The Chevrolet Silverado EV has elicited an enthusiastic response from buyers, but will it support both home and public fast-charging options?
The Chevrolet Silverado electric vehicle has elicited an enthusiastic response from buyers, but will it support both home and public fast-charging options? The Silverado started life as a gasoline-powered full-size pickup truck that competes with the likes of the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500. However, in 2021, GM announced plans to launch an electric version of the vehicle before announcing more details earlier this year. The first deliveries are expected to begin in Spring 2023, and it is likely to compete with Tesla's much-talked-about Cybertruck, which is also expected to go into production next year.
Electric vehicles are becoming more mainstream, and most automakers are releasing electric versions of their popular models to keep up with increasing demand. However, while rising gas prices and growing environmental concerns are helping propel EV sales, not everybody is convinced by the new technology. In a Consumer Reports survey conducted among U.S. residents in July 2022, more than a quarter of respondents said they would not buy an electric vehicle despite its apparent benefits. Still, EVs of all descriptions are flooding the market, including pickup trucks like the Silverado EV, F-150 Lightning, Hummer EV, Rivian R1T and more.
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Like most EVs in the market, the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV will also ship with multiple charging options. According to the company's official website, the truck will offer three charging options to choose from. Firstly, there's DC public fast charging that GM claims can add 100 miles of range in only 10 minutes. However, the actual charge times will vary based on battery condition, charger output, vehicle settings and outside temperature.
There are more than 43,000 public charging stations across the U.S., meaning it shouldn't be a problem finding one nearby, especially in and around metropolitan areas. However, some charging stations may only offer Level 2 240V charging, which is substantially slower than the fast-charging options. The company also says that owners can use the myChevrolet mobile app to help find nearby charging stations. The app is available on both Android and iOS.
Like most other EVs in the market, the Silverado also offers users the option of juicing up their vehicle from the comfort of their homes. The two domestic charging options include Level 1 120-Volt charging and Level 2 240-Volt charging. While the former is the slowest of all the charging options and should serve as a backup when needed, the latter will offer faster-charging speeds for the Chevrolet Silverado EV, but the system requires professional installation.
Next: Chevrolet Silverado EV: How Far Can It Go On A Single Charge?
Kishalaya has almost a decade's worth of experience in tech journalism, having written thousands of news, guides, features, and reviews for multiple American, Canadian, and Indian blogs. As a senior writer at ScreenRant, he covers everything from consumer electronics to artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies to virtual reality, and electric vehicles to space. Entertainment to him means 90s sitcoms, such as Fresh Prince, Home Improvement, Seinfeld, Friends, That 70s Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, etc. He loves dogs, sports, and pizza (in that order) and can listen to The Doors, Def Leppard, Metallica, and Guns N' Roses all day long. He also loves watching cheesy 90s sci-fi/disaster movies like Independence Day, Armageddon, Twister, Volcano, Dante's Peak, etc.