Could be. However, payload and towing capacity are also quite different. It's usually easier for a truck to pull weight rather than carry it.
I agree that the 20K max towing is more than anyone should be planning from this truck. But looking at things objectively, ANY vehicle advertised and sold as a truck should have a greater payload rating than my current sport sedan. The only explanation I could come up with was an attempt by GM to keep this truck out of class 3 for licensing purposes. Likely has zero to do with the true capability of the platform.The 20k max is advertised as part of a special towing package. The base wt is 8000 lbs towing. I really think it’s a mistake to think about the Silverado EV as a competitor for anything other then a 1500. It doesn’t have the range and its not a HD truck with a frame. It might be possible for the WT EV to tow a skid steer or small excavator across town on the right trailer with the 20k lb towing package. But that’s not the same as what an HD truck can do on the highway with other large trailers.
I guess we have to look at other trucks. My brother has a 2013 F-150 XLT and the payload is around 1,200 lbs. on the sticker. 1,149 to be specific I think. My 2016 Tundra I just got rid of earlier this year had a sticker showing 1,372 lbs. of payload. If you look around at "1/2 ton" trucks over the last 10 years (or longer actually) you'll find that most of them are well below 1,500 lbs. of payload. I feel like 1,300 on an EV truck is actually pretty respectable. I don't think GM came up with that number for any reason other than that's what's competitive in this segment and always has been.I agree that the 20K max towing is more than anyone should be planning from this truck. But looking at things objectively, ANY vehicle advertised and sold as a truck should have a greater payload rating than my current sport sedan. The only explanation I could come up with was an attempt by GM to keep this truck out of class 3 for licensing purposes. Likely has zero to do with the true capability of the platform.