The debate over the capabilities, abilities, and efficacy of electric vehicles in an overlanding environment is set to continue for years to come, but the debate has certainly arrived, and Chevrolet’s new Silverado EV RST crew cab all-electric pickup will certainly help fuel the conversation.
The Silverado EV RST has a fairly breathtaking MSRP of $96,495, and that does not include the usual “destination charge” and other spurious fees and such dealers tack on. However, the RST essentially comes with every option in GM’s EV book, outside of the Vehicle-To-Home (V2H) reverse power system, for about $8,000, which will allow you to power a home in an outage. Installation will also be required.
But beyond the big price tag that could also buy a wide range of well-equipped overlanding vehicles (both new and used), the EV RST has some compelling features for overlanders who might want to stop buying gasoline to power their adventures.
Range
The EV RST has it. In the Best Possible Scenario For Maximum Range mode (no trailer, no cargo, tires aired up, a tailwind, and a jockey or ballerina driving), the EV RST can go 440 miles on a charge. That’s more than the top-spec Rivian and over 100 miles more than the Ford F-150 Lightning with its biggest battery, as well as the Tesla Cybertruck’s Beast trim. How? It uses the same battery as the gigantic Hummer EV, but in a more aero and lighter chassis and body. Still, the EV RST has a 9,000-pound curb weight, so it’s no… ballerina.
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Of course, adding a trailer, boat, passengers, ATV, gear, RTT, and a frunk full of ice to keep the drinks cold is going to knock that range figure down significantly, but as electric trucks steadily creep toward the magic 500-mile range mark, there’s less reason to laugh them off as urban-only creatures that can’t wander far from a charging point.
Indeed, 440 miles is farther than many trucks will go on a tank of gas or diesel, but you can always bring more liquid dinosaur with you in storage. Large fold-out solar panels or even portable wind turbines can supply extra electrons in the wild, but the exact amount is never certain. A gas generator can also supply power, but that’s kind of defeating the purpose of owning an EV for the most part. Is your favorite spot 200 miles away with no place to charge up? Unlikely, and going forward, EV ranges are only going to increase until it’s a moot point.
Power
A million YouTube videos showing all manner of electric vehicles spanking gas-powered vehicles at drag strips and elsewhere with their abundant torque at launch and high horsepower down the line have pretty much settled this argument. The EV RST brings both 754 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque to bear in “Wide Open Watts” mode, which will catapult the truck to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, a time more often associated with a performance sports car, not a pickup truck that seats five in comfort.
When not set to earth-orbit altering WOW mode, the EV RST tops out at over 500 horsepower and all that torque, so it’s hardly neutered for daily driving duties – or overlanding capabilities. And that Max Power setting is just a button push away should you need it.
Flex
Doing away with an internal combustion engine, transmission, and all of the fluids, parts, and complexities they involve allows for some interesting capabilities in the EV RST. The suspension has flex in that it can raise two inches from default – and also lower two inches, giving it four inches of flexibility. Also, low-hanging undercarriage concerns have dwindled with no differential and simplified driveline due to the dual-motor system driving the truck.
Up top, the rear wall of the cab can be reconfigured in numerous ways (including removal) to allow longer loads like kayaks, bicycles, motos, and other cargo to be carried with the tailgate closed. And if more room is still needed, the rear liftgate in the down position and cab flex give nearly eleven feet of bed space for hauling really big bits.
Under the hood, there’s no engine, but there are 10 square feet of “frunk” space (above), which is more storage than a good-sized chest freezer.
Towing/Hauling
The Silverado EV RST is rated for 1,500 in the bed, which is short of some gas-powered ‘Rados (and some competition), but it can also tow 10,000 pounds off the rear hitch, so feel free to put some of the heavy stuff in the trailer or boat, or the boat on top of the trailer. Again, with nearly 800 pound-feet of torque on hand, towing most things isn’t an issue; the issue will be how far you need to tow between charging stops.
Once at a charging location, the EV RST can gulp electrons at DC Fast chargers at up to 350kW; the current maximum for consumer EVs. They can give the RST over 100 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Still slower than filling a gas tank and only a partial charge, but that is the state of EV charging at the moment. That situation will also improve as time goes on and charging points begin to spread out from city centers to more rural areas, perhaps attached to solar power installations, wind farms, or other rural infrastructure.
Special Features
Driving a giant battery in the form of a pickup (or car) does bring some perks, especially when it comes to powering things off the grid. The EV RST includes 120-Volt AC outlets in the bed and cab, as expected. But there are also 240-Volt 30-Amp outlets for running more power hungry tools and appliances, and of course, a plethora of USB points for our copious mobile tech.
Out on an overlanding adventure, powering low-draw tech like phones, tablets, string lights, and such for weeks on end is possible, and you can probably squeeze in running a coffee maker (or ice maker or fan or A/C unit) without too much of a penalty. Most of our USB-powered tech is highly efficient, so even long stretches will not put too much of a dent in the EV RST’s copious reserves.
The optional power-your-home tech package is spendy, but if your truck can keep your whole abode humming when the grid is down for days on end, it can be money well spent, especially if you have to run medical equipment or other critical systems of which a fridge full of food and a freezer full of ice cream could qualify if access to markets is likewise cut off.
Conclusions
As ranges increase and more trucks (and cars) are electrified, either in total like the Silverado EV RST or partially like the growing number of plug-in hybrids, more overlanding adventurers will be choosing this type of vehicle. Over time, driving range, performance, design, and capabilities will steadily evolve while prices will come down as economies of scale and the development of batteries and motors continue. Count on it.
Nearly six figures for any production pickup truck once seemed like a fantasy, but the Silverado EV RST is no longer alone at this lofty tier; it’s joined by the polarizing Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast, gas-powered Ford Super Duty Limited, RAM 1500 TRX, and its own gas-powered cousin, the GMC Sierra HD Denali Ultimate at the mid-90 large price point. Only the R1T Dual Max from startup Rivian, with 420 miles of range, 11,000 pounds of towing capacity, 1,750 pounds of payload, and a long list of innovative features, really comes close to equalling or slightly surpassing the capabilities of the RST, while the upcoming 1,000+ horsepower Quad Max may even well surpass the RST’s overall numbers. That leaves the Rivian and Silverado EV RST as perhaps a party of two as the best-equipped, best-performing all-electric overlanding options with a familiar form factor.
The competition, especially from legacy automakers, will likely step up as well, as trucks continue to be one of the most popular vehicle types sold in the U.S., no matter the price. For overlanders looking for a new and powerful platform for outfitting and customization, the siren song of exploration without having to buy a drop of liquid fuel may prove irresistible.
