Here’s Everything We Know About the Electric Ram Pickup Truck
GMC is producing its 2022 Hummer EV and Ford is finalizing its 2023 F-150 Lightning. Chevrolet even revealed its Silverado EV. So where is the electric Ram? Here is everything we know about the upcoming Ram 1500 BEV.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning | 2024 Chevy Silverado EV | 2024 Ram 1500 BEV | |
Range Target | 230 miles or 300 miles | 400 miles | 500 miles |
Battery Type | Pouch style lithium-ion | Pouch style lithium-ion | Lithium-ion or solid-state |
Battery pack | 98 kWh or 131 kWh | optional 200 kW | 159 kWh (200+ kWh equivalent) |
Charging speed | up to 150 kW | up to 350 kW, 800 volt | up to 150kW |
Drive type | AWD | AWD | AWD |
Horsepower | 426 or 563 | 510 or 664 | Unknown |
Price | $39,974+ | $39,900+ | Unknown |
Stellantis plans to start electric Ram 1500 production in 2024
Stellantis is Ram’s parent company and comprises of fourteen brands worldwide, including the Chrysler corporation, Fiat, Peugeot, and Maserati. At Stellantis’ “EV Day” press conference, Ram revealed some information about its upcoming electric truck.
Firstly, Ram plans to go into production with a full-frame battery electric vehicle (BEV) by 2024. The company’s slides revealed a CGI image of a ladder frame with a large battery pack mounted between its rails.
The chassis render shows two electric motors, one for each axle. The chassis also features independent suspension, both front and rear. Finally, it appears to feature a remote shock absorber reservoir or even an active shock absorber.
The truck’s body features a forward cab and low roofline, reminiscent of the Chevy Silverado EV. The bed looks five feet long or shorter while the rims are 20-inches or larger. The truck also features a full-length LED strip connecting the headlights. This stylish feature is reminiscent of the Charger’s tailight strip.
The brand is banking on solid-state batteries
Stellantis is betting on battery technology. Ram’s new BEV will ride on Stellantis’ shared full-frame chassis, (STLA full). Engineers are targeting up to a 200 kWh battery pack for the STLA full architecture.
In addition, Stellantis is pioneering cobalt-free and high energy density batteries. Unlike the lithium-ion liquid pouches most EVs currently use, Stellantis hopes to pioneer solid-state batteries by 2026. The company hopes this advanced technology will endow the Ram 1500 BEV with a range of 500 miles. If it succeeds, it will revolutionize the electric truck segment.
At Stellantis’ EV Day, Ram also mentioned plans to include a power inverter customers can use to get 110-volt electricity from its BEV trucks. Other new technology include “Smartphone Controls” and multiple drive modes. Ram hopes to lessen range anxiety with a charge station locator and a technologis called “Dynamic Range Mapping” and “EV Dynamic Trip Energy Prediction.”
What is the Range Electric Paradigm Breaker (REPB) Ram’s planning?
While some automakers are pledging to build exclusively electric vehicles in the near future, Ram is taking a more realistic approach. The Detroit company announced it will offer an electric option in every segment by 2030. But it said nothing about phasing out internal combustion.
Stellantis mentioned that in addition to a battery electric vehicle (BEV), Ram will be offering a second new vehicle class. This new vehicle will be called the “range electric paradigm breaker (REPB).
Ram is secretive about what exactly this vehicle will be. All Ram revealed is that this truck will have “all the driving characteristics of BEVs with real world range and flexibility.”
Some automakers, including BMW, are producing electric vehicles with internal combustion “range extenders.” These are essentially efficient generators that can burn gasoline to replenish the battery while on the road. Ram may be eyeing a similar setup for future vehicles. Such a truck might have unlimited range with abundant power on tap. This gasoline generator to electric motor drivetrain may seem odd, but it is actually a tried-and-true system used in diesel locomotives.