The GMC Sierra EV Denali beats its EPA rating in real-life test

The King is dead - long live the King! The GMC Sierra EV Denali, a behemoth of an electric truck weighing in at a ridiculous 8,800 lb, has recently claimed the title of EV range king. In a real-world test conducted by Edmunds, the Sierra EV Denali flew past its EPA-estimated range of 460 miles, and achieved an impressive 507 miles on a single charge. That's 2 miles more than the Lucid Air Dream Edition, which previously held the top spot.

While the Lucid Air has a higher EPA-rated range of 520 miles, the Sierra EV Denali's real-world performance demonstrates the remarkable progress that EVs have made in terms of long-distance driving capabilities. The result is even more impressive when we take into account that this is a pickup truck - not a streamlined sedan with hours of development spent on improving its aerodynamic performance.

What's the secret sauce, then? Is the new electric GMC super efficient? No, not really. The Sierra EV Denali's exceptional range comes courtesy of its massive 200 kWh battery pack. The efficiency is pitiful. The truck needed 48.1 kWh of energy to cover 100 miles. To put that into perspective - Lucid Air needed 28.3 kWh to cover the same distance. GMC simply went old school with the "no replacement for displacement" philosophy.

A lot of people out there still believe they need an EV with a cross-country range, and this truck is the crude remedy for their worries.

The Sierra EV Denali's impressive range also highlights a new trend of automakers prioritizing battery size over efficiency in their electric trucks. This approach sacrifices energy efficiency, but it provides the necessary power and range for towing and hauling, essential features for truck owners.

It's unlikely for the electric Sierra to hold on to its new title for long. EV technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and we can expect to see even more efficient and longer-range electric vehicles hitting the market in the near future.

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