Ram's recent unveiling of the 1500 Revolution Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) sparked confusion as it was presented exclusively as an electric model, contrary to earlier statements made by Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. that the truck would also offer a range-extending gasoline engine. This announcement was made nearly a year prior to the presentation of the BEV, in which Koval emphasized the benefits of the gasoline option in increasing the truck's range compared to a purely electric version.
Despite the initial lack of mention during the presentation of the 1500 Revolution BEV, it has been confirmed that a range-extending internal combustion engine (ICE) is still in the works for the model. During a recent roundtable interview at the CES 2023 conference in Las Vegas, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares stated that a gasoline engine will be included to boost the vehicle's battery pack. This news is welcomed by many as pure electric vehicles tend to lack efficiency when it comes to towing, a common task for pickup trucks.
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept
Separately, Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. emphasized that the electric-only version of the 1500 Revolution remains the top priority. Koval also revealed that other powertrain options are being considered in order to differentiate the 1500 from its main competitors, the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Chevrolet Silverado EV. Prototypes of the 1500 BEV are set to hit the roads in the coming months, with sales of the series production model scheduled to begin in 2024.
In the meantime, Ram has provided further details on the Revolution concept, which has been engineered with dual motors for all-wheel drive capabilities. The concept also boasts impressive features such as massive 24-inch wheels with chunky 35-inch off-road tires, four-wheel steering, and third-row jump seats. Additionally, the vehicle includes a pass-through to the front trunk that can accommodate items up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) long, support for 350 kW charging, and 28 inches of screen space.
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept
While other major technical specifications have not yet been released, it is known that the electric 1500 is based on the STLA Frame platform, which Stellantis has stated can support large batteries with capacities ranging from 159 kWh to over 200 kWh and a range of up to 500 miles (805 kilometers). Models using this body-on-frame architecture are expected to be 212.5 to 232.3 inches (5,400 to 5,900 millimeters) in length.
Before its market launch in 2024, the production-ready Ram 1500 BEV is set to be officially unveiled in the near future.
Source: Car and Driver, The Drive
