Chevrolet Silverado EV: Around‑Town Hero

By all outward appearances, the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV looks like the future of the American pickup truck. It’s sleek, sculpted, and packs more technology than a Best Buy. But for all the hype around zero-emissions towing and torque-on-demand, the Silverado EV is a tale of two trucks: one built for the Whole Foods parking lot, the other gasping for breath the moment you hitch a trailer, which in Texas is a problem.

City Cowboy

Let’s start with the good. Around town, the Silverado EV is a dream. The ride is whisper quiet. The electric torque gives it the kind of off-the-line punch that makes merging onto the freeway feel like a drag strip pull. Four-wheel steering makes U-turns feel like you’re in a midsize sedan, not a full-size pickup. And with nearly 400 miles of range in ideal conditions, there’s not much range anxiety when your daily drive consists of stop-and-go traffic and coffee runs.

Inside, it’s all screens and slick surfaces. The cabin is upscale without pretending to be a luxury lounge, and the massive center screen handles everything from nav to trailering settings. The front trunk (they call it an eTrunk) is a nice bonus, and the overall packaging is innovative for folks who spend more time hauling groceries than gravel.

The Towing Trap

But take that same Silverado EV out of its city element, hitch up a trailer, and head west on Highway 290, and you’ll start to see where the polish wears thin. Towing capability is technically solid on paper; it can move the weight, but real-world range drops as much as 50% once you start towing. Sure, it can tow 10,000 pounds, but not very far. If you’re hauling a boat to the coast, livestock to auction, or a camper out to your deer lease, expect to make peace with long charging stops, assuming you can even find one, as pull-through chargers are few and far between. This means that charging often requires unhooking your trailer and backing into a charging space for several hours. And while GM’s new fast-charging network is growing, it’s not yet a match for the wide-open demands of Texas truck owners. Out in ranch country, power means gas and diesel, not electrons.

Not Quite Ready for Texas

The Silverado EV isn’t a bad truck; it’s a great truck that’s just playing the wrong game for most Texans. It makes perfect sense for someone living in Austin, Dallas, or Houston who wants a pickup with presence, power, and some cool factor. But for the guy pulling a hay trailer down a Farm-to-Market road in July heat, it’s not the tool for the job. It is much the same issue I had with the Hummer EV, which is on the same platform.

Chevrolet deserves credit for building an electric truck that doesn’t feel like a science experiment. But until battery tech gets better and charging infrastructure catches up, the Silverado EV is a commuter with cowboy boots, not a real working rig.

If your truck life is measured in tailgates, hardware store runs, and the occasional weekend lake trip, the Silverado EV might just be the future you’re looking for. But if you’re hauling big loads across big land, the future still runs on fuel.

2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV: Specifications

Battery & Range

• Standard Range (WT): Approx. 282 miles (EPA-estimated)
• Extended Range (WT, LT, RST):
  • WT: Up to 422 miles
  • LT: Approx. 408 miles (or 390 with Premium Package)
  • RST: Approx. 390 miles
• Max Range (Fleet-spec WT): Up to 492 miles

Power & Performance

• Work Truck (WT): 510 horsepower / 580 lb-ft torque
• LT: 645 horsepower / 765 lb-ft torque
• RST (Wide Open Watts mode): Up to 760 horsepower / 785 lb-ft torque
• Drivetrain: Dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD)
• Transmission: 1-speed direct-drive electric
• 0–60 mph (RST): Approx. 4.5 seconds

Towing & Payload

• Maximum Towing Capacity:
  • WT & RST base: 10,000 pounds
  • LT & RST Extended Range: Up to 12,500 pounds
• Payload Capacity:
  • WT Max Range: Approx. 1,400 pounds
  • LT: Up to 1,800 pounds

Dimensions

• Wheelbase: 145.7 inches
• Overall Length: Approx. 233 inches
• Width: Approx. 82 to 84 inches
• Height: Approx. 78 to 79 inches
• Bed Length: 5 feet 11 inches
• Front Trunk (eTrunk): 10.7 cubic feet of enclosed storage

Charging Capabilities

• DC Fast Charging: Up to 350 kW (800-volt architecture)
• Level 2 AC Charging: 19.2 kW onboard charger
• Onboard Power Export:
  • Standard: 7.2 kW
  • With Power Bar accessory: Up to 10.2 kW

Technology & Interior Features

• Infotainment Display:
  • WT: 11.3-inch touchscreen
  • LT and RST: 17.7-inch touchscreen
• Driver Display: 8-inch (WT) to 11-inch digital cluster
• Audio System: Bose 7-speaker premium audio (LT and RST)
• Available Features: Super Cruise hands-free driving, Multi-Flex Tailgate, four-wheel steering, 22-inch wheels

Warranty Coverage

• Bumper-to-Bumper: 3 years / 36,000 miles
• Battery & Electric Components: 8 years / 100,000 miles