Chevy Silverado EV Covered Over 1,000 Miles Without Needs for Charging, Thanks to GM Engineers
GM Breaks 1,059-Mile Single-Charge Record with Silverado EV
General Motors (GM) has set a new record for the longest distance traveled on a single electric charge, achieving an impressive 1,059 miles with the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck.
The record-breaking drive, which surpassed the previous record by approximately 416 miles, was the result of a combination of the truck's advanced battery and hardware technology and careful driver strategies focused on efficiency.
Key factors enabling this remarkable achievement included steady, low speeds of 20-25 mph, driving in shifts over seven days on public roads near GM’s Milford Proving Ground, weight reduction through the removal of the spare tire and carrying no passengers for most of the test, aerodynamic improvements like lowering the windshield wipers and optimizing wheel alignment, maximizing tire pressure, turning climate control off, and conducting the test during summer for optimal ambient temperatures.
Crucially, GM engineers made no changes to the truck’s hardware or software, keeping the vehicle within manufacturer specifications and using only allowed manual adjustments. The strategy was essentially a form of hypermiling focused on gentle driving and minimizing energy losses from drag, rolling resistance, and auxiliary power use.
The record-breaking drive was primarily conducted on roads local to the development facility in Milford and park roads on Detroit's Belle Isle, offering conducive speed limits and forgiving terrain. Occasionally, the team had no choice but to keep up with traffic, even if it meant violating their self-imposed speed limits, prioritizing safety.
The team's driving strategy was focused on operating the truck efficiently, taking into account factors like rolling resistance and drag. To avoid traffic, the team drove during off-peak times and took the most efficient routes available. However, the slow average speed and ideal conditions make this range more of a demonstration than a reflection of typical real-world use.
This feat demonstrates the deep integration of battery chemistry, drive unit efficiency, and vehicle engineering, proving the potential for much longer EV ranges when driven with extreme efficiency strategies. Despite this, the record-breaking drive was not intended for the Guinness World Record, but was a team-building exercise for the company's electric-vehicle engineers.
In essence, GM's world record was achieved by leveraging the Silverado EV’s advanced design plus carefully controlled driving practices emphasizing slow speed, weight reduction, aerodynamic tweaks, and turning off energy-consuming systems to maximize battery range on a single charge. This record-breaking drive is a sign of passion for electric vehicles, as it shows that some engineers care enough to showcase their work.
[1] General Motors press release, 2023. [2] Electrek, 2023. [3] Green Car Reports, 2023. [4] The Verge, 2023.
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