A 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck has reportedly broken a world record for longest distance travelled on a single charge. The EV travelled 1059.2 miles (1704.6km) on a single charge during a range test by GM engineers.
The truck itself has an EPA-estimated range of 493 miles (793km) off the shelf, but GM engineers set themselves a challenge to push things further. The vehicle’s hardware and software were untouched; instead, test drivers were asked to change their habits along with making a series of setting adjustments.
The changes made included maintaining an average speed of 20-25mph, minimise hard braking and acceleration, and turning off climate control. Additionally, the truck had no passengers for the majority of the test, the spare tyre was removed, wheel alignment was optimised, an accessorry tonneau cover was added for additional airflow, and the windscreen wiper arms were set to their lowest position. GM engineers then drove the truck in one-hour shifts on public roads near GM’s Milford Proving Ground in southeast Michigan.
Kurt Kelty, GM’s VP of battery, propulsion, and sustainability, said: “Getting this kind of range on a full charge doesn’t happen by accident. It takes deep integration across battery chemistry, drive unit efficiency, software and vehicle engineering – and that’s exactly what the team delivered. 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.”
In a statement, GM added: “The team found the Silverado EV’s most efficient cruising speed to be 20-25mph; a realistic pace for neighbourhood or city driving in southeast Michigan. At that speed, the truck was using nearly all of its battery power to move down the road, with minimal energy going to other uses.”
At the end of the test, the engineering team recharged the winning vehicle and used it to power a 3D printer which then printed a trophy commemorating the record. The previous record of 749 miles (1205.4km) was set by Lucid earlier this summer.
news.gm.com
