The 2022 Chevy Silverado 3500HD: A Glimpse at the Future of Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks

Perhaps the last frontier of zero-emissions travel is the heavy-duty commercial truck segment. Tackling this juggernaut isn’t as simple as dropping in a battery pack and an electric motor. Visit our Chevy 3500HD dealership and see for yourself how heavy-duty pickups rely on powerful engines and complex, rigid structural components to provide commercial-grade payload and towing capabilities.

According to think tank Global Market Insights, heavy-duty pickup sales are expected to exceed $450 billion by the 2027 model year. Meanwhile, GM has committed to ending production of all combustion engine vehicles by 2040, including heavy-duty trucks. Therein lies the problem: how will Chevy satisfy HD truck demand while keeping its commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions?

GM is betting big on its Ultium battery technology to bridge the powertrain gap. Heavy-duty pickup truck buyers can’t compromise on utility and capability, so the key is building electric versions with enough raw power to meet or exceed current specifications. Not only that, but commercial truck buyers won’t compromise on driving range. What does the future hold for the Chevy Silverado 3500HD? Here’s what we know so far.

The Race to Better Fuel Economy

As an interim step between combustion engine propulsion and total electrification, manufacturers like Chevy have focused on fuel efficiency through more efficient engine architecture and fuel-saving technologies. Automakers aren’t yet required to report fuel economy ratings for heavy-duty trucks due to their higher Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), but that is expected to change in the next few years.

Regardless, Chevrolet still leans toward engineering that favors responsible environmental stewardship. These include lighter weight engines and drivetrain components, exterior design tweaks to improve aerodynamics, and fuel conserving engine start-stop technology. In combination, these changes substantially reduce fuel consumption without compromising capability. Still, only non-combustion power is capable of achieving zero emissions status.

Given most Silverado 3500HD buyers are using their trucks for commercial purposes, the threat of even a small loss in capability has dire consequences. Chevy acknowledges this by assigning a more realistic timeline for EV HD trucks. According to GM CEO Mary Barra, the company will offer all-electric heavy-duty pickups by 2035 and will phase out all gas- and diesel-powered versions by 2040.

That five years of overlap is critical since many commercial buyers might be wary of EV power. Hand wringing pain points include logistical considerations like availability of charging stations and driving range, but the mental leap is by far the biggest obstacle. It’s barely been ten years since the universe of alternative fuel vehicles consisted of the crunchy hippie Prius and the itty bitty Nissan LEAF. It’s hard to reconcile that stereotype with the bulk of an HD rig.

The Cleaner Trucks Initiative

A key motivation for global automobile manufacturers’ to work toward designing cleaner heavy-duty pickups is the EPA’s Cleaner Trucks Initiative. Introduced in 2018, the effort seeks to tackle the issue of greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty trucks via a series of new regulations. According to the EPA, HD trucks are the largest mobile contributor of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Though the 3500HD is on the smaller end of the commercial truck spectrum, it’s among the vehicles targeted for improvements.

Moving toward electric powertrains isn’t the only way to reduce emissions. Automakers like Chevrolet are also employing valve train technologies like cylinder deactivation and variable valve timing to optimize fuel economy and minimize the production of environmental pollutants. Also, the 2022 3500HD’s available 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission that distributes torque more efficiently.

It’s important to note that automakers and government regulators share a common interest in building more environmentally-friendly vehicles. The combined efforts of both stakeholders have resulted in a very substantial 90% reduction in heavy-duty truck NOx emissions since 1997. The associated technological advancements come at a steep cost, though, both for R&D and to manufacture the adaptive vehicle components. For context, early EPA emissions interventions included mandating catalytic converters.

The good news for heavy-duty truck buyers is that it’s the last vehicle category slated to receive an electric powertrain option. Over the next five years, GM will invest $35 billion in EV technology and infrastructure, including its Ultium battery technology. That figure represents a $15 billion increase over its original $20 billion commitment. The additional investment is targeted specifically at developing electric commercial trucks, and thanks to the theory of economies of scale and amortization, each successive model year will cost less to build because production (and sales) will increase as costs decrease.

What to Expect in the Interim

For the current 2022 model year, the Chevy 3500HD is offered with additional in-vehicle connectivity technology and infotainment, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on upper level trims. The infotainment system also allows drivers to store trailer profiles, making the process of tracking maintenance easier and more consistent. WT trims receive a 7-inch touchscreen, the LT features an 8-inch version, and the top-of-the-line High Country has an 8-inch HD screen with navigation.

In addition, Chevy puts the focus on safe trailering, offering up to 15 camera views and a comprehensive app-based trailering support system. Together, these features help simplify all aspects of towing, including hook-up and maneuvering. The six driving views include an innovative Transparent Trailer View, a display that lets drivers see through the trailer at oncoming traffic behind the truck. Upper level trims also include a bed view camera and a surround-view camera that displays a 360-degree view around the truck.

As for overall safety, the 2022 Silverado 3500HD comes available with several driver-assist safety technologies that rely on cameras, sensors, and radar to provide feedback to the driver during potentially dangerous driving situations, such as backing out of a driveway or changing lanes. The primary goal of these systems is to reduce collisions, but almost as important is how they function to keep the driver alert. Systems like Lane Departure Warning detect waning driver attentiveness and notify the driver to make corrections.

These safety and infotainment systems are already commonplace on many passenger vehicles. Undoubtedly, future Silverado HD trucks will follow suit, continuing to add more driver-assist safety and convenience features, especially now that non-commercial customers are showing a growing interest in HD trucks. In fact, since the 2019 model year, Chevy has continued expanding the 3500HD’s in-vehicle tech to keep up with smartphone technology and buyer connectivity demands.

Future 3500HD Models

It’s clear that the next decade will see major changes to Chevy’s heavy-duty truck lineup. Between GM’s electrification strategy and the growing popularity of HD pickups, it’s definitely the category to watch. Since its launch over two decades ago, the Silverado pickup remains a flagship in the Chevy lineup for its rugged capability and durability.

Those two design principles continue to dictate how the 3500HD will evolve to meet future EPA guidelines, which means that when the time comes for Chevy to launch an all-electric version, future buyers can count on the same brawny characteristics they’ve come to expect from the bowtie brand. Additionally, electric trucks offer benefits not found on combustion engine models, including instantly available torque.

The highly anticipated all-electric Silverado 1500 gives us a glimpse into what Chevy’s Ultium battery technology can do, with an estimated 400-mile range, 600 horsepower, and 780 lb-ft of torque, along with a rumored 20,000-pound max towing capability. It bodes well for heavy-duty truck buyers, so get excited because the future of the powerful 3500HD is bright indeed.