A 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV went 1,059.2 miles on a single charge during a range test executed by a General Motors engineering team. That’s a world record, GM says, blowing past a 749-mile record set by Lucid last month.
The dash shows 1,059.2 miles on a single charge. (Credit: General Motors)
The 2026 Silverado EV starts at $54,895 and boasts an impressive EPA-estimated range of 493 miles for the Max Range trim ($76,295).
The decision to push its capabilities to the limit “started out as casual conversation among a group of GM engineers in late 2024,” GM says. They asked themselves, “How far could the Work Truck go if we optimized absolutely everything? The guesses started flying: 800 miles, 900, or maybe even 1,000. And just like that, a challenge was set.”
The engineers drove the EV on public roads near GM’s Milford Proving Ground in southeastern Michigan and over to Detroit’s Belle Isle. They drove in one-hour shifts in order to fit the test into their day jobs. Unfortunately for the drivers, there was no AC for the test to preserve battery range, and they performed the test in the summer “for optimum ambient temperate.”
“If we drove it downhill the whole time, sure, we’d get insane mileage. But that’s not what this was about. We wanted this to be real, on public roads,” says Jon Doremus, propulsion calibration engineering manager at GM.
Engineers Daniel Gay, left, and Jon Doremus, right, hold a 3D-printed trophy commemorating the test. (Credit: General Motors)
Drivers maintained an average speed of 20-25mph and minimized hard braking and quick accelerating. The truck had no passengers (extra weight) for the majority of the test. The windshield wipers were “set to the lowest acceptable position to reduce drag.” The tires were inflated as much as possible to reduce rolling resistance, and the spare tire was removed to lighten the load. GM also added an “accessory tonneau cover for smooth ariflow.”
“This achievement is a great example of how far our EV technology has come, and the kind of innovation we’re building on every day at GM,” says Kurt Kelty, VP of battery, propulsion, and sustainability at GM.
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General Motors offers one of the most affordable, high-performing electric cars on the US market, the Chevrolet Equinox, and slightly upscale Chevrolet Blazer EV. It also makes the Cadillac EV lineup and Hummer EV, among others. Almost all qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit—another point for GM, at least until the credit expires in September.
Chinese battery manufacturers currently lead the world in technology. The major player is CATL, which debuted next-gen batteries with a 932-mile range in April. US automakers are struggling to keep up with China’s EV business. Ford CEO Jim Farley calls it “the most humbling thing I have ever seen.”
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About Emily Forlini
Senior Reporter
