Can an Electric Truck Handle a Mountain Bike Festival? The Silverado EV Did!
Words by Mia de Paula
For the first time ever, we rolled into the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival as an official partner—a huge milestone for the Women’s MTB Network. Over the last 3 years, we’ve hosted group rides, moderated women’s panels, and done our best to create space for more riders to feel seen and supported. But this year felt different. Bigger. More connected. We had a space, a booth, a bigger presence.
And it wouldn’t have been possible without General Motors, & Chevrolet. This isn’t going to be a truck review, rather, an article on how the truck got us to Sedona, through the fest, and my impressions on an EV Truck on a mountain biking trip.
Thanks to GM, we were able to travel to the festival in the all-electric Chevrolet Silverado EV—a vehicle that not only got us there with power and ease but turned heads the entire weekend- 5 weeks later, and we’re still hearing about it from industry folk. Just last month, while at Sea Otter Classic, I had a few people ask me where the Chevy truck was because they didn’t get to see it in Sedona!
From the moment we loaded up in Ventura County to the mountain roads outside Sedona, the Silverado handled every mile like it was made for this kind of adventure.
This recap is a look back at the journey: the trails we rode, the people we met, and the truck that helped us haul it all with zero tailpipe emissions. If you’re an EV-curious mountain biker or a die-hard gear hauler, there’s a lot to take away from this ride.
The Journey Begins: From Ventura County, SoCal, to Phoenix AZ
I hit the road from Ventura County early, buzzing with anticipation—and plenty of snacks. The Silverado EV immediately impressed with it’s range at full capacity of 460 miles. I’ve done this drive to Sedona 2-3 times a year over the last 10 years so, I’m very familiar with it. Over the last 4 years, I’ve done this trip on my Model Y, so I was aware of when to stop, charge, and how to time the stops. My trip was planned and dialed…. Or so I thought…
What I didn’t plan on, was not needing to stop to charge in my usual spots because, frankly, the truck has so much range, that I didn’t need to stop at my usual charging stops…. The drive to Phoenix gave me my first real sense of the truck’s comfort for long hauls. Spacious front seats, a clean interface, and enough room to stretch out made it an ideal setup—not just for driving, but for swapping playlists, taking calls, and mentally prepping for the festival. I made it to Phoenix with still 18% charge left on the truck… that’s almost 400 miles of driving.
The truck’s interface was easy to handle and the hands free Super Cruise feature was a breeze. It made the long drive so easy. The Silverado’s acceleration and smooth handling on the open highway was so good that I quickly forgot I was even driving an all-electric truck.
I’ll be honest—driving a full-size truck like the Silverado EV was intimidating at first. I’m short, and I’d never driven anything this big before. But once I got behind the wheel, the tech and handling put me at ease almost instantly.
Once in Phoenix, I scooped up Candice and Cierra. With all three of us and our gear loaded in, there was still a surprising amount of room in the cab. The back seat didn’t feel like an afterthought—it felt like a lounge, as evident by Cierra sleeping on the way up to Sedona. Ultimately I felt that this thing wasn’t just built to haul—it was built for friends, bikes, and road miles ahead.
Rolling into Sedona is always the best part of the trip.
The red rocks, the crisp light, the buzz of pre-festival energy—it all hit the moment we pulled in. After a long drive, we were ready to stretch our legs, scout some lines, and get a feel for the dirt.
Cierra had never ridden in Sedona before, and we were all keen to show her the best Sedona has to offer. It is, after all, the Mecca of Enduro/Tech Mountain Biking.
So, before the festival kicked off, we headed out for a pre-ride to shake off the road.
The Silverado’s bed carried five bikes with zero drama. Between the truck bed and our VelociRAX rack, loading and unloading was easy—even with a crew that doesn’t pack light.
We drove from our Airbnb to the trailhead and back again multiple times without stress. Everything fit. Everything worked. shuttling was an absolute breeze.
The truck became the backbone of our prep—hauling gear, shuttling people, and keeping the crew moving before the big weekend began.
Charging Experience with EVgo & Tesla Super Charger
Somewhere between Phoenix and Sedona, we pulled into an EVgo station to top off the battery before festival madness began. Plugging in was fast and seamless—and I mean fast. The Silverado EV pulled in over 250 kW, adding serious range in a short time. Within minutes, we had enough charge to comfortably handle the entire week in Sedona.
That one top up charge powered everything—from the daily drives to and from the fest, to grocery runs, trail shuttles, and post-ride burrito missions. No range anxiety. No mid-week plug-ins. Just one solid session that gave us the confidence to move freely.
Compared to my past experiences charging at Tesla Superchargers, the EVgo setup felt like an upgrade. Tesla’s network has reach, but the Silverado’s ability to take in higher wattage made this a game-changer. Quick, efficient, and done before we could even finish our gas station snacks. While on Tesla’s network, charging was slow even with 125kw average.
One hiccup on the trip happened at a Tesla Supercharger in New River—one I’ve used regularly with my Model Y on past drives to Sedona. This time, though, the Silverado EV wouldn’t charge, even with the new adapter. As I found out later, not all Tesla Superchargers are “unlocked” for use by non-Tesla EVs. That was on me—I didn’t check the Chevy app before pulling in. When I did check afterward, I saw that this specific Supercharger wasn’t listed as compatible with the Silverado.
Lesson learned: before heading to a Tesla charger in a non-Tesla EV, always double-check your vehicle’s app to confirm availability. It could save you some time and confusion.
That said, there was one downside worth noting: charger availability. The EVgo station we stopped at only had a couple of fast chargers, and we had to wait a bit for one to open up. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but definitely something to factor in if you’re planning an EV road trip through more rural areas. I will definitely be planning ahead in the future.
Festival Highlights and the "Silverado Crew"
The moment we rolled into the venue, the Silverado EV became an instant magnet.
The day before the fest, we loaded up to set up at the festival grounds and the woman guiding vendors spotted the truck and ran up to the truck, in awe of seeing one! The next day (festival day 1) she saw us coming and gave us the best parking spot.
On the first fest day, within minutes of parking, we had festival-goers walking over from other booths—some literally stepping out of line—to check out the truck. People were opening the doors, asking questions, and snapping photos. It was clear: this wasn’t just another vehicle in the lot—it was a presence.
We found that folks were calling us the “Silverado Crew,” and by the end of day one, everyone else knew us as the “Women’s Silverado Crew”. Folks had seen us around town shuttling a few days before the fest, and at the trailhead, so, when they came to our booth the Silverado was a conversation starter. Even industry folks stopped by to ask if this was the truck they’d seen online.
The visibility it gave us was next-level. It helped amplify everything we were doing at the fest—from talking about the Women’s MTB Network to connecting with riders, brands, and media. It was more than a vehicle. It became part of our team.
Unexpected Snowfall and Off-Road Performance
The first night of the festival brought a surprise: snow. Big, fluffy flakes started falling just as the sun went down, covering the red rock landscape in white.
This was not a good sight as it brought back flashbacks of “Snowdona”, the downpour of snow that happened a day before the festival in 2022.
But, naturally, we couldn’t resist taking the Silverado EV out for a spin. What could’ve been a stressful detour turned into a highlight of the trip. The truck handled the snowy roads with total confidence—no slipping, no second-guessing. We cruised through slush, icy patches, and slick driveways like it was nothing.
The ride felt planted and capable, a testament to how this EV isn’t just built for smooth highways but real-world, off-the-beaten-path conditions too.
For a crew of mountain bikers used to navigating unpredictable terrain, this felt like the perfect match. It was one of those moments that made us say: “Okay, this thing’s legit.”
Utility and Comfort
One of the biggest surprises about the Silverado EV wasn’t its power or range—it was its practicality. We packed everything: five bikes, a canopy, folding chairs, a table, our full merch setup, everyone’s luggage, trail gear, and five full-grown adults. And somehow? It all fit.
The bed of the truck, paired with the VelociRAX rack, made bike transport effortless. Inside, the back seat was shockingly roomy. Nobody felt squished, even with gear stacked at our feet. There was space to breathe, talk, nap—whatever we needed between rides and events.
The tech in the cab was intuitive and helpful without being overwhelming. We were able to manage everything from navigation to music easily. One thing we did miss: side-view camera activation when signaling. It’s a feature we’ve seen on other EVs like the Rivian and Tesla, and it would’ve been helpful on tight, unfamiliar roads. Hopefully it’s something GM can implement in a future update.
All in all, the Silverado didn’t just get us to the event—it carried the entire operation on its back, and then some. Including Wifi!
Technical Specifications and Comparisons
The Chevrolet Silverado EV is built for long-haul adventures, and its specs back that up. With a GM-estimated range of up to 460 miles on a full charge on the RST trim, it currently holds the longest range of any electric truck on the market. Which is one of the reasons I wanted to test the truck on this particular trip.
As I’ve mentioned, one of the most impressive features we experienced firsthand was its DC fast-charging capability. At an EVgo station, the Silverado took in over 250 kW, and according to GM, it can gain up to 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes when connected to a 350 kW charger. That kind of speed changed our road trip logistics for the better—less time charging, more time riding.
Chevy also provided the truck with a Thule tailgate pad, which worked great for bike transport. However, one issue we ran into was that the tonneau cover couldn’t fully close with the tailgate pad installed. It’s a small detail, but something to consider if you’re planning to pair the two. We also experienced a couple of occasions where the trunk got stuck while opening—nothing major, but worth noting as part of the real-world experience.
I can’t compare this truck to others on the market, as I’ve not had a chance to drive them. But based on information I found online, the Silverado EV edges other trucks both in battery capacity and fast-charging performance. I would love to opportunity to drive other trucks on similar trips to get a good feel for performance, range, battery, capacity, off road capabilities, etc.
The Sedona MTB Festival
Despite the rain and snow, our activations still went as planned. We kicked things off with a Wilderness First Aid clinic led by Mallory, which drew a solid crowd of curious and prepared riders. While our group ride with Dirt Therapy had to be postponed due to weather, we made up for it with an engaging Women’s Entrepreneur Panel, and the Mechanic Suspension Clinic supported by Shredly. The bunny hop competition was insane as usual, and our pal Braydon Brinhurst won the coveted denim jacket.
By the final day, Sedona gave us hero dirt and sunshine. Our all-women group ride—hosted alongside Sedona Mountain Bike Academy and the Flagstaff Lady Shredders—was an absolute hit, with nearly 40 riders joining in for good vibes and good lines. We wrapped the weekend with another raffle where Crankbrothers and Shredly came through with major prize support.
As always, so many festival brands showed up and pitched in—not just for giveaways, but for the bigger cause: getting more women on bikes.
Final Thoughts
From pre-rides and booth setup to snowy trailhead shuttles and late-night gear hauls, the Silverado EV proved itself to be more than just transportation—it was a key member of our festival crew.
Thanks to General Motors & Chevy, we were able to bring our team, our bikes, and our vision to the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival in a way that aligned with both performance and sustainability. For us, this wasn’t just about getting from point A to B—it was about doing it efficiently, comfortably, and with as little environmental impact as possible. Importantly this was about supporting women on bikes.
If you’re a rider who’s been wondering whether an EV can truly support your adventure lifestyle, we’re here to tell you: the answer is yes. Drop a comment, send a an email, or hit us up with questions. We’re happy to share more about the Silverado EV—and the road that brought us here.
