A historic moment occurred in the desert outside of Las Vegas recently, as two electric vehicles (EVs) participated in the Mint 400 for the first time.

Since its inception in 1969, the Mint 400 has been synonymous with vehicles powered by traditional fossil fuels. The event has traditionally featured a wide range of vehicles, from V8-powered Trophy Trucks to stock Volkswagen Beetles, all of which have been fueled by gasoline. However, this year marked a significant departure from this tradition, as EVs took to the track for the first time.

In 2024, a group of enthusiasts entered a Rivian R1T into the competition, and Mint organizer Matt Martelli created an EV Production class. This year, Chevrolet joined the fray, entering the Silverado EV ZR2 off-road race truck concept, a modified version of its electric truck. The reveal of the concept coincides with Chevy’s preparations to launch the 2026 Silverado EV Trail Boss, its first off-road-oriented electric variant, this summer.

While the Rivian R1T is largely a stock truck with upgraded 35-inch BFGoodrich tires, the Silverado EV has undergone significant modifications. These include the use of longer control arms from the Hummer EV, which allow for 13 inches of travel, and the replacement of air suspension with dual-coil springs in the front and single coil springs in the rear.

The Silverado EV’s suspension has been modified to accommodate its considerable weight, with the front springs having a spring rate of 1,600 pounds per inch and the rear springs having a spring rate of 978 pounds per inch. The truck’s tall springs and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires give it a ground clearance of 15 inches.

The Silverado EV’s tri-motor system, also borrowed from the Hummer EV, produces 1,100 horsepower and 11,500 pound-feet of torque. However, it’s worth noting that this torque figure is measured at the wheels, rather than at the motors, which is the more conventional method of measurement.

Chevrolet retained the 205 kWh battery from the production truck, which provides a range of up to 440 miles in normal driving conditions. However, the demands of racing in the desert are significantly different, and the team was unsure how the battery and drive units would perform in this environment.

Not quite a square off

The opportunity to see the Rivian and Chevrolet Silverado EV compete directly was unfortunately missed due to a technicality. Although both vehicles participated in the event, they were entered into different classes: the Rivian in the EV Production class and the Chevrolet in the EV Open class.

The Rivian completed two laps of the 73-mile course, while the Chevrolet only managed one lap. This disparity was due to the fact that the Rivian had previously competed in the event and had already demonstrated its capabilities, whereas the Chevrolet was a new entry and was being eased into the competition.

Call it the Mint 73

After the trucks departed the starting line, I had the opportunity to drive a stock Silverado EV provided by Chevrolet for the weekend. I headed to the first pit stop, located at race mile 21, but unfortunately missed the truck. The second pit area was more accessible, and I was able to catch a glimpse of the Silverado EV as it silently navigated the course.

The Silverado EV completed the course with a 40% state of charge, averaging 0.6 miles per kilowatt-hour. The team finished the course in 2 hours and 10 minutes, achieving an average speed of approximately 34 miles per hour.

For Rivian, it’s the Mint 146

I caught up with the Rivian team at the Electrify America charging station, where they were busy repairing a blown air spring and charging the truck’s 149 kWh battery. The team achieved an efficiency of 0.6 miles per kilowatt-hour on the first lap, similar to the Silverado EV, and reached speeds of up to 110 miles per hour on the dry lakebed.

After completing the second lap, the Rivian team arrived at the finish line with a 10% state of charge, having maintained an efficiency of 0.6 miles per kilowatt-hour despite pushing the truck to 128 miles per hour. Although the team’s average speed was slightly lower than the Chevrolet’s, they were still thrilled to have completed the course and taken home a first-place trophy.

Where are Ford, Jeep, Tesla?

While battery density and charging infrastructure currently limit the competitiveness of electric vehicles in racing, there is still scope for more EVs to participate and test their capabilities. It would be exciting to see other manufacturers, such as Ford, Jeep, and Tesla, enter the fray and compete for electric dirt supremacy.