Automotive
In the ever-evolving electric vehicle race, range is still king—and Chevrolet just planted its flag at the top. GM’s Silverado EV Work Truck just logged a jaw-dropping 1,059.2 miles on a single charge, smashing the previous record set by Lucid Motors by over 300 miles. But while Lucid earned its bragging rights with tech-laced aerodynamics and uphill efficiency, Chevy took a more brute-force route, using sheer battery capacity and some clever driving strategy to claim the crown.
This record-breaking run wasn’t some publicity stunt thrown together overnight. It was the product of a focused, week-long experiment involving 40 GM engineers, a bone-stock 2026 Silverado EV Work Truck (WT), and plenty of patience. The team set out with one mission: push the truck’s 205-kWh Max Range battery pack to its limits under real-world conditions. And that’s exactly what they did, looping around southeast Michigan—particularly the wide ring road of Detroit’s Belle Isle Park—for seven straight days.
Now, it’s important to note that GM’s method was very different from Lucid’s. The Lucid Air Grand Touring XR completed its record-setting 748.9-mile drive on a mountainous European route between St. Moritz and Munich. That car uses a 112-kWh battery and is engineered for maximum efficiency. In contrast, the Silverado EV Work Truck relies on a much larger battery—nearly double in capacity—and wasn’t traveling up and down the Alps. Instead, it cruised gently at sub-25 mph speeds on mostly flat terrain, with the HVAC off and windows cracked to minimize power draw.
The Silverado WT involved had just 500 break-in miles on the odometer and received minimal prep. It was fitted with a tonneau cover to reduce drag, and its worn tires were inflated to the max-rated 80 psi to lower rolling resistance. After logging over 1,000 miles, the team finally allowed a bit of A/C use, though efficiency remained the top priority throughout. In the end, the Silverado averaged an impressive 4.9 miles per kilowatt-hour—doubling its official EPA estimate of about 2.4 mi/kWh.
This is a significant achievement for GM and highlights how far electric trucks have come, especially when considering the Silverado EV WT is designed primarily as a utility-focused, fleet-oriented workhorse—not a hypermiling sedan. Despite its size and weight, this truck proved it could go the distance, literally. And in typical GM engineer fashion, once the battery was drained and the mission complete, they used some of the leftover energy (after a full recharge, of course) to power a 3D printer and create a trophy to commemorate the achievement.
But as with all EV records, the celebration may be short-lived. Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, and other players are already deep into developing even more efficient platforms and powertrains. Just this past June, Mercedes-Benz clocked a 649-mile drive with its EQS 450+ in Japan over two days, showing how quickly the leaderboard can shift. Still, for now, Chevy’s big battery strategy has paid off, giving the Silverado EV a headline-worthy moment that underscores the potential of full-size electric trucks.
More than just a bragging rights win, this record points to the larger story: the shift in how we think about EV range. While sleek sedans may dominate the efficiency conversation, trucks like the Silverado EV are showing they can deliver serious miles while still offering the power, capability, and cargo space drivers expect. It’s a win for electric work vehicles, and a signal that the days of range anxiety in EV trucks may finally be numbered.
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Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate enthusiast with over 15 years of experience immersed in the world of cars. Whether it’s exploring the latest advancements in automotive technology or keeping a close pulse on breaking industry news, Lloyd brings a sharp perspective and a deep appreciation for all things automotive. His writing blends technical insight with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions both informative and engaging for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or under the hood, Lloyd enjoys test driving the newest models and staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive landscape.
