Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck Shatters Global EV Range Record with 1,059-Mile Drive
In a groundbreaking achievement for the electric vehicle industry, General Motors has announced that its 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck (WT) has broken the global electric vehicle range record by traveling 1,059.2 miles on a single full charge. This incredible feat surpasses the previous benchmark of 749 miles set by Lucid Motors earlier in 2025, positioning the Silverado EV as the new standard-bearer for long-range electric mobility.
A Dream That Began as a Challenge
The record-breaking journey didn’t begin in a boardroom or as part of a marketing initiative—it started casually among a group of GM engineers in late 2024. Conversations around “what if?” quickly evolved into a bold challenge: How far could the Silverado EV Work Truck go if every element—from software to tires—was optimized to perfection?
Early predictions from the engineering team were ambitious: 800 miles, 900, and even whispers of 1,000 miles. That curiosity sparked a mission that would ultimately lead to this unprecedented milestone in EV history.
Engineering Excellence Behind the Achievement
“This kind of range doesn’t just happen,” said Kurt Kelty, Vice President of Battery, Propulsion, and Sustainability at GM. “It’s the result of seamless coordination across battery chemistry, drive unit efficiency, vehicle software, and holistic engineering. The Silverado’s success is a testament to how far GM’s EV technology has come—and a glimpse into where it’s going.”
While the Silverado EV WT used for the test was a standard production model—without any special tuning or hardware modifications—the engineering team implemented a series of minor, fully permissible adjustments to maximize efficiency.
Real-World Truck, Real-World Roads
This wasn’t a closed-course stunt. The test was performed on public roads around GM’s Milford Proving Ground in southeastern Michigan. The final miles of the test ended dramatically on Detroit’s Belle Isle, adding a touch of Motor City pride to the record.
GM engineers, using their own work time and rotating through one-hour shifts, drove the truck in normal traffic conditions. The objective was to simulate a real-world scenario as closely as possible, reinforcing the reliability and capability of the Silverado EV under standard operating conditions.
Optimizations Made Within Owner’s Manual Guidelines
To extract every bit of range, the team made subtle changes to enhance efficiency, all within the acceptable limits outlined in the truck’s owner’s manual:
- Average speed was kept between 20–25 mph, considered the most efficient range for urban driving.
- Hard braking and rapid acceleration were avoided.
- Windshield wipers were set to their lowest aerodynamic position.
- Tires were inflated to maximum safe pressure to reduce rolling resistance.
- The spare tire was removed to reduce weight.
- Wheel alignment was optimized for minimal drag.
- An accessory tonneau cover was used to improve aerodynamics.
- Climate control was turned off throughout the test.
- The drive was conducted during summer months to benefit from ideal battery efficiency temperatures.
All of these strategies focused on directing as much battery energy as possible into moving the vehicle forward, rather than consuming it through secondary systems or frictional losses.
Insights Beyond the Record
For the team involved, this wasn’t just about shattering a world record. It was about learning. Every hour of driving added new insights into vehicle efficiency and battery behavior, insights that will be applied to future GM EV platforms.
“This wasn’t a downhill gimmick,” explained Jon Doremus, GM’s Propulsion Calibration Engineering Manager. “We weren’t chasing numbers for the sake of PR. This was about real conditions, real roads, and real data that can help us refine our products.”
Why This Record Matters
With a U.S. EPA-estimated range of 493 miles, the Silverado EV Max Range WT already offers the longest electric truck range on the market. But this test proves it can go well beyond that under optimized driving conditions.
Through customer feedback and ongoing market research, GM understands that range remains the most critical factor in EV purchasing decisions—especially for work trucks expected to perform in demanding commercial settings. For customers whose daily driving patterns vary or who face long-range delivery routes, this new benchmark underscores just how far an electric work truck can go.
A Trophy of Innovation
To commemorate the milestone, the very truck that completed the record-breaking journey was later used to power a 3D printer that printed a trophy celebrating the team’s achievement. It’s a fitting conclusion to a test that wasn’t just about going the distance—but about what’s possible when innovation, dedication, and real-world application come together.
