We got an early look at Chevy's upcoming $105,000 electric pickup truck: See inside the Ford Lightning's biggest rival

Car companies can't convince Americans that electric cars are the way forward without offering battery-powered versions of a quintessentially American means of transportation: the pickup truck.

Ford launched the acclaimed F-150 Lightning earlier this year, and crosstown rival General Motors is cooking up some e-trucks of its own.

Read Insider's review of the Ford F-150 Lightning here.

The gargantuan GMC Hummer EV hit streets in December, and another more mainstream pickup from GM — the Chevrolet Silverado EV — is on the way.

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The gas-powered Silverado is already among the country's most popular vehicles.

Chevy sold around 520,000 Silverados last year, while Ford shipped 726,004 F-Series trucks. 

So if any new electric truck can take it to the white-hot Lightning and the long-promised Tesla Cybertruck (assuming it materializes), the Silverado EV is it.

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It doesn't hurt that the electric Silverado promises nearly 700 horsepower, tons of driving range, and features not available elsewhere.

The Silverado EV doesn't hit streets until 2023, but I got an early look at a pre-production model and am here to show you around its living room-sized interior, wildly clever bed, and other juicy details.

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The truck I climbed around is an early version of the Silverado EV RST, the top-of-the-line model that will cost a whopping $105,000 when it goes on sale next fall.

The top-trim F-150 Lightning Platinum also costs right around $100,000. And entry-level models from both brands are comparable, too, retailing for roughly $40,000. 

It'll churn out a very healthy 664 horsepower and 780 pound-feet of torque, enabling a 3.5-second sprint to 60 mph, Chevy says.

A claimed range of 400 miles would beat out most of the current market.

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From the outside, the Silverado EV mostly resembles a traditional truck, but with some added futuristic flair like a slim LED light bar up front.

It's about the size of the existing Silverado, which is to say it's pretty huge on every axis.

RST models come with 24-inch wheels that look downright enormous in person. The photos don't do it justice.

Let’s discuss the star of the show: the Silverado EV’s bed. The 5-foot-11-inch bed has a nifty trick up its sleeve that you won’t find in any other truck.

The innovative Multi-Flex Midgate (located between the bed and back seats) lets owners carry extra-long and tall items that won't fit in the bed.

You can fold down one section of the midgate …

… both sections …

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… or the entire thing, rear window and all, for the bulkiest cargo.

Chevy included power outlets on either side of the bed so owners can use the Silverado EV's large battery pack to charge tools, camp, or tailgate.

And the truck has handy features you'll see in other Chevys.

Steps integrated into to the corners of the bumper make for easier access to the bed.

And the optional Multi-Flex Tailgate can unfurl a few different ways to act as a stop for longer items …

… or as a step.

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Speaking of storage, the Silverado offers a trunk up front. Since there's no engine (and the motors and battery pack are all housed in the bottom of the vehicle) Chevy was able to offer an extra lockable compartment.

Like the bed, it has a power outlet so owners can charge devices or tools on the go.

Much of the front grille area opens with the lid, providing a wide, low opening. Chevy hasn't said exactly how big the frunk is, but it looks smaller than the F-150 Lightning's, which has a similar design.

Climbing into the Silverado EV's cabin, I was shocked at just how spacious it is. Sitting in the back seat there was practically a foot of open space between my knees and the front seatback.

And even though I'm a bit over six feet, I had tons of headroom in every seat.

The truck's giant sunroof adds to the sense of openness.

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Some bonus storage nooks are concealed below the rear seats.

Chevy peppered the RST's interior with special red accents on the seats and air vents.

Everything in the Silverado EV is oversized, including its center console, which is deep, wide, and has a sliding plastic tray that houses the cupholders.

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Keen observers will spot an Easter egg inside the compartment. It's an image of Chevy's very first pickup from 1918 and the new Silverado.

The Silverado EV RST has a big, bright 17-inch touchscreen …

… and an 11-inch display behind the steering wheel that presents the driver with gauges and other information.

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Customers Chevy surveyed said they prefer actual buttons and knobs — rather than touchscreen icons — for the most frequently used settings.

So the Silverado EV has a row of physical climate switches along with a volume knob that's, intriguingly enough, embedded into the touchscreen.

If speedy sales of the F-150 Lightning are any measure, many Americans are clamoring for electric trucks. But they'll have to wait a little while longer if they want a Chevy.

Ford logged at least 200,000 preorders for the Lightning after reservations opened last year, prompting it to boost planned production. It now plans to make 150,000 Lightnings per year starting in 2023. 

(It's still ramping up production and has sold around 6,800 of the trucks to date since deliveries began in May.)

The contractor- and fleet-oriented Silverado EV Work Truck goes on sale next spring, followed by the RST. Eventually, Chevy will sell a range of Silverado EVs, including an entry-level, $39,900 truck.