Chevy Silverado EV Sets 1,059-Mile Range Record

(TestMiles) – The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck just drove 1,059.2 miles on a single charge, setting a new electric vehicle range world record.

This isn’t a concept car stunt, it’s a production pickup proving what smart engineering can do in the real world.

In a feat that’s part science experiment, part brand flex, and entirely extraordinary, the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck has shattered the global electric vehicle range record. Achieving a jaw-dropping 1,059.2 miles on a single charge, this production-ready pickup truck quietly rolled into the history books without a single hardware modification.

Why does this car matter right now?

In a market dominated by range anxiety and headlines filled with EV recalls and stalled charging networks, Chevrolet’s latest headline lands like a thunderclap. The Silverado EV WT is not a luxury sedan or a one-off concept, it’s a full-size work truck engineered for real-world demands. With an EPA-estimated range of 493 miles, GM engineers simply asked: “What if we tried to double it?”

What began as a passion project soon became a team effort. Roughly 40 GM engineers volunteered for what became a weeklong driving challenge, conducted entirely on public roads near GM’s Milford Proving Ground and Detroit’s Belle Isle. The result? A world-record distance that could take you from Los Angeles to Portland, Maine, without plugging in.

How does it compare to rivals?

The previous EV range champion, the Lucid Air, managed 749 miles under carefully controlled conditions earlier this year. That car costs north of $80,000 and is designed purely for aerodynamic performance. By contrast, the Silverado EV Work Truck is a utilitarian pickup with a starting price expected to be under $60,000 when it arrives in 2026.

This achievement also eclipses anything from Ford, Rivian, or Tesla, whose electric pickups currently offer between 250 and 400 miles of real-world range. The Silverado didn’t just beat them, it lapped them. And it did so with replicable efficiency techniques that require no extra tech, no special tires, and no firmware updates.

Ford might have made the first mass-market electric truck with the F-150 Lightning, but Chevrolet just redefined the category’s ceiling.

Who is this for, and who should skip it?

Let’s be clear: nobody in the real world is driving their Silverado EV at 25 miles per hour for seven days straight without passengers, cargo, or air conditioning. But that’s not the point. The Silverado EV WT proves that Chevrolet’s range estimates are conservative, and its efficiency potential is formidable.

This is a truck built for fleet buyers, contractors, and anyone who needs torque, range, and tech in one reliable package. If you’re a road-tripping adventurer or a municipal fleet manager looking to cut fuel costs without sacrificing capability, this truck just became your new benchmark.

However, if you’re expecting Tesla-style acceleration or Rivian’s off-road flair, look elsewhere. The Silverado EV WT is about practical innovation, not flash.

What’s the long-term significance?

Chevrolet didn’t just set a record, it set a precedent. By demonstrating how over 1,000 miles of range is possible without changing a bolt or byte of the factory truck, GM has raised expectations across the entire EV landscape. This could influence everything from customer behavior to EPA testing protocols.

The Silverado EV’s record also comes at a critical time: just as the federal EV tax credit is set to expire on September 30, 2025. For buyers on the fence about going electric, this milestone may serve as the confidence boost they needed.

GM’s real victory here isn’t just in numbers it’s in trust. If a truck this big can go this far, what’s stopping the rest of the industry?