1,700 km in a single load for this large 3.4-ton pick-up: How is it possible?
A large American electric pick-up that travels more than 1,700 km without recharging, it looks like a stuffing. However, this is what a team of engineers from General Motors managed to do, with a Chevrolet Silverado EV.
Among the autonomy records that are difficult to design, it deserves the detour. A Chevrolet Silverado Ev Work Truck has just broken the world’s distance record traveled in a single load: 1,705 km (1,059.2 miles). It is more than double its autonomy approved according to the American standard EPA (793 km), which is more strict and realistic than our WLTP standard. This record was validated by an independent organization, which has monitored the entire route. So there was no cheating, but there is still something.
The Chevrolet Silverado EV is unknown in our regions, and for good reason: it is an electric pick-up of very large size 5.9 m long. In size, it is a direct competitor of the Ford F-150 Lightning or the Tesla Cybertruck. The Silverado is however equipped with a huge 205 kWh battery and engines developing a power of 510 hp. A bit like Hummer EV, where the model is also illustrated, it is on its empty weight of about 3,350 kg. It is difficult to imagine such a behemoth display a city efficiency.
A feat of engineering and patience
The feat is not due to modified equipment. The pick-up was a series model, simply carefully prepared, with some advanced settings to further optimize autonomy. It is the press release from the brand that details some of the settings that may seem anecdotal (even laughable):
- Wiper arm set to the lowest acceptable position (gain on the drag);
- Tires inflated to their maximum pressure (reduces rolling resistance);
- Optimized wheels parallelism (improves air flows);
- Retired spare wheel (weight gain);
- Bench covered with an accessory tower cover (limits air turbulence).
All the details count, so the drivers were generally alone on board, the air conditioning was cut and the test was carried out with optimal weather conditions. But all this explains how the vehicle was able to go from an EPA range of 793 km to almost 1,000 km more, with an average consumption of 12.7 kWh/100 km.
The secret of driving in hypermiling
If there is no cheat to reach this record, it should still be specified that the vehicle has driven at optimal speed to limit engine consumption. The drivers therefore circulated between 32 and 40 km/h. It is for this reason that the test was to go around in a zone around the Milford test center, in Michigan. The GM team has chained the one hour relays for several days, lending itself to the game of ecoconduite, or in the present case of a so -called hypermiling conduct.
While Lucid celebrated his record of 1,200 km in a single load on his sedan, this big pick-up seems to win the spotlight. Except that the Lucid sedan rolled up at the speeds recommended for traffic on different roads, including the highway, not in turtle mode, inaccessible in real life.
A record for the image, but not only
It is a simple discussion with colleagues that launched this a little crazy challenge. Looking at the characteristics of the Silverado EV, with its Ultium battery of more than 200 kWh developed internally, some engineers began to speculate: how far can we really go with a single load? Thread by needle, the joke has become a life -size test. And the feat has transformed in the event of a serious study.
Kurt Kelty, the Battery Patron at GM, stresses that this record autonomy ” is not a coincidence ». It is the result of a work pushed on all fronts: material chemistry, electrical architecture, on -board software, and energy management. Everything was sifted through. One way for GM to say that they are not technically late on electric.
As for the electric skeptics which are still wondering if an electric pick-up can actually keep the distance … There is now a quantified response, even if it is necessary to go damn soft on the accelerator. This Silverado proves that we can be a giant far too heavy, while being surprisingly efficient. It is not a useful record, but it is a strong message.
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Hi! I’m Renato Lopes, an electric vehicle enthusiast and the creator of this blog dedicated to the future of clean, smart, and sustainable mobility. My mission is to share accurate information, honest reviews, and practical tips about electric cars—from new EV releases and battery innovations to charging solutions and green driving habits. Whether you’re an EV owner, a curious reader, or someone planning to make the switch, this space was made for you.
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