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by Rob Hill17/12/2025
The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss the standout American electric pickup for Australia
by Rob Hill17/12/2025After more than three decades working with American pickups, it takes something special to get my attention. The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss does exactly that. It is the hottest, most feature-packed American electric pickup on the market today, with the strongest real-world range of the current EV trucks we see in North America.
For Australian buyers who want genuine off-road ability, serious towing, a usable tray and proper long-distance range, the Silverado EV Trail Boss sits in a very sweet spot. When converted to right hand drive and fully engineered for ADR compliance, it is an extremely compelling alternative to the Ford F-150 Lightning and the other electric pickups that will eventually follow.
Autogroup International sources the Silverado EV from North America, engineers it into a mirror-image right hand drive configuration, and delivers it into Australia with full ADR compliance, ISO 9001:2015 quality assurance, a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty and 5-year 24/7 roadside assistance.
Why the Silverado EV Trail Boss edges out the Ford F-150 Lightning
The F-150 Lightning is a good truck. The Silverado EV Trail Boss is simply a better fit for the way many Australians actually use their utes. Key advantages include:
- Range that actually suits Australia
- Extended Range battery: around 660 km of quoted range.
- Max Range battery: up to around 770 km of quoted range.
The F-150 Lightning tops out at roughly the mid-500 km mark in North American spec, and in the real world that gap matters when you are towing, heading into regional areas or dealing with summer air-conditioning loads.
- Off-road hardware from the factory, not the accessory catalogue
Silverado EV Trail Boss is built for rough tracks out of the box:- Approximately 50 mm suspension lift from factory.
- 18-inch wheels with 35-inch all terrain tyres.
- High-clearance front bumper with recovery points.
- Around 265 mm of ground clearance.
The F-150 Lightning does not currently offer a factory off-road package at this level. In most cases you would be relying on aftermarket suspension, tyres and protection that can interfere with factory engineering and complicate warranty.
- Dedicated EV platform, not a converted ladder frame
The Silverado EV rides on GM’s dedicated Ultium EV architecture. The battery pack forms the backbone of the vehicle, with a long wheelbase, independent rear suspension and four-wheel steering. The result is:- A very stable, planted feel on the highway.
- A surprisingly tight turning circle for such a large ute, which is useful in car parks and city streets.
The F-150 Lightning is essentially an electric drivetrain mounted into a modified version of the existing F-150 ladder frame. It works, but it does not give you the same packaging freedom, rear seat space and turning radius.
- Tray versatility the Lightning simply does not match
The Silverado EV Trail Boss offers:- A crew cab with a tray that is just under 1.8 metres long.
- A clever midgate system that lets you fold the rear wall of the cab down to carry items up to around 3.3 metres long with the tailgate closed.
- A Multi-Flex tailgate with built-in step and work platform.
The F-150 Lightning has a conventional tray. It is usable, but the Silverado EV’s midgate and tailgate combinations are far more flexible for real work and lifestyle use.
- Towing capability that makes sense for Australia
The Silverado EV Trail Boss is engineered to tow up to 4.5 tonnes when properly configured, which aligns neatly with Australian towing limits, GCM considerations and typical caravan and equipment weights. The very large battery pack and dual-motor all wheel drive layout give you the energy buffer and control you need when you are towing in the real world.
When you put those elements together, the Silverado EV Trail Boss is the more capable, better-ranged and more versatile choice for Australian conditions, particularly once it is converted to right hand drive correctly.
Battery technology and range options
Chevrolet has put the Silverado EV on its latest Ultium battery platform. From our point of view, that matters because it gives you:
- Two main battery choices in Trail Boss
- Extended Range battery
- Dual-motor all wheel drive.
- Quoted range of around 660 km on the North American test cycle.
- A very sensible balance of price, weight and range for most Australian buyers.
- Max Range battery
- Larger capacity Ultium pack, around 205 kWh usable.
- Quoted range of up to around 770 km.
- Ideal if you tow frequently, commute long distances or simply want the biggest buffer possible.
- Extended Range battery
- Fast charging capability
On a suitable DC fast charger, the Silverado EV can add roughly 160 to 190 km of range in about 10 minutes from low state of charge, thanks to its high-voltage battery architecture. For Australian use, that means a genuine ability to move quickly between high-output chargers on our main highway corridors. - AC home charging
With the correct home hardware, the Silverado EV can comfortably be recharged overnight. For most owners, this means starting every day with hundreds of kilometres of range “in the tank” without visiting a servo.
The key point is simple: among the current American electric pickups, the Silverado EV sits at the top of the tree for range. For a country the size of Australia, that is not a small advantage.
Performance, towing and real-world capability
In Trail Boss specification, the Silverado EV is not a show pony. It is a serious electric truck.
- Power and acceleration
- Dual electric motors, one on each axle.
- Up to around 725 horsepower in Max Range Trail Boss configuration.
- 0 to 100 km/h in around 4.3 to 4.5 seconds when you use the most aggressive drive modes.
That is proper high-performance ute territory, even before you factor in the silence and instant torque that come with electric power.
- Towing and payload
- Towing: up to 4.5 tonnes when properly configured, which is the benchmark number Australian buyers look for in a serious tow vehicle.
- Payload: just under 900 kg in the tray, depending on specification.
When you combine that towing figure with the big Ultium battery, you have a truck that still has useful range even with a caravan, boat or enclosed trailer hitched up behind it.
- Off-road hardware
The Trail Boss package adds:- Approximately 50 mm of extra ride height.
- 35-inch all terrain tyres on 18-inch wheels.
- High-clearance bumpers and under-body protection elements.
- Around 265 mm of ground clearance.
It is not a rock-crawling competition truck, however it will comfortably deal with outback tracks, high-crown rural roads, station driveways and the sort of off-bitumen work many Australian utes actually see.
Size, design and exterior details
The Silverado EV Trail Boss is a full-size American pickup and it looks it.
- Footprint
- Length: about 5.9 metres.
- Width: around 2.1 metres excluding mirrors.
- Wheelbase: approximately 3.7 metres.
On the road it has huge presence, and in person the Trail Boss ride height, tyres and front bumper give it a tougher, more purposeful look than the earlier RST launch model.
Tray, midgate and Multi-Flex tailgate
Chevrolet has made the back of the Silverado EV genuinely useful:
- Crew cab with a tray just under 1.8 metres long.
- Midgate allows you to fold the rear cab wall and carry items around 3.3 metres long with the tailgate closed.
- Multi-Flex tailgate can act as a step, workbench and load stop.
- Integrated steps in the rear bumper.
- Optional hard tonneau cover for secure, weatherproof storage.
For Australian owners who move bikes, camping gear, tools, surfboards or building materials on a regular basis, this flexibility is a real advantage over the Ford F-150 Lightning.
Colours
The Silverado EV Trail Boss is not just about numbers. Chevrolet gives it a strong colour palette, including:
- Blue Smoke Metallic – a deep grey-blue with a lot of metallic depth, and the hero colour we would recommend for many buyers.
Beyond Blue Smoke Metallic, there are six further exterior colours across whites, silvers, blacks, reds and blues that can vary by model year and build slot. Our team will confirm the exact seven-colour palette and availability at the time we order your vehicle from North America, so you know precisely what you are getting on your build.
Inside the Silverado EV Trail Boss
The cabin of the Silverado EV Trail Boss is modern, functional and focused on daily usability. In right hand drive, we mirror the original layout so everything looks and feels factory.
Highlights include:
- Spacious crew cab with generous legroom in both rows. Adults can sit comfortably in the back for long highway runs.
- Large central display running Google-based infotainment, including native navigation with EV routing, streaming audio apps and voice control.
- Digital instrument cluster with clear EV-specific information such as remaining range, energy use and regeneration status.
- Heated and ventilated front seats with multiple power adjustments and driver memory in higher equipment packages.
- Heated rear seats and rear air vents, which make a difference on winter trips into the high country.
- Multiple storage spaces, big centre console and clever cubbies, which suit Australian family and work use very well.
Plus Package and Premium Package
For Australian buyers, the key option bundles on Trail Boss are:
- Plus Package
Typically adds comfort and convenience items over the core Trail Boss, such as:- Upgraded interior trims and upholstery.
- Extra power adjustments for the front seats.
- Additional driver assistance and parking features.
- Premium Package
The Premium Package builds on this with more “luxury ute” content, such as:- High-spec seat trim with heating and ventilation.
- Head-up display.
- Panoramic fixed glass roof.
- Enhanced audio and extra interior ambient lighting.
Specify the Trail Boss with these packages and you end up with an electric ute that feels every bit as special as its price tag suggests, without losing the hard-working capability underneath.
Frunk and practical storage
Because there is no engine up front, the Silverado EV offers a powered front trunk (frunk). It is large enough for several soft bags or tools, and includes:
- Sealed storage with lining.
- Tie-down points and lighting.
- A power outlet for accessories and charging.
For Australian owners, the frunk becomes the clean, secure space for gear you do not want sitting in the tray, on the back seat or exposed to dust and weather.
Why choose Autogroup International for your right hand drive Silverado EV Trail Boss
The vehicle itself is only half the story. The quality of the right hand drive conversion and local engineering is just as important.
Autogroup International is:
- 100 percent Australian owned, with a family heritage in American vehicle conversions going back to the early 1990s.
- A team of over 250 people across engineering, manufacturing, quality, logistics and aftersales support.
- The company behind over 5,000 vehicles converted and shipped into more than 40 right hand drive markets worldwide.
- Fully ISO 9001:2015 certified specifically for the design and implementation of modifications to left hand drive vehicles to comply with the Australian Motor Vehicle Standards Act.
- Focused on full ADR compliance, Conformity of Production and long-term parts support for every vehicle we convert.
Critically for EVs:
- Autogroup International is the only company globally that converts the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Ford F-150 Lightning and Hummer EV (SUV and SUT) into properly engineered mirror-image right hand drive for Australia and other right hand drive countries.
- We understand the high-voltage systems, cooling packages and control software that sit at the heart of these vehicles, and we retain factory-level integration in the conversion process.
Every Silverado EV Trail Boss we deliver into Australia is backed by:
- 5-year unlimited kilometre full-vehicle warranty (Australian market).
- 5-year 24/7 roadside assistance, including support for flat batteries, towing and incident response.
- Access to our Australian service centre and partner network that is already familiar with American pickups, EV systems and heavy towing applications.
Who is the Silverado EV Trail Boss for?
From my perspective, the Silverado EV Trail Boss is ideal if you:
- Want the most advanced American electric pickup currently available, with the strongest range figures on offer.
- Need to tow up to 4.5 tonnes when properly configured, whether that is a large caravan, horse float or enclosed race trailer.
- Spend time on country roads, gravel and light-to-moderate off-road tracks, and want the confidence that comes with factory lift, all terrain tyres and proper under-body protection.
- Prefer to get into the EV space with a truck that still feels like a real ute, not a science experiment.
If that sounds like you, the Silverado EV Trail Boss in right hand drive is worth a very close look.
Final thoughts
Among the current crop of American electric pickups, the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss stands out. It combines serious range, real towing and off-road capability, clever tray and midgate design, and a modern, spacious cabin. Once it is converted to right hand drive properly, engineered for ADR and backed with a 5-year unlimited kilometer warranty and 5-year 24/7 roadside assistance, it becomes a very serious proposition for Australian buyers who want to be early into electric without giving up what makes a full-size American ute so useful.
If you are considering a Ford F-150 Lightning or are simply waiting for the right EV ute to arrive, the Silverado EV Trail Boss deserves to be at the top of your list. Autogroup International can help you specify the right battery, package and colour combination, manage the entire import and conversion process, and support you for the long term once the truck is in your driveway.
FAQ
Is the Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss better for Australia than the Ford F-150 Lightning?
For most Australian buyers, yes. The Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss offers significantly more quoted driving range, up to around 770 km with the Max Range battery, and is built on a dedicated Ultium EV platform that feels very stable on long highway runs. It brings proper factory off road hardware, a more versatile tray and midgate system, and towing capability up to 4.5 tonnes when properly configured. Once converted to right hand drive and engineered for ADR, it simply suits our distances, towing habits and conditions better than the current F-150 Lightning.
How far can the Silverado EV Trail Boss travel on a charge in Australian conditions?
The Silverado EV Trail Boss is set up for rougher work from the factory. You get a suspension lift of around 50 mm, 18 inch wheels with 35 inch all terrain tyres, around 265 mm of ground clearance and high clearance bumpers with recovery points. Ford does not currently offer an F-150 Lightning with this level of integrated off road package. For Australian buyers, that means less reliance on aftermarket suspension and tyre changes that can compromise ride, range and warranty.
How does the tray and midgate in the Silverado EV compare with the F-150 Lightning?
The Silverado EV Trail Boss has one of the most versatile trays on the market. You get a crew cab with a tray just under 1.8 metres long, plus a clever midgate that folds down to carry items around 3.3 metres long with the tailgate closed. The Multi Flex tailgate doubles as a step, workbench and load stop. The F-150 Lightning uses a more traditional tray layout, so it cannot match the Silverado EV for carrying long items or reconfiguring the rear of the cab and tray for different jobs.
Can the Silverado EV Trail Boss tow 4.5 tonnes in Australia?
Yes, when it is correctly specified and properly configured, the Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss is engineered to tow up to 4.5 tonnes. That is the benchmark towing figure Australian ute buyers look for, and it aligns with local limits for many caravans, horse floats and large trailers. The combination of dual motor all wheel drive, strong regenerative braking and the large Ultium battery pack makes the Silverado EV particularly well suited to heavy towing compared with many other EV utes.
What advantages does the Silverado EV Trail Boss have over the F-150 Lightning off road?
The Silverado EV Trail Boss is set up for rougher work from the factory. You get a suspension lift of around 50 mm, 18 inch wheels with 35 inch all terrain tyres, around 265 mm of ground clearance and high clearance bumpers with recovery points. Ford does not currently offer an F-150 Lightning with this level of integrated off road package. For Australian buyers, that means less reliance on aftermarket suspension and tyre changes that can compromise ride, range and warranty.
What warranty and roadside assistance does Autogroup International provide on the Silverado EV Trail Boss in Australia?
Every Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss delivered by Autogroup International into Australia is backed by a 5 year unlimited kilometre full vehicle warranty. You also receive 5 year 24/7 roadside assistance, including support for flat batteries, towing and incident response. That coverage sits on top of the engineering, ADR compliance and ISO 9001:2015 quality system that underpins every right hand drive conversion we complete.
Why should I trust Autogroup International with an electric pickup conversion?
Autogroup International is 100 percent Australian owned and has been converting American vehicles to right hand drive for more than 30 years. The business has converted over 5,000 vehicles, employs a team of more than 250 people and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification specifically for modifying left hand drive vehicles to comply with Australian standards. Importantly, Autogroup International is the only company globally converting the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Ford F-150 Lightning and Hummer EV SUV and SUT into properly engineered mirror image right hand drive vehicles, with full ADR compliance and long term parts and service support.
Is the Silverado EV Trail Boss a practical daily driver in Australian cities?
Yes, provided you are comfortable with a full size American pickup. The four wheel steering and Ultium platform help the Silverado EV feel more manageable than its size suggests, particularly in tight car parks and city streets. You also have a large frunk for clean, secure storage, a spacious crew cab, quiet electric drive and the ability to charge at home overnight. For many buyers it will replace both a family SUV and a traditional ute in one vehicle.
How does charging a Silverado EV in Australia compare with owning a diesel ute?
Most owners charge the Silverado EV at home using AC charging, effectively “refilling” hundreds of kilometres of range overnight while the vehicle is parked. On longer trips you can use public DC fast chargers, where the Silverado EV can add roughly 160 to 190 km of range in about 10 minutes on a suitable high output charger. You avoid regular visits to the servo, and over time the running costs can be significantly lower than a large diesel ute, especially if you have solar at home or on your business premises.
Who is the Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss in right hand drive best suited to in Australia?
The Silverado EV Trail Boss is ideal for buyers who want a serious electric ute, not a compromise. It suits owners who tow up to 4.5 tonnes, travel long distances, run heavy accessories or spend time on gravel and outback roads. It also appeals to business and fleet operators who want to lead the transition to electric without sacrificing the space, capability and presence of a full size American pickup. With Autogroup International handling sourcing, right hand drive conversion, ADR compliance, warranty and 24/7 roadside assistance, it is a very compelling package for Australian conditions.
