Ram promised to shake up the EV truck market when it announced plans to release an EV version of its popular Ram 1500 pickup. As time went by, rivals like the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet Silverado RST, and the Rivan R1T appeared, and it became very evident that Ram was going to be running late to the figurative party. But after many teasers as well as a fair share of rumors, Ram has finally taken the veil off of the Ram Revolution Concept, which will spearhead Ram’s efforts at bringing the fight to Ford and Chevrolet.
Ram Revolution Comes Loaded With Flair; Numbers Are More Elusive
Ram pulled out everything short of the kitchen sink when it came to revealing this truck, but the company chose to keep crucial performance numbers close to the vest and instead claimed that the Ram Revolution would be a segment leader in towing, range, payload, and charge time.” Moving past those veiled numbers, it becomes apparent that the Ram Revolution Concept is packed with advanced features. The design is all-new and goes in a completely different direction compared to the ICE-equipped Ram 1500, with the front fascia adopting an aggressive front fascia that features tuning fork-styled LED headlights and a light-up Ram emblem. The side profile is sleeker than before, and the rear lighting is baked into the rear, with the thin LEDs delivering a crisp look.
This is partly because the all-new STLA platform retains body-on-frame construction but adds advanced electrical architecture and a specialized space between the frame rails that houses the battery packs. The platform was also designed to be an EV platform from the start, and Stellantis has said in the past that it has an impressive degree of flexibility baked into it. The concept is powered by two electric motors, one at the front and the other at the rear. This setup allowed designers to have some fun with the proportions. The concept has a cab placed further forward, and the dynamic sweeps and curves eliminate some of the big rig styling elements that have become synonymous with Ram trucks for the past few decades. Ram even thought about the little things and allowed the two hooks to be swiveled in and out of position.
But open the Rolls-Royce-style coach doors (we highly doubt that these elaborate pieces will make production), and you will discover an interior that will make Ford and Chevy blush with envy. The dashboard has ambient lighting, and the design reflects the front headlights’ core design. The rest of the space is minimalist in nature, and there are no visible gauges or obvious controls except for the steering wheel and the infotainment system in the center of the dash. This system uses two 14.2-inch screens, with the lower screen having the ability to extend further down to help enhance the size of the screen. An augmented heads-up display projects information onto the windshield and is meant to help reduce distractions when out on the road. The leather appointments in the concept are made out of apple byproducts, and the concept even has third-row seating thanks to a set of jump seats mounted on the mid-gate that can be folded down to provide five-passenger comfort for long road trips.
When Will We See A Production Version?
Ram is on track to bring the production version of the Ram 1500 EV to market sometime in 2024, with the production version expected to debut later this year. It will be interesting to see how much of the show truck’s technology makes the transition to production, especially the biometric camera system and the nifty AI assistant. An item that we would like to see make the jump to production ourselves is the “shadow mode,” which allows the truck to slowly follow its owner for short distances, which could come in handy out on the job site if you want to have the truck close by.
Ram also hinted that more powerful variants of the Ram EV could be produced thanks to the STLA platform allowing engineers to add more battery capacity and alter the placement of these batteries to enable the truck to be tailor built for a wide range of segments. The Ram will also have an uphill battle regarding being the segment leader. The Ford F-150 Lightning can haul up to 2,000 lbs, while specific versions of the Chevrolet Silverado EV can tow up to 20,000 lbs. The road to the top of the mountain is never easy, but it will be interesting to see if Ram can successfully become the segment leader that the brand thinks it can be.
