Outdated DOT Regs Are Forcing Chevy to Call 3/4-Ton Electric Trucks “Half-Tons”—And It’s Killing the Electric Suburban - CleanTechnica

The article discusses how outdated Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations are forcing General Motors (GM) to classify its electric Silverado pickup trucks, which physically resemble heavy-duty models, as "half-ton" or 1500-series trucks with artificially limited payload capacities. Despite the Silverado EV’s substantial curb weight of over 8,200 pounds and heavy-duty components, GM caps its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) at just under 10,000 pounds to avoid triggering stricter federal commercial vehicle regulations. This regulatory threshold, set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), classifies vehicles over 10,001 pounds GVWR as Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs), subjecting owners to burdensome requirements such as DOT registration, medical exams for drivers, hours-of-service tracking, and mandatory inspections. The key issue arises from the heavy battery packs in electric vehicles, which add significant weight and push the trucks close to this 10,000-pound limit. Unlike traditional gas or diesel trucks, where