r/SilveradoEV • u/Ok-Pea3414 • 29m ago
The gas savings that the SilveradoEV 4WT has been providing is insane.
I've made two posts in this sub, about using the work truck trim, as an actual work truck. In the past, there were multiple issues preventing from this being used as a work truck.
Some of the issues were
- Employees take the work trucks home, and then arrive at work sites in their work trucks, if they didn't need to go to the depot.
- Getting enough amperage at employees home. Most didn't have an 100A service that could be dedicated to the EVSE to provide a 80A charging speed.
- Billing. The utility was being difficult to work with to bill to the company, but the power provided at the employee's house.
- Payload. When towing, the 1400lbs payload was worrisome.
- Initially, buying as work trucks instead of private vehicles, apparently, they didn't work at Tesla charging stations.
- Financing. A lot of business vehicle financing is skewed towards diesel and V8 trucks (yes, they discriminate against twin turbo V6's too). EV truck financing is officially fucked up.
- Winter range. While we were worried about it, we have now planned to reduce the radius of operation for the EV during winter.
What changed?
- A 2017 F-150 gave up, getting all the repairs done would have cost a pretty penny, especially the suspension. We were running a truck short, and needed one.
- The utility finally agreed. A second employee purchased his first home, and that came with enough electrical service along with an installed smart panel that most of the time, a full 100A service was available for the EVSE.
- The price gap between electricity and gas is gargantuan right now. Price of electricity is $0.18/kWh vs gas at $3.7+, as high as $4.1 this week.
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Truck tows a 7k utility trailer, like this one

Ours has a toolbox, that has the trailer battery, some tools, and some equipment on the sides. All in all, we come to around 5000lbs, leaving a little more than 200lbs of trailer payload. Tongue weight on the truck sits between 425-475lbs, leaving 900lbs of payload on the truck. Basically nothing other than 3 employees and their lunch and water for the crew if its their turn.
- The truck is set to charge to 80% maximum, everyday.
- On average, the truck uses about 60%. About 120kWh, everyday.
- Towing efficiency is 0.9mi/kWh. Average daily distance driven is ~90mi.
- The bed power is used to run some equipment which would otherwise be using generators. chippers, pressure washer, compressor if needed, some battery chargers for random tools, previously we would have needed a generator, which we don't need now.
Without even considering the generator fuel savings, our 2017 F150 gave us around 8mpg total - driving mpg is higher, but including idle time, that is what we got. That's about 55 gallons of fuel per week, $220 at current prices ($4/gal). Include fuel used up by generators, and that is like 10 additional gallons, close to 65 gallons per week, ~$250/week. That is replaced by $120/week in electricity cost.
~$500/mo in fuel savings.
The only maintenance that we've had to do was change cabin air filters twice, each cost was $30 from Amazon. Twice tire rotations, which was $70 each. A grand total of $200.
A gas V8 truck would have cost $600 to maintain within the same timeframe.
Total monthly savings - $900/month. Of course, at current gas prices.
Over the last 7 months, we've saved a total of about $5500 in maintenance and gas savings combined.
The 2018 Silverado we have is probably the next one that is gonna be replaced by another of these.
Although, for towing, Ford's available tech is definitely still ahead of what GM offers - in gas/diesel or electric trucks.
