When Ram announced it would be making an electric truck, it marked another mainstream pickup manufacturer embracing EV technology. The concept revealed earlier this year appeared to be innovative and fairly revolutionary. But is the Ram 1500 REV actually a game-changer? The production model seems pretty tame compared to what the industry seemingly expected. 

What is the Ram 1500 REV?

The Ram 1500 REV truck is the brand’s take on an electric pickup. Back in 2021, Ram CEO Mike Koval confirmed that there would be an electric Ram truck. And ever since then, folks have been wondering what the final product would look like. 

While we do not have all of the specifics about the electric Ram 1500, we do know a fair amount. And we also know what it looks like. Depending on where you land on the topic, it might look pretty tame. In fact, I think it looks a little too much like the regular ICE truck. 

Sure, it’s rare that a production vehicle winds up being the same as a concept vehicle. But the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept looked like such a game-changer. It feels like a shame that the 1500 REV that we’re going to see on the road looks pretty much like a regular pickup truck. 

Ram’s electric truck feels like a bit of a letdown

Now, I am excited to see an electric truck from Ram. These vehicles have a lot of promise to be practical and to remove the inefficiency typically found in a traditional pickup. But the Ram 1500 REV has ditched some of the exciting features we saw in the concept. 

The coach doors, electrochromic glass roof, and proportions were probably never going to make it into production. What did seem like it would, is the midgate. A truck with a midgate is not a new thing; it’s been featured in pickups of the past. Essentially, it allows you to extend your truck bed into the cabin. It looks like that is not something we’re going to see in the production model. 

The Ram 1500 REV is expected to follow the lead of other Ram trucks. That means versions with premium materials and a comfortable ride. But that is not necessarily a groundbreaking thing; we’ve seen that for some time with this brand. 

Is the Ram 1500 REV better than the Ford F-150 Lighting?

That is a question that we can’t necessarily answer yet. Ram has not released enough details about its electric truck’s power, range, or other specifics. We always knew that Ram would be late to the EV game, with other brands getting there first. 

But hopefully, this Ram truck has what it takes to take on the Ford F-150 Lighting. It would certainly be a shame if it fell short of the competition, especially since it has seemingly had a lot of its truly innovative features removed. 

Koval had promised that the electric Ram would have 500 miles of range, according to the Detroit Free Press; he also stated that it would “push past” the competition. Only time will tell if that will happen.