Chevrolet made waves with the Silverado EV RST First Edition. However, there was another important model that was set to make its debut in 2023, and that was the entry-level WT, or work truck, aimed at fleet customers.
Chevrolet had high hopes that this truck would be the vehicle that introduces electrification into fleets. It was to be similar to the consumer-level Silverado EV, but there were to be several differences for the fleet vehicle. However, those plans were canceled. In this article, we will look at the cancelation and some plausible reasons for it.
Chevy’s plans for a more affordable Silverado EV work truck
The Chevy Silverado EV WT was going to share the same Ultium platform with a 24-module battery pack with the rest of the Silverado EV lineup and was going to offer the same estimated range. Like the Silverado EV RST, the WT would have had a two-motor setup, but the output would have dropped from 664 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of torque in the RST to 510 horsepower and 615 lb-ft. Most importantly, it was going to be offered at an affordable $39,900.
The focus would have been on fleet customers, so the crew cab-only Silverado EV WT interior would have been rather plain in its all-black colorway. An 11-inch center screen would have replaced the 17-inch screen that is currently on the RST, while the reconfigurable driver’s display would have shrunk down to 7 inches from the 8-inch screen found in the RST. The WT would also have had a durable metal roof instead of a glass roof.
An uncertain future for the Silverado EV
According to GM Authority, the Chevy Silverado EV will now start in the $50,000 range, likely offering up a lightly equipped work truck variant, perhaps a 2WT model, as the entry-level model.
This new entry-level trim is expected to slot in under the 4WT and 3WT already announced, arriving after the 4WT and 3WT officially launch. The main difference between these two is that the 4WT has a larger battery and an EPA range rating of 450 miles per charge and the 3WT will have a rating close to 400 miles.
For reference, the first Chevy Silverado EV out of the gate is 4WT, followed by the 3WT. Just like the original Silverado EV WT, the 3WT and 4WT are only available to fleet customers. The good news is that if you’re getting either of the two WT variants, both models are eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit of the Inflation Reduction Act since they still cost under $80,000.
Possible reasons for the canceled plans
One of the reasons the plans were canceled was likely due to the inability to bring it in for an affordable price. During a media first drive event of the Silverado EV, Chevrolet representatives told InsideEVs that the $39,900 Silverado EV WT won’t be offered anymore, but at the same time promised that they would offer “competitively-priced” variants starting in 2024.
This means that you are now left with just two trims of the Silverado EV WT with the base price now climbing to $74,800.
Simply put, a $74,800 fleet vehicle is simply too expensive for most businesses. Here is a rundown of the other models available and their cost:
- Silverado EV 3WT: $74,800 (Available after the 4WT’s launch)
- Silverado EV 4WT: $79,800 (Already available)
- Silverado RST: $106,895 (Available this Fall)
The price increase isn’t shocking because the EV industry as a whole has been under pressure to increase prices over the past three years.
