Chevrolet Silverado EV prototypes spotted testing in Detroit

Post your comment

Max McDee, 01 July 2022

Chevrolet Silverado EV is already official, but we are still waiting for the first trucks to make their way to the customers. For now the company has started road testing the first prototypes in the streets of Detroit and luckily for us all, the photographers were ready and waiting. We could say that Mary Barra, the company CEO gave them a little warning with her tweet:

Spotted – a @Chevrolet Silverado #EV being put through its paces at the @GM Milford Proving Ground. Looking forward to seeing your photos of these trucks in the wild when they start testing on Detroit streets next month! pic.twitter.com/AUJRcmmXoY
— Mary Barra (@mtbarra) June 30, 2022

Thankfully there is no camouflage on the vehicles at all, we get to see the undisguised body of the Silverado - not that we were expecting any surprises at this stage. The test vehicle has neither the production headlights nor tail lights, it only has the so-called “place holders” - good enough to adhere to local legislation but far from the actual production units.

Silverado EV testing in Detroit - photo courtesy of insideEVs

Some bits are missing as well - there are no side skirts or fender flares. There is other trim missing from the cargo area and the rear lights are fitted in a temporary housing. All the shapes though are exact as they are on the vehicle unveiled by Chevrolet and there is no doubt this is close to a production unit.

Silverado EV pre-production test model - courtesy of insideEVs

Although the truck in photos is black it isn’t its actual color - the car is only wrapped in flat black vinyl and we can see the original white door handles and the roof spoiler.

We can just see the original door handles and roof spoiler - all in white, photo courtesy of insideEVs

Once the Silverado reaches the market, the company promises it will be able to go 400 miles on a charge. Initially it will be sold as either Work Truck, which is the more affordable option, or the the top of the line RST. Both versions will share the same battery and two electric motors but the RST will output 664hp as opposed to 510hp in the cheaper version.

Place holder lights and missing trim - preproduction Silverado EV courtesy of insideEVs

There will be a single motor version but it won’t be available for another year or so. Production starts next year at the former Detroit-Hamtramck center which is being converted into an electric vehicle production hub. The factory will switch to renewable energy from next year in preparation for future emission restrictions.

Here's a video of a white Silverado EV prototype:

Source