Reality Check · Chicago, IL
2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV LT in Chicago, IL
Winter range, charging cost and how far it goes, worked out for Chicago's weather, grid and prices.
In a typical Chicago January (26°F), a Silverado EV LT gets an estimated 326 miles on a charge, 23% less than its 424-mile rating, and about the same in the coldest week of the year (around January 16, when it averages 26°F). By May it's back to about 420. Charging at home at Illinois's average rate (19.2¢/kWh) costs about $115 a month for 38 miles a day, against $320 for a gas Silverado on Chicago's gas. Chicago's grid (RFC West) is 19% dirtier than the US average, but charging on it still makes 59% less CO₂ than gas.
Estimated. This model doesn't have enough real drives at each temperature yet, so these come from 1,548 real drives in EVs (98 of them this model's) at each temperature (and Recurrent's winter study below freezing), as a share of their own EPA ratings, applied to its 424-mile rating. Each temperature band switches to this model's own drives once it has 20 from 3 drivers.
October rangeEstimated
415mi
At Chicago's typical October day, 55°F · 35% highway
Winter lowEstimated
324mi
January, 26°F · lows near 19°F
Home chargingEstimated
$115/mo
10.0¢ a mile at 19.2¢/kWh. Gas Silverado: $320/mo
Chicago's grid
0.91lb CO₂/kWh
RFC West (EPA eGRID): 19% dirtier than the US, 59% less CO₂ than gas
Chicago, season by seasonEstimated
A Silverado EV LT's range on a full charge, averaged over each season's months (30-year normal temperatures), at 35% highway.
Winter Dec–Feb · 29°F
20% below its 424-mile rating · coldest week 324 mi
340mi
Spring Mar–May · 51°F
4% below its rating
406mi
Summer Jun–Aug · 74°F
About its rating
422mi
Fall Sep–Nov · 55°FNow
3% below its rating
411mi
A Silverado EV LT's range through a Chicago yearEstimated
Each month at Chicago's 30-year normal temperature, 35% highway. 72 days a year average below freezing.
How far it goes from Chicago, on real roadsEstimated
In October, from a full charge with 10% in reserve: about 187 mi out and back, 373 mi one way (January: 293 mi). Dots are DC fast chargers by network.
Fast charging around Chicago
PlugLog's map of every public charger. Tesla-only Superchargers aren't counted.
- 158DC fast chargers within 25 mi
- 0.6 mito the nearest
- ChargePoint246 in reach
- Tesla Supercharger142
- EV Connect139
- Red E Charge136
- EVgo122
Road trips in October, about, by road: Columbus (346 mi) and Louisville (345 mi) one way on a charge.
Questions Chicago drivers ask
How far can a Silverado EV LT go in a Chicago winter?
About 326 miles on a typical January day (26°F) and about the same in the coldest week of the year (around January 16, 26°F on average), estimated from real EV drives at those temperatures. That's 23% below its 424-mile rating, mostly from heating the cabin and the battery. Chicago averages 72 days a year below freezing.
How much does it cost to charge a Silverado EV LT in Chicago?
About $115 a month at home for 38 miles a day, at Illinois's average home electricity rate of 19.2¢/kWh: about 10.0¢ a mile. A gas Silverado on Chicago's average gas ($4.71 a gallon) costs about $320 a month for the same driving.
Can I charge a Silverado EV LT on a regular 120 V outlet in Chicago?
Not at 38 miles a day: a 120 V outlet adds only about 31 miles in 12 hours on an average day (25 in the coldest week). Plan on 240 V, which fills it from 10% in about 10 hours.
Is it greener to drive electric on Chicago's grid?
Yes. Chicago's grid (RFC West) is 19% dirtier than the US average, but a Silverado EV LT charged on it still makes 59% less CO₂ than a gas Silverado.
Check it for your own address
Your street, your daily miles, any temperature on the knob.
Silverado EV LT Reality Check near Chicago
Sources: temperatures, 30-year normals (NOAA 1991–2020) at Chicago Midway Airport, IL; home electricity, EIA (Illinois, July 2026); gas, EIA weekly (Chicago); grid CO₂, EPA eGRID 2023; cold-weather range, PlugLog's real drives and Recurrent's winter study (Nov 2025); chargers, Open Charge Map and PlugLog. Updated Oct 22, 2026.