For years, General Motors has been pushing its electric vehicle strategy forward, first with the Chevrolet Bolt and now with the Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EV. While the company has made strides in battery technology with its Ultium platform, its heavy-duty (HD) truck lineup has remained firmly gasoline and diesel-powered.

The Silverado HD offers two powerful engine options: the 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel, delivering 975 lb-ft of torque and a 36,000-pound max tow rating, and the 6.6L gasoline V8, providing a dependable alternative for those who prefer a traditional gas powertrain. Both engines have made the Silverado HD a favorite for towing, hauling, and commercial applications. But despite GM’s success with EVs, there hasn’t been a serious push for an electric or hybrid Silverado HD—until now.

A 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ZR2 towing off-road side-by-sides on a trailer through a rugged dirt trail.
The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ZR2 demonstrates its towing power—could a future hybrid-diesel version take capability even further?

Why HD Truck Owners Haven’t Embraced EVs Yet

Despite advancements in electric trucks, heavy-duty truck owners remain skeptical about whether an electric Silverado HD could meet their needs. The main concerns include:

  • Range limitations when towing or hauling
  • Lack of charging infrastructure for long-haul and job-site use
  • High costs compared to traditional diesel models
  • Reduced towing capacity due to battery weight

Meanwhile, Ford, Ram, and Scout Motors have started shifting toward extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs)—trucks that use an electric powertrain but rely on a gas or diesel engine as an onboard generator to extend range when charging isn’t practical.

We’ve seen these concerns firsthand testing our long-term GM-Trucks.com HUMMER EV.  It’s among the most capable towing vehicles we’ve ever driven, with enough weight to keep the vehicle firmly in control of the trailer and so much torque that we almost forget we’re towing anything in the first place. The downside, however, is that the range is cut in half when pulling a load. While our HUMMER EV has an amazing 350-mile range unloaded, it quickly drops to about 150 miles when towing anything of substance. That’s a big problem for everyday adoption.

Side profile of the GM Defense Next Gen tactical vehicle, an armored green military truck with off-road tires and a reinforced body.
A side view of the GM Defense Next Gen tactical vehicle, revealing its armored construction, off-road capability, and extended cab for mission versatility.

GM’s Secret Hybrid-Diesel Silverado Already Exists

GM has yet to announce a hybrid Silverado HD, but it may have already built the blueprint for one. At AUSA 2024, GM Defense revealed its Next Gen tactical vehicle, a diesel-electric hybrid based on the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD ZR2.

This truck, built for military applications, is designed to operate using:

  • Battery power alone for silent, stealthy movement
  • A 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel for extended range
  • Electric drive motors on both axles for instant torque

Strip away the military tech, and what you have is a hybrid-diesel HD truck capable of handling towing, hauling, and off-road work—exactly what a Silverado HD buyer needs.

The Next Gen Tactical Truck: A Silverado HD Hybrid in Disguise?

The Next Gen combines a 12-module battery pack with Silent Drive and Silent Watch, features that reduce noise and heat signatures for stealth operations. But beyond military use, it proves that a diesel-electric Silverado HD is not only possible—it’s already built.

A truck like this could:

  • Run silently on battery power for short distances
  • Eliminate range anxiety by relying on diesel power when needed
  • Use electric motors for additional torque when towing

If GM Defense can make this work for military applications, there’s no reason Chevrolet couldn’t adapt it for the civilian HD truck market.

Black Ram 1500 Ramcharger eREV parked in a rocky desert landscape, featuring modern LED lighting and an aerodynamic front grille.
The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger eREV showcases the potential of hybrid-electric trucks—could a Ram HD hybrid be next to rival GM’s Silverado HD and Ford’s Super Duty EREV?

Ford and Ram Are Already Betting Big on Hybrid HD Trucks

Ford has already confirmed that its next-generation Super Duty will offer an EREV option, expected in 2027. Meanwhile, Ram’s 1500 Ramcharger, arriving later this year, promises 690 miles of range using a similar setup.

Even Scout Motors is seeing a shift—80% of early reservations for its electric trucks were for the EREV models over pure EVs.

The message is clear: truck buyers want electric power, but not at the expense of range and capability.

Will GM Bring a Hybrid-Diesel Silverado HD to Market?

If GM wants to stay competitive in the heavy-duty truck market, it may not be able to ignore what it has already built. The Next Gen tactical vehicle is proof that GM has the technology to make a hybrid-diesel Silverado HD a reality.

With Ford, Stellantis, and Scout Motors moving in this direction, the big question is: Will GM bring its battle-tested hybrid-diesel system to the civilian market?

An all-electric Silverado HD might still be a few years away. But a diesel-electric hybrid workhorse? That might be exactly what truck buyers are looking for right now.