bolt could cost owners anywhere from $9,210 to $9,335, according to RepairPal as of early 2022.

So, it’s a safe bet that the Chevy Silverado warranty for this EV will be similar. Chevy vehicles also sometimes have factory coverage that includes powertrain protection that lasts for 5 years/60,000 miles, but it’s unknown if it extends to the EV version of the Silverado warranty.

Chevy has also stated that at launch, the Silverado EV will be available in three trim levels: the Work Truck (WT), Trail Boss and the loaded RST. Car and Driver also note that the Silverado EV WT, RST and Trail Boss trims are estimated to cost between $42,000 and $107,000.

That said, here’s a breakdown of what Chevy has shared about the new electric Silverado:

Range & Charging

The first thing Chevrolet notes is that the Silverado EV will have dual electric motors that can get an estimated 400-mile range on a full charge. Drivers will also be able to enjoy up to 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes of charging when using DC public fast charging. But when not out and about, drivers will have the choice of 120-volt and 240-volt charging at home. 

At the heart of the Silverado EV’s powertrain is General Motor’s Ultium platform, which features modular battery and drive unit combinations and can be used on a wide range of vehicles within the GM lineup. At the same time, Chevy is touting its app-based Ultifi software for over-the-air updates and other steps to maximize the Silverado EV. 

Motor Specs & Performance

To go along with the new Ultium platform and upgraded fast-charging, the Silverado EV will feature the RST trim and its Wide Open Watts (WOW) mode. WOW is the automaker’s marketing term for maximum power and translates into over 660 horsepower, 780 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. 

Storage Space

If you’re familiar with the discontinued Chevy Avalanche truck, you’ll see a similar cargo system with the Silverado EV’s Multi-Flex Midgate arrangement. A folding gate behind the rear seats combines the passenger compartment and the cargo bed into an area that can fit items almost 11 feet long when used with the multi-flex tailgate! The cargo bed’s 60/40 and standard bed configurations will also help you fit up to nine feet and just under six feet, respectively. The front truck, or “frunk,” if you will, will also help provide additional storage capabilities that standard pick-up trucks won’t have. If that wasn’t enough, thanks to the Silverado EV not needing a transmission, you could find even more storage space in the center console.

Driving Features

Standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and four-wheel steering (4WS) will make all Silverado EV models most capable in numerous driving situations. While AWD is ideal for bad-weather or off-road handling, 4WS adds a new dimension to being behind the wheel of a pickup. The system enables the rear wheel to angle itself in sync with the front wheels for smoother cornering and lane changing. In low-speed situations (like parking), 4WS turns the back wheels opposite the front wheels for easier maneuverability. The RST trim will also feature an adaptive air suspension system to help give you a smooth ride.

Chevy reports that the Silverado EV can tow up to 10,000 pounds, and future versions of the base WT model will be able to hitch a maximum of 20,000 pounds.

Standard Safety Features

Given the Silverado EV’s focus on technology, it’s expected that this truck will be laden with the latest safety tech, gear and features. Standard features of the Silverado EV will include forward collision alerts, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist/lane departure warning, automatic high beams and even a following distance indicator. 

Super Cruise Technology

While you need always to be alert and attentive while driving (including not looking at mobile devices), the Silverado EV will be able to help take some of the stress out of driving with GM’s highly-regarded Super Cruise. This driver assistance technology will be available on the Silverado EV and will offer hands-free driving and trailering across 200,000 miles of select road in the U.S. and Canada! However, just as we here at Endurance say, Chevy also cautions drivers to always pay attention when using Super Cruise and never use a hand-held device.

Additional Features

Some of the other additional features of the Chevy Silverado EV will include an aerodynamic design, modern lighting and available 24-inch aluminum wheels to help make this new electric pickup truck one that is truly sleek and stylish.

Essential Car Coverage for Today and Tomorrow

From the original Toyota Prius to the Tesla 3, the Rivian R1T or the soon-to-launch Silverado EV RST, the appeal of electric and hybrid vehicles will continue to impact the automotive world.

But for those who currently own a gas-powered or hybrid vehicle, it’s vital to protect yourself and it from unexpected and costly auto repair bills, especially once your factory warranty coverage ends. When that happens, you can rest easy with the help of an auto protection plan from Endurance. 

Along with helping to cover the cost of auto repair bills not covered by your typical auto insurance policy, Endurance customers can also enjoy the peace of mind of having 24/7 roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage and substitute transport reimbursement. Not only that, but you can even enjoy a full year of Elite Benefits, including tire replacements and repairs, collision discounts and more for just a small activation fee.

To get started with an Endurance auto protection plan, you can request a free quote or give our award-winning customer service team a call at (800) 253-8203. And be sure to visit our Endurance blog to learn more about a variety of automotive topics, including make/model comparisons, car care tips, DIY maintenance how-tos and more.