GMC Sierra EV :: GM’s Premium Truck Brand Boosts its Electric Lineup

GMC debuted its all-electric 2024 GMC Sierra Denali EV today with a claimed 400 miles of range, 754 horsepower, 787 pound-feet of torque, and 800V DC fast charging at up to 350 kilowatts. Starting at an MSRP of $107,000, the all-new Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 will be available for pre-order at 5:00 pm EDT on October 20, 2022. Deliveries start in early 2024. With GM barreling headlong into an all-electric future, let’s take a look at how the Sierra EV might fit into the world of the overlander.

Ultium Origins – The Hummer EV

General Motors reintroduced its Hummer nameplate two years ago as a fully electric vehicle under the GMC brand umbrella. The Hummer EV Pickup was the OEM’s first full-sized BEV, and it came as somewhat of a surprise given the reputation of previous Hummer models for guzzling fossil fuels. The Hummer EV Pickup is a 9,000-pound, seven-and-a-half-foot-wide behemoth that offers serious off-highway capability, 1,000 horsepower, and an impressive 329 miles of range. Our own Scott Brady put one to the test recently on a series of four-wheel drive adventures (including an unsupported traverse of the El Camino Del Diablo) and came away duly impressed. Consumers seem to agree, as the waiting list for a new Hummer EV Pickup has 77,000 names on it and at the current rate of production is 17 years long.

However, the Hummer EV’s real purpose for General Motors is as a launching pad for its Ultium EV platform. The flexible battery architecture of the Ultium chassis will be the foundation for all of GM’s BEVs going forward, from the rarefied air of the $300,000 Cadillac Celestiq, to the humble Chevy Equinox EV. Because it’s aiming for an all-electric lineup by 2035, GM will be pushing the Ultium platform quickly across all its brands, including GMC.

Sierras and Silverados

GM’s full-sized pickups, the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra, will be the first trucks to adopt the Ultium architecture after the halo model Hummer EV. GM announced the Silverado EV earlier in 2022, so it was inevitable that the Sierra EV would follow fast on its heels. It’s important to note that GM isn’t adapting battery packs to an existing ICE chassis, as Ford’s F-150 Lightning does. These are all-new vehicles, and while similar in execution, the Sierra will be distinct from its Chevy cousin.

As GM’s premium truck brand, we generally expect an upgrade in style, standard equipment, and luxury with GMCs over Chevys, which definitely seems to be the case with the Sierra EV. Performance numbers are comparable between the two, but the Sierra EV comes with some additional features that likely won’t be found on the Silverado EV. GMC is rolling out the Sierra EV first with its high-end Denali Edition 1 trim (there won’t be too many missing options on this truck), followed by the off-road-oriented AT4 and base model Elevation in 2025. Those models are expected to ring in at a much more attainable price point—starting at closer to $50,000 in comparison to the six figures found on the Denali’s window sticker.

Sierra EV By the Numbers

Here are some core specifications for the 2024 Sierra EV Denali:

• GM-estimated range of 400 miles (640 kilometers) on a full charge
• GM-estimated 754 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque in Max Power mode
• Onboard Power Station Promobile power source, with up to 10.2 kilowatts of off-board power
• 800-volt DC public fast charging capable at up to 350 kilowatts, enabling up to 100 miles of range in approximately 10 minutes
• Regen on-demand braking and OnePedal Driving
• All-wheel steering with CrabWalk functionality
• Continually adaptive air ride suspension and customizable driving modes
• 9,500-pound towing capacity and 1,300-pound payload capacity
• 0-60 mph in under 4.5 seconds

In addition, GMC will equip the Sierra EV with SuperCruise, GM’s hands-free semi-autonomous driving system, a 16.8-inch central touch screen, configurable LED instrument panel, panoramic glass roof, and high-end interior appointments. The Sierra EV’s neatest party trick in my opinion is the MultiPro Midgate (available also on the Silverado EV), which according to GMC will be offered,

… with an integrated 5-foot, 11-inch cargo bed [and] provides 9 feet of storage between the cab and the tailgate when the Midgate is open. A 60/40-split second-row seat offers four configurations that allow users to haul gear or equipment while still accommodating a passenger, and an available tonneau cover allows longer items to be stowed under a lockable, weatherproof cover.

Remember the Chevy Avalanche? The Sierra EV’s similar single-piece body structure allows for this multi-function pass-through from the bed into the passenger compartment, and it adds a level of functionality not seen in its competitors.

Overland Potential

Speaking of the competition, the Sierra EV raises the bar in the range game for all-electric pickups. At an estimated 400 miles for a single charge, the GMC will theoretically outperform its rivals—the Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, and its stablemate the Hummer EV—by a good 70 to 80 miles. Range consideration is core to the overland traveler when considering an EV as an adventure vehicle, and every mile helps, so that’s good news. Of course, range estimates often crumble in the face of real-world conditions, so until we get our hands on one of these trucks, it will be hard to tell how it really stacks up.

There are a few additional aspects of the Sierra EV’s electrical systems that will definitely appeal to the overland crowd. According to GMC, the Power Station Pro feature,

… allows the truck to be used as a mobile power source in multiple situations. With the available Ultium Power Bar accessory, the 2024 Sierra EV offers 10.2kW of off-board power through up to 10 outlets that can help power tools and other accessories on the trail or at a campsite. When properly equipped, the Power Station Pro can even power another EV.

Giving your trail partners a little boost from your own truck in a low-charge situation could be a trip saver. All that juice also will be handy for powering the modern overlander’s need to keep various cameras, laptops, communication devices, and other electronics topped up with electrons.

If the Denali version of the Sierra EV seems a bit too posh and expensive for adventure travel, the upcoming AT4 trim will likely hit a sweet spot. GMC has been directing quite a bit of attention to the overland market (they have had a large presence at Overland Expo recently). Their AT4 Sierra and Canyon models sport factory suspension upgrades, armor, more aggressive tires, and other small touches that overlanders appreciate, like easily accessible recovery points. We can imagine the 2025 Sierra AT4 EV will follow the same pattern.

An EV Future for GMC

Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick and GMC, noted that GMC owners are very loyal to the brand, so they see strong demand for the Sierra EV from day one. If the Hummer EV waiting list is any indication, they’re probably right. The biggest challenge might just be making enough of them.

For more on the GMC Sierra Denali Edition 1 EV or to get your order in (first edition Sierra EVs are bound to go fast) visit gmc.com.

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Images: GMC