While dynamic EV startup Lucid Motors prides itself on achieving impressive range statistics through rigorous engineering of efficiency in its motors, drivelines, body aerodynamics, and chassis, General Motors takes a somewhat different approach with its electric trucks: by incorporating significantly larger battery packs. Each methodology caters to their distinct target audiences, much like the conditions surrounding their recent Guinness Book of World Records claims. Lucid previously set a record of 748.9 miles by navigating a circuitous and mountainous route between St. Moritz, Switzerland, and Munich, Germany. This prompted GM's electric truck engineering team to embark on their own challenge.

The team responsible for General Motors’ electric trucks, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and GMC Hummer EV Pickup, hypothesized that their most efficient variant, driven carefully in southeast Michigan, could potentially surpass Lucid's 112-kWh record. The chosen vehicle for this challenge was a Work Truck edition of the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV, equipped with the 205-kWh Max Range battery pack, which utilizes nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry. This variant is officially rated at 493 miles of EPA combined range.

To execute their plan, the team prepared a brand new base Silverado EV WT with approximately 500 break-in miles on the odometer. They fitted it with a tonneau cover and developed a strategy for numerous team members to take turns gently driving the truck at low speeds across the greater Detroit metropolitan area. The routes varied, ranging from the environs of GM’s Milford Proving Ground to Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, known for its Grand Prix racing history. No hardware or software modifications were made to the truck. However, they did equip the Silverado EV with a set of well-worn tires that barely passed the Lincoln’s-head penny test at the wear bars, and inflated them to their maximum rated pressure of 80 psi, significantly higher than the placard’s no-load rating of 61 psi. The driving rules were straightforward: maintain lower speeds (the average speed remained below 25 mph) and keep the HVAC off with windows slightly cracked, although once the odometer exceeded 1,000 miles, a minimal amount of air-conditioned comfort was permitted.

Over a period of seven days, 40 team members participated in the driving effort, navigating many lightly traveled roads, some of which were gravel. Jon Doremus, engineering manager for electrification propulsion calibration, was at the helm, circling the wide ring road around Belle Isle, when the Silverado EV WT eventually depleted its last watt. At that moment, the trip computer confirmed the remarkable totals: 1059.2 miles traveled, with an average efficiency of 4.9 miles per kWh. This efficiency roughly doubled the truck's EPA rating of approximately 2.4 miles per kWh, and notably surpassed the Lucid Grand Touring XR with 19-inch wheels’ official EPA efficiency rating of 4.6 miles per kWh. While Lucid’s hypermilers achieved over 6 miles per kWh, their feat involved driving downhill, as St. Moritz averages about 4,000 feet higher than Munich, whereas metro Detroit is essentially flat.

After the record-setting drive, the truck was hauled back to Milford. Its battery was subsequently topped up, and the energy was then used to power a Stratasys F370 3D printer. This printer spent 6.5 hours producing an ABS plastic trophy to commemorate the auspicious event, barely depleting the large battery pack. While this is a significant achievement, it's worth noting that such records may not stand for long. Lucid's own record, for instance, broke a June 2025 record set by a Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+, which covered 649 miles over two days in Japan.