CES 2022: Chevrolet Silverado EV revealed

General Motors has pulled the drapes off the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado EV – the zero-emissions full-size pick-up that's set to become its best-selling electric vehicle worldwide.

Primed to enter production in 2023 and go on sale late next year as an MY24 model, the Chevrolet Silverado EV already has price tags attached to it – starting at $US41,600 ($A57,000) – and will offer a range of up to 644km.

It will be powered by a pair of electric motors that will pump out up to 495kW and 1065Nm of torque in top-spec RST guise.

If you're wondering why the full-electric version of the Chevy Silverado doesn't share much in the looks department with even the latest facelifted version of the bow-tie brand's popular pick-up, it's because the battery-powered model is all-new from the ground up.

Adopting smoother frontal styling that's designed to cut drag and manage air more efficiently, the Silverado EV is set to have one of the lowest drag coefficients of any production full-size pick-up – at least until the wedge-shaped Tesla Cybertruck rocks up.

Available only as a dual-cab ute, the Silverado EV also features short front overhangs and gets a fully enclosed front grille plus a cavernous frunk or front boot.

Featuring smooth side surfacing, the electric Chevy ute gets squared-off wheel-arches and rides on huge 24-inch rims.

Ensuring it caters for more than the lifestyle mob, the Silverado gets a decent 1.8-metre-long bed with the added option of Chevy's Multi-Flex Midgate that allows the bay to expand into the cabin, stretching the bed to around 2.7m in length.

Drop the Multi-Flex tailgate and the Silverado can carry items up to 3.3m long.

Within the cabin there's an all-new 11-inch digital instrument cluster that sits beside a huge 17-inch infotainment system.

There's also a head-up display, panoramic glass roof and two-tone leather seats with red accents.

With no transmission tunnel, engineers have squeezed in a huge cooled 32-litre centre console between the driver and front passenger, while the second-row bench is said to be spacious enough for occupants who are more than 6ft tall.

Available in a base WT trim for those who will use the Silverado EV for work, these variants come with dual electric motors that produce 375kW and 834Nm of torque.

The cheapest model gets the longest range (644km) and can still tow up to 3629kg. That figure will be boosted after launch by a tow package that raises its lugging might to around 9072kg.

New tech includes a tow mode and a hitch guidance system. There's also Chevrolet’s Advanced Trailering System already available on high-end Silverado models.

Once launched, towards the end of 2023 the most powerful Silverado EV RST will arrive that features a more powerful dual-motor set-up that produces 495kW and 1065Nm of torque.

With Chevy's new Wide Open Watts launch control mode, the US truck-maker claims the Silverado EV will sprint from 0-60mph (97km/h) in less than 4.5 seconds.

The top-of-the-range Silverado EV RST First Edition will be priced from $US105,000 ($A145,500).

Later on, an entry-level WT variant riding on steel rims will be introduced that will cost $US39,900 ($A55,000).

An off-road-biased Trail Boss version is also planned.

Flagship models come with four-wheel steering and an adaptive air suspension that will be capable of raising or lowering the ride height depending on conditions.

The all-electric ute will also come with GM's Super Cruise semi-autonomous cruise control that offers hands-free driving, even with a trailer, on around 320,000km of highways in the US and Canada.

Whatever the model, Chevy says its Silverado EV can be topped up using a 350kW charger that adds 160km of range in around 10 minutes.

Within the bed, there's claimed to be up to 10 power outlets to run tools and other equipment, with the Silverado EV even capable of powering your home if there's an outage.

Set to become GM's most popular EV worldwide, Chevrolet has already accepted reservations for the Silverado EV on its website ahead of sales commencing in 2023.

It’s not yet clear whether the EV truck will be offered Down Under, with a spokesperson from General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) saying only that “the Silverado EV is another vehicle in the General Motors line-up that demonstrates our vision of an all-electric future, however GMSV is not making announcements about the new model at this stage”.

The zero-emissions Silverado will be built at GM’s all-new multi-billion-dollar EV-only ‘Factory Zero’ plant in Detroit.