Welcome to the Electric Truck Rodeo – Is The Silverado EV RST Worth the Hype?
General Motors has finally given us the full lowdown on their top-of-the-line electric behemoth, the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV First-Edition RST. And let me tell you, this truck isn't pulling any punches. This is a beast with 754 horsepower (562 kW) and 785 lb-ft (1,063 Nm) of torque, sprinting from zero to sixty in a hair under 4.5 seconds. I'm talking sports-car levels of acceleration in a truck! But the bragging rights don't stop there.
Chevy says they've squeezed enough juice into this battery to take you a whopping 440 miles (708 km) on a single charge. Let that sink in. It's enough to get you from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and still have a few miles left over for a celebratory taco run.
Let's talk practicality for a minute. The Silverado EV RST can haul up to 10,000 pounds (4,536 kg) and carry a payload of 1,300 pounds (590 kg). Not bad, but could it be better? If you're planning on regular trips to the lumberyard, it might leave you wanting more.
Then, there's this fancy "Multi-Flex Midgate." Imagine folding down part of the back seat to turn your fancy crew cab into… well, something resembling a pickup with monstrous hauling capabilities. Sounds great in theory, right? The catch? Well, unless you enjoy driving your work crew around amidst a pile of two-by-fours and the occasional stray nail, this feature might have limited real-world usefulness.
Chevy says this Silverado EV can slurp electrons at a mind-boggling 350 kW. In normal-people terms, that means you could theoretically add about 100 miles (161 km) of range in roughly 10 minutes on a compatible fast charger. Let's see your gas-powered Silverado do that during your gas station coffee break! Plus, let's not forget that sweet 10.2 kW power outlet. Got a campsite to charge? Maybe a whole construction site to run without a noisy generator? The RST can handle it, turning your truck into a giant power bank on wheels.
Remember kids, this is the top-of-the-line RST, so it's packed with goodies. It has 4-wheel steering, making this surprisingly nimble for its size. Giant 24-inch wheels, 'cause why not? There's also the adjustable air suspension, promising a cloud-like ride no matter the terrain. Inside, it's a spaceship – screens galore, enough to make Elon Musk himself blush. Let's not forget that fancy glass roof for those starry nights out in the wilderness.
But here's the real question – is all this whiz-bang tech worth the princely sum of $94,500 ($96,495 with destination charges)? That's enough to buy a decent-sized house in some places! So, let's hear it, folks! Would you drop (almost) six figures on this electric monster, or would you rather stick with good old-fashioned dinosaur juice? Or, would you hold out for those more affordable Silverado EV trims Chevy promises sometime in the future?
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
