Chevy Silverado EV sets a range record after some extreme tinkering

Chevrolet has proudly reported setting a new electric range record, Motor1 reports. Its Silverado EV managed to cover 1,704.6 kilometers (1059.2 miles) on a single charge, surpassing the July record set by Lucid Air by nearly 500 km (310 miles). The catch? Grab some popcorn, there are several.

The company started things off by letting its drivers test the truck at its closed course and the adjacent roads for a week. The drivers were instructed not to exceed 40 km/h (25 mph) to keep the drag low and forbidden from using climate control. That’s how you do things when numbers are more important to you than people.

To squeeze every last bit of efficiency from the electric truck, Chevy took off the spare wheel from the back, tinkered with camber and toe angles, and inflated the tires to their maximum allowed pressure to minimize resistance. They also put a tonneau cover on the bed and went with the base Silverado trim because it was the lightest on the list.

Despite all these machinations, Chevrolet insists that the record was achieved fair and square. The company emphasizes that the powertrain stayed stock in terms of both hardware and software. The implication is that future owners of the truck will be able to replicate this record themselves if they feel like it.

The Silverado EV comes equipped with a large 205-kWh battery pack OEM-rated up to 792 km (492 miles) of range per charge.