Customers who have reserved a Silverado EV First Edition RST will get an unexpected, extremely useful, and potentially expensive gift from Chevrolet with their EV purchase.
Last week, Chevrolet announced to First Edition RST reservation holders that the time to order their Silverado EV was now. Starting today (March 11th, 2024), reservation holders like us can call up their chosen dealership and place their order for the first-ever fully electric Silverado. Since we put down $100 over two years ago (nearly 800 days ago but who’s counting?) we were among the lucky to receive an email last week that detailed the process.
While skimming the email we received, one particular piece of information stood out. Chevrolet will apparently give every First Edition RST buyer a free 19.2kW GM Energy Powershift home charger. It’s a great deal that will save customers around $1,000 and allow them to charge their Silverado EV at up to 34 miles per hour of additional range.
GMC offered a similar deal when we purchased our Edition One GMC HUMMER EV. The brand provided an 11.5kW charger with purchase that we then had to pay to install in our home. The provided charger was a non-ultium/GM Energy “dumb” charger that had a retail value of around $1,000. That home charger can increase the range on our HUMMER EV by around 16 miles per hour- far less than the GM Energy Powershift charger’s 34 miles per hour for the Silverado EV. Watch the video above to see our Level two charger in action on our GMC HUMMER EV.
That’s mainly because the Edition One HUMMER EV can only charge at 11.5kW on Level Two chargers. The 2024 HUMMER EV gets an upgraded charging module that increases that to 19.2kW, matching the Silverado EV.
This free gift is also significant because the Powershift charger is the first piece of equipment a homeowner would need to take advantage of the Silverado EV’s bidirectional charge port. With the right equipment, the Silverado EV can back feed power from the battery through the charge port to power an entire home. In short- the Silverado EV can also be an emergency stand by generator as long as you have the right equipment- and this free Powershift charger is the first step that a homeowner would need to complete.
But while it’s the first piece of equipment you’ll need, it’s not the only one. According to the GM Energy website, you’ll also need a “Ultium Home V2H Enablement Kit.” You can then take it one step further and add in another battery pack to extend your battery draw time with the “Ultium Home Energy System.”
As of now, you can’t buy the Powershift charger or any GM Energy kit individually. No prices have been assigned, so we’re not even sure the true value of this “free gift”. However, it’s a nice touch for bleeding edge adopters that might push them to use the Silverado EV as a backup power source for their home when they might otherwise have just installed a dumb level two charger.
I’m personally excited about this development because I live in an area that loses power multiple times every year. Typically, I haul out my portable generator, plug it into a generator inlet box, and manually switch over my home’s most important circuits. Then, when the power comes back on I have to switch everything back. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but the idea of my EV automatically powering my home with no intervention is exciting and enticing. It’s a feature I know I could and would use.
Hopefully, when we take delivery of our Chevrolet Silverado EV First Edition RST later this year, we can add the necessary equipment to take advantage of the truck’s bidirectional power capabilities. Stay tuned.
About The Chevy Silverado EV
The Chevrolet Silverado EV, as detailed in articles here on GM-Trucks.com, is an electric pickup truck that features an estimated range of over 400 miles per charge. It is built on General Motors’ Ultium battery platform, which is the foundation for GM’s future electric vehicles. The truck offers significant towing and payload capacities, which is competitive with traditional internal combustion engine counterparts. It includes technological advancements such as the Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance for compatible highways and a versatile midgate that extends the cargo area into the cabin for longer items.
The Silverado EV’s launch introduces a fully electric version of one of Chevrolet’s most popular models, with specific attention to maintaining the utility and performance expected from a pickup. The truck’s electric drivetrain delivers instant torque and includes features designed to support both daily driving and demanding work tasks. It also comes with a large, flexible interior space and storage solutions, aiming to combine functionality with the benefits of electric propulsion, such as reduced emissions and lower operating costs due to decreased maintenance needs and the elimination of gasoline fuel.