By Bob Sorokanich, senior editor, GM News
There’s no “I” in “team,” but there are a few in “one thousand fifty-nine miles.” That’s how far a team of Chevrolet engineers drove an all-electric Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck on a full charge. And I got to be a part of the effort.
Last month, we brought you the news of this achievement. Now, I get to take you behind the scenes to show you exactly how these engineers pulled off this feat – despite having a rank amateur like myself doing some of the driving.
The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck is EPA-estimated for up to 493 miles of battery range1. But thanks to precision driving and some small setting adjustments, the Chevy team was able to drive more than double that distance on a full charge – obliterating the 749-mile world record set by Lucid earlier this year.
The truck’s hardware and software were untouched, and the only adjustments included the following driver habits and small setting adjustments, all within the acceptable limits established in the truck’s owner’s manual.
When it was safe to do so, drivers were advised to maintain an average speed of 20-25 mph and to minimize any hard braking or quick accelerating.
For the majority of the test, there were no passengers in the truck.
The windshield wiper arms were set to the lowest acceptable position to reduce drag.
Tires were inflated to their highest acceptable pressure for lower rolling resistance.
The spare tire was removed to lighten the vehicle.
The wheel alignment was optimized.
An accessory tonneau cover was added for smooth airflow.
Climate control was turned off for the duration of the test.
And finally, the test was performed in summer for optimum ambient temperature for battery efficiency.
CAPTION: It took planning and teamwork to exceed 1,000 miles on a full charge — not to mention a fantastic EV.
With the truck perfectly prepared and the battery fully charged, the team kicked off the record attempt on a Monday morning in Milford, Michigan. I was there to watch as GM engineer Matt Campbell set off for the first leg of an attempt that would stretch across a full week. There was excitement and anticipation in the air as the white Silverado EV glided out onto the roads of Milford.
In total, 35 GM employees took shifts driving the Silverado EV on Michigan public roads, racking up miles in the attempt to stretch the battery range as far as feasible. I was able to convince the team to let me take a stint behind the wheel. After a classroom session on efficient driving, and a demonstration from engineer Jon Doremus, the team let me loose behind the wheel to try my hand at maximum-efficiency driving.
Let me tell you, this was the most nerve-wracking driving I’ve ever done at neighborhood speeds. I’ve had the privilege of driving some of the world’s most powerful vehicles on racetracks around the world, but this was white-knuckle at 25 mph. In an efficiency test like this, every mile counts. If I couldn’t deliver maximum mileage, I’d drag down the average for everyone else. That wouldn’t just be a disappointment for the 35 people carrying out this record attempt – it would be a heartbreak for all of General Motors.
CAPTION: The final result: 1,059.2 miles on a full charge.
Luckily, thanks to expert coaching and advice, I didn’t totally blow it. My drive on Day 1 was just one data point across a full week of hypermiling. When I came back for the final day of the test, 1,000 miles was within reach. And once we passed that mark, we just kept going, reaching a grand total of 1,059.2 miles before the battery was depleted.
Check out the mini-documentary to see all the strategy, planning, and high-tension driving that went into this record-shattering result. I’m proud to say that I played a tiny role in making it happen – but more than anything, I’m proud of what General Motors achieved.
VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/Fm5Hd1IO8x4
1On a full charge. EPA-estimated. Actual range may vary based on several factors, including ambient temperature, terrain, battery age and condition, loading, and how you use and maintain your vehicle.
Bob Sorokanich is a former automotive journalist whose work has appeared in Road & Track, Car and Driver, Wired, Robb Report, and many other publications. He is senior editor at GM News. Reach him at news@gm.com
There’s no “I” in “team,” but there are a few in “one thousand fifty-nine miles.” That’s how far a team of Chevrolet engineers drove an all-electric Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck on a full charge. And I got to be a part of the effort.
Last month, we brought you the news of this achievement. Now, I get to take you behind the scenes to show you exactly how these engineers pulled off this feat – despite having a rank amateur like myself doing some of the driving.
The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck is EPA-estimated for up to 493 miles of battery range1. But thanks to precision driving and some small setting adjustments, the Chevy team was able to drive more than double that distance on a full charge – obliterating the 749-mile world record set by Lucid earlier this year.
The truck’s hardware and software were untouched, and the only adjustments included the following driver habits and small setting adjustments, all within the acceptable limits established in the truck’s owner’s manual.
- When it was safe to do so, drivers were advised to maintain an average speed of 20-25 mph and to minimize any hard braking or quick accelerating.
- For the majority of the test, there were no passengers in the truck.
- The windshield wiper arms were set to the lowest acceptable position to reduce drag.
- Tires were inflated to their highest acceptable pressure for lower rolling resistance.
- The spare tire was removed to lighten the vehicle.
- The wheel alignment was optimized.
- An accessory tonneau cover was added for smooth airflow.
- Climate control was turned off for the duration of the test.
- And finally, the test was performed in summer for optimum ambient temperature for battery efficiency.
With the truck perfectly prepared and the battery fully charged, the team kicked off the record attempt on a Monday morning in Milford, Michigan. I was there to watch as GM engineer Matt Campbell set off for the first leg of an attempt that would stretch across a full week. There was excitement and anticipation in the air as the white Silverado EV glided out onto the roads of Milford.
In total, 35 GM employees took shifts driving the Silverado EV on Michigan public roads, racking up miles in the attempt to stretch the battery range as far as feasible. I was able to convince the team to let me take a stint behind the wheel. After a classroom session on efficient driving, and a demonstration from engineer Jon Doremus, the team let me loose behind the wheel to try my hand at maximum-efficiency driving.
Let me tell you, this was the most nerve-wracking driving I’ve ever done at neighborhood speeds. I’ve had the privilege of driving some of the world’s most powerful vehicles on racetracks around the world, but this was white-knuckle at 25 mph. In an efficiency test like this, every mile counts. If I couldn’t deliver maximum mileage, I’d drag down the average for everyone else. That wouldn’t just be a disappointment for the 35 people carrying out this record attempt – it would be a heartbreak for all of General Motors.
Luckily, thanks to expert coaching and advice, I didn’t totally blow it. My drive on Day 1 was just one data point across a full week of hypermiling. When I came back for the final day of the test, 1,000 miles was within reach. And once we passed that mark, we just kept going, reaching a grand total of 1,059.2 miles before the battery was depleted.
Check out the mini-documentary to see all the strategy, planning, and high-tension driving that went into this record-shattering result. I’m proud to say that I played a tiny role in making it happen – but more than anything, I’m proud of what General Motors achieved.
1On a full charge. EPA-estimated. Actual range may vary based on several factors, including ambient temperature, terrain, battery age and condition, loading, and how you use and maintain your vehicle.
Bob Sorokanich is a former automotive journalist whose work has appeared in Road & Track, Car and Driver, Wired, Robb Report, and many other publications. He is senior editor at GM News. Reach him at news@gm.com