I routinely get in that 0.8-0.9 mi/kwh with mine pulling an 8k lb enclosed trailer. I can get 1.0 in the summer. I only got 8 mpg in my 2500 Ram with the Hemi I used to have. Super happy with the truck.
In terms of range strategies, there's also some "flexibility" when posting official range numbers, even when following EPA guidance. Many of the EV automakers overinflate their ranges by about 10-15%. Generally, GM leans on the conservative side, and in average conditions without a load, you can expect GM EVs to achieve their rated range when driving ~70 mph steady speeds. When towing, there's no replacement for added energy capacity in the battery, and the Lightning, Sierra, and Silverado benefit from being true, fullsize trucks, so their efficiency is less impacted by towing than the smaller, more aerodynamic Cybertruck and R1T. Right now, GM's EV trucks are the only EV trucks that legitimately match the ranges of standard fullsize gas trucks on a full tank. Obviously, gas trucks can refill faster and can always add extended/auxiliary tanks, but this is a great line in the sand for GM to draw.
Thanks for posting. Fyi you can automatically plug & charge at EV Go without having to use an app or click any buttons. Activate it through your Chevy app by clicking on your account name on top right, then go to public charging. Love towing with my Sierra EV.
This one didn’t have Plug & Charge activated and we didn’t have access to the app, given it was a loan from GM. Hopefully next time they can have it all set up!
That 0.9 mile/kwh equals to 30MPGe which i guess isnt bad for ALL that weight that 1.49 miles/kwh is around 50MPGe so you are doing as good as a Prius in a LARGE truck
They do have other trim levels debuting soon, so they say, that will be less costly. But not sure if they all get the same battery pack and range or not.
You are the first channel as far as I know (and I've watched a ton!) that has explained why there is a range difference between the '24 and '25 models! (Software revisions.) So that begs the question, will Chevy do a software update for '24 owners to get the extra 20 miles of range?
@@OutMotorsports That would be awesome! Thank you!! Looking at getting a '24 RST but would love to be able to enjoy that additional range. I would ask too if they can enable the "Sidewinder" (crab walk) feature too by software but that might be pressing my luck. :)
@@OutMotorsports I’m actually looking at getting the Silverado EV LT with the 18 wheels. I don’t agree with GM putting 24” and 22” wheels on their EV’s as I think it is counterintuitive to getting good range and adds to the cost of the vehicles.
Behemoth weight aside, interesting comment about the suspension and ride/handling. Would have thought with the air setup and different modes for dampening, it would have been tuned better for unladen ride. Also, how was the mirror situation around the 8.5' wide trailer? Feel any need for this to have an optional towing mirror? Cheers and happy holidays.
I will die on a hill fighting for headlights on the infotainment. I've owned a tesla and they were more than adequate. 99.5% of the time they're on auto. As long as I have access to high beams thru the blinker lever, I'm happy.
I bought a used 2023 Ford F150 Lightning Lariat with 7K miles for $63K. I benefited from Texas guys who need to tow big loads not liking their lightning. I will never tow anything more than a tractor from the closest home depot so towing is not an issue for me. I checked out the Silverado and to me, the Lightning is more comfortable with a better interior and more comfortable ride. Sure I would love a truck with over 400 miles range but 318 miles is quit enough for me.
Da it's a First Edition with more options and Tech.... You have double stack batteries for the range. You want leathers and better seats you pay for it moving up to GMC versions and Cadillac versions.. $$$$$$$
Charged it twice for this trip: Charge 1 was Friday night to get it to 97% from, I dunno, less. Added 47 kWh for $31.03. Charge 2 was Saturday on the drive home from the shop, 15% to 80%. Added 152 kWh for $72.79. So about $100 round trip and I got home with ~37% remaining, which the truck estimated was good for another 160-some miles with no trailer. That's all roughly what a gas-powered half-ton would cost for this same trip. Keep in mind, if I had at-home charging (which I will in the future), Charge 1 would have cost FAR less than the 64¢ per kWh that the public EVGo station charged me.
A good way to do a comparison between EVs and ICEs is the cost per mile. The EVGo charger in Ruther Glen, VA cost 48¢/kWh. Assuming an efficiency of 1.5mi/kWh that'd work out to 32¢/mi for electricity. If you were in a gasoline truck, mid grade gasoline is $3.29/gallon at that location today so if you were getting 12mpg while towing that'd work out to 27¢/mi, which is less expensive than DC electricity. Diesel is more expensive but also more efficient so would work out to about the same as gasoline per mile. This goes to show that the price of electricity will need to come down at DC public chargers if EV trucks are going to be competitive with gasoline/diesel powered trucks especially when prices are relatively low for gasoline like now. BUT... compared to home charging on AC: the average kWh residential rate is around 13¢/kWh which would run you 8.6¢/mi which makes gasoline and diesel about 3x more expensive. So... right now an EV truck is a great option for people who can primarily charge cheaply at work/home on AC power (preferably at 11.5-19.2kW) and who only need to occasionally use public chargers. If you'd need to rely heavily on public chargers, it'd be better to stick with a hybrid or upcoming PHEV both from a cost point of view but also convenience until charging speeds increase to megawatt levels, costs come down and battery capacities increase. 😃
@@goingelectric7826 I just bought a Lightning Flash 3 weeks ago. I get "charged" 0.22 per kwh total to charge at home. The generation and distribution fees are split about 50/50 thank you Duquesne Light. I would love 0.13 for sure. Even still, I drive 64 miles a day for work and use about 35kwh. on avg. each day. It has been 50-15 degrees F. Hopefully that will improve some as the weather warms up. If I drive 1280 miles for work each month, then I should pay about 154 each month. or about 0.12 a mile.
The GMC Sierra Denali EV tops all yhe great atributes of the Chevy RST EV, with much better interior, comfort and quieter cabin for marginaĺy higher price. I heard noghing but accolades for th Denali EV truck. But great to see the towing ease!
Did you say 146 miles and had to charge for 35 minutes? So every two hours you take a 35 minute break? And that is towing 3K under the rated capacity? That's fantastic! Pay a fortune and need extra time figured in to make the trip..... And that is before you pray that the charging stations in the middle of Kansas, South Dakota or wherever you are fall in line....
is there a difference in battery technology between the 2024 and the 2025 Models? that the 2025 get more range? I have a Lightning Lariat as we speak, but not happy with its highway or towing range(not tat I tow that often.. but would more if it were better. I do like the design of the Chevy better... looks more futuristic ..
Range bump is allegedly from software optimization in how the battery is used and/or how much is usable. Not sure if the update can be applied to a ‘24.
I lose half my range towing my 7k camper as well. Its not the weight that gets you, its the drag. You're basically pulling a parachute. I bought a Blazer EV a few weeks ago, hut eould live a Suburban with the big battery.
They do, it just wasn't configured on this truck (yet). Usually their press vehicles have it set up so next time we can try it. Slick when it's set up!
I absolutely agree about headlight controls on a touchscreen. Personally, I would say that the worst design decisions with the Chevy Silverado EV are all features where GM designers uncritically copied Tesla (panoramic roof, touchscreen controls for mission-critical functions, and no On/Off button). These are piss-poor design decisions that only fanboys would try to defend.
That is true, my Rivian has 20k miles and the tires can probably get another 10k before they need replacing. But that could also be the multiple 0-60 in 3 second runs we did when we first got it 😂, it was way too much fun not to.
EV tires don't have to be that expensive. We got 53k miles on our Ioniq 5's original tires and got low cost replacement goodyear tires at walmart. About 15k miles on those tires now and they still look good as new. But if you have a truck or suv with something like 24 inch wheels they will be expensive if it's EV or gas powered.
Towing is hard on tires as well. If you tow frequently that is part of the deal. If you drive responsibly and stay out of the power your tires should last as long as an ICE vehicle of similar weight and power. Acceleration, braking and cornering can be kept under control. People forget EVs have much more weight than the comparable ICE vehicle.
If you have 100k to throw in the trash?, buy a new truck. Doesn't matter if its gas or electric, once it is software bound, it will soon be worthless. The manufacturers can do an Apple on everyone. No thanks.
Nope, auto headlights are great except the times they're not. And when you DO want to override them, you should be able to do it by feel with a physical control. There is no tangible user benefit to having the control on a touchscreen - it is a cost-saving measure.
@@OutMotorsports Maybe so but it's an irrelevant feature that Id rather have them remove. Physical climate buttons are much more needed. I pilot oversize loads in Western Canada (Rockies) both my pickups have auto headlights and auto high beams. The only time Ive had to use the switch is when I am onsite parked and helping drivers back up as not to blind them or load a piece of equipment with vehicle shut off and headlights on. Just in the same way they got rid of the vehicle start button but still have vehicle shut off in display.
You do need a switch. Auto works most of the time but when a trucker has his blinker on and wants to move over you flip your headlights off and on to let them know your waiting for them. Having to go to the touch screen to do it would be distracting and time consuming. Just GM being cheap and saving $4 on a proper switch.
@@SkaBob you do realize you can still flick your high beams on with your left stock right ? Like I said a physical headlight switch is redundant these days!
@@SkaBob nope we dont use our half tons for towing because they aren’t built for towing but our 1 tons can pull that like a dream i just thought that evs were supposed to have way more torque than diesel motors
I routinely get in that 0.8-0.9 mi/kwh with mine pulling an 8k lb enclosed trailer. I can get 1.0 in the summer. I only got 8 mpg in my 2500 Ram with the Hemi I used to have. Super happy with the truck.
In terms of range strategies, there's also some "flexibility" when posting official range numbers, even when following EPA guidance. Many of the EV automakers overinflate their ranges by about 10-15%. Generally, GM leans on the conservative side, and in average conditions without a load, you can expect GM EVs to achieve their rated range when driving ~70 mph steady speeds.
When towing, there's no replacement for added energy capacity in the battery, and the Lightning, Sierra, and Silverado benefit from being true, fullsize trucks, so their efficiency is less impacted by towing than the smaller, more aerodynamic Cybertruck and R1T.
Right now, GM's EV trucks are the only EV trucks that legitimately match the ranges of standard fullsize gas trucks on a full tank. Obviously, gas trucks can refill faster and can always add extended/auxiliary tanks, but this is a great line in the sand for GM to draw.
Thanks for posting. Fyi you can automatically plug & charge at EV Go without having to use an app or click any buttons. Activate it through your Chevy app by clicking on your account name on top right, then go to public charging. Love towing with my Sierra EV.
This one didn’t have Plug & Charge activated and we didn’t have access to the app, given it was a loan from GM. Hopefully next time they can have it all set up!
Very impressive! That's an average DC charge curve of 232kW. I'm drooling! 🤤
That 0.9 mile/kwh equals to 30MPGe which i guess isnt bad for ALL that weight
that 1.49 miles/kwh is around 50MPGe so you are doing as good as a Prius in a LARGE truck
I'm always using auto on the light and you can high beam the same way with the left knob, haven't done the non auto thing since 2011.
Some crazy deals on some 4wts out there. I may take the plunge
Great stuff. Thanks for the review. Looks like GM really nailed it. Too bad it costs so much.
They do have other trim levels debuting soon, so they say, that will be less costly. But not sure if they all get the same battery pack and range or not.
The drive motors are mounted to the frame, so they sprung weight, not un-sprung weight.
This was a great review, thank you! I’d be very curious to see you try this trip in the Dodge Ram 1500 PHEV once that becomes available.
Glad you enjoyed! We'll be sure to request one when they're out and in fleets.
You are the first channel as far as I know (and I've watched a ton!) that has explained why there is a range difference between the '24 and '25 models! (Software revisions.) So that begs the question, will Chevy do a software update for '24 owners to get the extra 20 miles of range?
I’m happy to ask Chevy PR! Was told they “improved efficiencies in a couple areas” so it may be possible.
@@OutMotorsports That would be awesome! Thank you!! Looking at getting a '24 RST but would love to be able to enjoy that additional range. I would ask too if they can enable the "Sidewinder" (crab walk) feature too by software but that might be pressing my luck. :)
The rough ride is from the 24” wheels. I’m sure it would ride better on tires with more sidewall.
Yep, smaller wheels with more sidewall would have more impact resistance, a softer ride, and likely (somewhat) lower unsprung weight.
@@OutMotorsports I’m actually looking at getting the Silverado EV LT with the 18 wheels. I don’t agree with GM putting 24” and 22” wheels on their EV’s as I think it is counterintuitive to getting good range and adds to the cost of the vehicles.
@@NBSteve I've got the LT with 18" wheels and it rides better then my Honda Ridgeline!
Behemoth weight aside, interesting comment about the suspension and ride/handling. Would have thought with the air setup and different modes for dampening, it would have been tuned better for unladen ride.
Also, how was the mirror situation around the 8.5' wide trailer? Feel any need for this to have an optional towing mirror?
Cheers and happy holidays.
I will die on a hill fighting for headlights on the infotainment. I've owned a tesla and they were more than adequate. 99.5% of the time they're on auto. As long as I have access to high beams thru the blinker lever, I'm happy.
Totally fair, though as I explained I firmly believe the exact opposite :)
I bought a used 2023 Ford F150 Lightning Lariat with 7K miles for $63K. I benefited from Texas guys who need to tow big loads not liking their lightning. I will never tow anything more than a tractor from the closest home depot so towing is not an issue for me. I checked out the Silverado and to me, the Lightning is more comfortable with a better interior and more comfortable ride. Sure I would love a truck with over 400 miles range but 318 miles is quit enough for me.
Maybe I missed it but what was the range towing that trailer with a full charge?
220ish miles.
Da it's a First Edition with more options and Tech.... You have double stack batteries for the range. You want leathers and better seats you pay for it moving up to GMC versions and Cadillac versions.. $$$$$$$
How much did charging cost?
Charged it twice for this trip:
Charge 1 was Friday night to get it to 97% from, I dunno, less. Added 47 kWh for $31.03.
Charge 2 was Saturday on the drive home from the shop, 15% to 80%. Added 152 kWh for $72.79.
So about $100 round trip and I got home with ~37% remaining, which the truck estimated was good for another 160-some miles with no trailer. That's all roughly what a gas-powered half-ton would cost for this same trip. Keep in mind, if I had at-home charging (which I will in the future), Charge 1 would have cost FAR less than the 64¢ per kWh that the public EVGo station charged me.
A good way to do a comparison between EVs and ICEs is the cost per mile.
The EVGo charger in Ruther Glen, VA cost 48¢/kWh. Assuming an efficiency of 1.5mi/kWh that'd work out to 32¢/mi for electricity.
If you were in a gasoline truck, mid grade gasoline is $3.29/gallon at that location today so if you were getting 12mpg while towing that'd work out to 27¢/mi, which is less expensive than DC electricity.
Diesel is more expensive but also more efficient so would work out to about the same as gasoline per mile.
This goes to show that the price of electricity will need to come down at DC public chargers if EV trucks are going to be competitive with gasoline/diesel powered trucks especially when prices are relatively low for gasoline like now.
BUT... compared to home charging on AC: the average kWh residential rate is around 13¢/kWh which would run you 8.6¢/mi which makes gasoline and diesel about 3x more expensive.
So... right now an EV truck is a great option for people who can primarily charge cheaply at work/home on AC power (preferably at 11.5-19.2kW) and who only need to occasionally use public chargers.
If you'd need to rely heavily on public chargers, it'd be better to stick with a hybrid or upcoming PHEV both from a cost point of view but also convenience until charging speeds increase to megawatt levels, costs come down and battery capacities increase. 😃
@@goingelectric7826 I just bought a Lightning Flash 3 weeks ago. I get "charged" 0.22 per kwh total to charge at home. The generation and distribution fees are split about 50/50 thank you Duquesne Light. I would love 0.13 for sure. Even still, I drive 64 miles a day for work and use about 35kwh. on avg. each day. It has been 50-15 degrees F. Hopefully that will improve some as the weather warms up. If I drive 1280 miles for work each month, then I should pay about 154 each month. or about 0.12 a mile.
The lights are on auto and auto works fine but I know you have to have something to talk about😂😂
They work fine until you want a manual override and then it's a gigantic pain.
@OutMotorsports I guess. Maybe after a few months of ownership it comes natural where to turn the lights on and off.
The GMC Sierra Denali EV tops all yhe great atributes of the Chevy RST EV, with much better interior, comfort and quieter cabin for marginaĺy higher price. I heard noghing but accolades for th Denali EV truck. But great to see the towing ease!
Totally! Looking forward to sampling one once those make it to our local media fleet.
Did you say 146 miles and had to charge for 35 minutes? So every two hours you take a 35 minute break? And that is towing 3K under the rated capacity? That's fantastic! Pay a fortune and need extra time figured in to make the trip..... And that is before you pray that the charging stations in the middle of Kansas, South Dakota or wherever you are fall in line....
is there a difference in battery technology between the 2024 and the 2025 Models? that the 2025 get more range? I have a Lightning Lariat as we speak, but not happy with its highway or towing range(not tat I tow that often.. but would more if it were better. I do like the design of the Chevy better... looks more futuristic ..
Range bump is allegedly from software optimization in how the battery is used and/or how much is usable. Not sure if the update can be applied to a ‘24.
@@OutMotorsportsWould you be able to do a 70 mph range loop with 4WT 2024 and Work Truck Max Range 2025
I lose half my range towing my 7k camper as well. Its not the weight that gets you, its the drag. You're basically pulling a parachute. I bought a Blazer EV a few weeks ago, hut eould live a Suburban with the big battery.
Yeah, the aerodynamic effect of an enclosed trailer or camper is huuuge. Congrats on the Blazer!
FYI gm has plug and go. No need for aps😂
They do, it just wasn't configured on this truck (yet). Usually their press vehicles have it set up so next time we can try it. Slick when it's set up!
I absolutely agree about headlight controls on a touchscreen. Personally, I would say that the worst design decisions with the Chevy Silverado EV are all features where GM designers uncritically copied Tesla (panoramic roof, touchscreen controls for mission-critical functions, and no On/Off button). These are piss-poor design decisions that only fanboys would try to defend.
Have fun replacing those expensive tires every 2 years or sooner. Lots of reviews ignore that when it comes to operating costs.
That is true, my Rivian has 20k miles and the tires can probably get another 10k before they need replacing. But that could also be the multiple 0-60 in 3 second runs we did when we first got it 😂, it was way too much fun not to.
Yeah, and the weight will contribute to wear. It’s super frustrating. Lower trims will thankfully come on smaller wheels.
EV tires don't have to be that expensive. We got 53k miles on our Ioniq 5's original tires and got low cost replacement goodyear tires at walmart. About 15k miles on those tires now and they still look good as new. But if you have a truck or suv with something like 24 inch wheels they will be expensive if it's EV or gas powered.
Towing is hard on tires as well. If you tow frequently that is part of the deal. If you drive responsibly and stay out of the power your tires should last as long as an ICE vehicle of similar weight and power. Acceleration, braking and cornering can be kept under control. People forget EVs have much more weight than the comparable ICE vehicle.
If you have 100k to throw in the trash?, buy a new truck. Doesn't matter if its gas or electric, once it is software bound, it will soon be worthless. The manufacturers can do an Apple on everyone. No thanks.
Are you living in the 2000's? Auto headlights is all you ever need. No switch is needed these days.....
Nope, auto headlights are great except the times they're not. And when you DO want to override them, you should be able to do it by feel with a physical control. There is no tangible user benefit to having the control on a touchscreen - it is a cost-saving measure.
@@OutMotorsports Maybe so but it's an irrelevant feature that Id rather have them remove. Physical climate buttons are much more needed. I pilot oversize loads in Western Canada (Rockies) both my pickups have auto headlights and auto high beams. The only time Ive had to use the switch is when I am onsite parked and helping drivers back up as not to blind them or load a piece of equipment with vehicle shut off and headlights on. Just in the same way they got rid of the vehicle start button but still have vehicle shut off in display.
You do need a switch. Auto works most of the time but when a trucker has his blinker on and wants to move over you flip your headlights off and on to let them know your waiting for them. Having to go to the touch screen to do it would be distracting and time consuming. Just GM being cheap and saving $4 on a proper switch.
@@SkaBob you do realize you can still flick your high beams on with your left stock right ? Like I said a physical headlight switch is redundant these days!
Weak, try a 18k lbs gooseneck trailer loaded with horses then ill be impressed
Well, it's rated to tow 10k lbs. Best to think about it as an electric half-ton and exactly NO half-tons are towing an 18k lb goose.
Can you do 18K on your F150 or 1500 Silverado ? Bet your transmission won't like that one bit.
@@SkaBob nope we dont use our half tons for towing because they aren’t built for towing but our 1 tons can pull that like a dream i just thought that evs were supposed to have way more torque than diesel motors