The GMC Sierra EV Denali Is A Big, Beefy, Battery-Powered Brick
Image Credit: GMC.
The electric pickup truck game just got a whole lot more interesting. As someone who's been fortunate enough to drive everything from a Reliant Robin to a Bugatti Veyron, I thought I'd seen it all. But then GMC rolled out this behemoth, the Sierra EV Denali and I'll admit, I was impressed. Not necessarily for the right reasons, mind you, but impressed nonetheless.
This thing is an absolute unit. It weighs in at a whopping 8,800 lbs, which is roughly the same as a small African elephant. And it's got a battery pack that could power a small city. But even bigger news is its real-world range of 507 miles. That's right, the good folks from Edmunds tested it and confirmed it can go on for 507 miles on a single charge. That's nearly enough to get you from New York to Detroit, and according to Google Maps, that's a 10-hour drive. There's no way my bladder would last that long.
Image Credit: GMC.
That's great news, then. We could wrap it up right here. But what about the efficiency? Well, that's where things get a little interesting. You see, the Sierra EV Denali isn't exactly what you'd call a paragon of efficiency. In fact, it's about as efficient as a Hummer H1. But that's not the point. The point is, it has a massive battery pack that gives it a ridiculous amount of range. And for a lot of people, that's all that matters.
The Sierra EV Denali is truly an impressive piece of machinery. It's smooth, quiet, and powerful. It's got all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a top-of-the-line GMC truck. And its range simply blows the competition out of the water.
I'm not saying that the Sierra EV Denali is the perfect truck. It's big, it's heavy, and it's not exactly cheap. But it's a sign of things to come. As battery technology continues to improve, we should expect to see more and more electric trucks with ridiculous ranges.
Image Credit: GMC.
And that should be a good thing, right? The theory is that the more people who switch to electric vehicles, the better it is for the environment. But I bet there are hundreds of activists losing their sleep and hair over Sierra's giant battery pack. I get their point; I just don't exactly agree with it.
The new Sierra is a power bank on wheels. Sure - it weighs a lot, and there is literally a ton of rare-earth materials stuffed under its floor. But it can do so much more than just drive from A to B. It can tow and haul stuff, and it can power tools and life-saving equipment for hours. But the best bit? It can power an entire house for days. You don't need a huge house battery when you have this GMC parked on your driveway. And that, in my book, is one heck of a bonus.
Image Credit: GMC.
If you're looking for an electric truck with a massive range, and your budget has no major constraints, the Sierra EV Denali is definitely worth considering. But if you're looking for something that's a little more efficient, you might want to stop looking at electric trucks altogether. We are promised the next generation of trucks will be better. But more efficient? The only way a pickup truck stays efficient is when it's parked up. Gas-powered or electric. A truck has two jobs to do - haul stuff and look good. And the new Sierra does them both rather well.
