Ram EV concept previews truck brand’s electric future

As a result, Stellates, a major automaker, had to work hard to make its truck brand stand out.

The Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept, unveiled at CES 2023, demonstrates what Ram has in mind for its first production electric truck, which is expected in 2024. This concept version combines several elements from other electric vehicles with some inventive new concepts. For the Ram brand, which is new to EVs, it may therefore be revolutionary, but when compared to other electric pickups, it is more evolutionary.

Explore the Contents

1 Unmistakably electric
2 A three-row pickup
3 Truckload of tech
4 Smarter charging
5 Rivals

Unmistakably electric

The Revolution rolls on enormous wheels and tires, just like a regular truck, but the roofline is a little lower and sleeker, which probably helps with aerodynamics. Around 24-inch wheels with smooth covers and lighting components, 35-inch tires are mounted. Meanwhile, the charging port is situated in the front fender on the driver’s side. When the vehicle has begun to charge, it makes a noise, and it blinks to indicate that charging is still going on.

In addition to the RAM Box storage bins from its current trucks, Ram added a frunk where the engine would typically go, just like competing truck manufacturers. The tailgate, frunk, and charge port are just a few of the openings that are all powered.

The STLA Frame dedicated EV platform, one of four such platforms Stellates hopes to deploy for future EVs across its numerous brands, including Chrysler and Jeep, is what supports all of this power-operated ease.

A three-row pickup

The packing versatility of specific EV platforms has been praised by several automakers, but Ram has gone a step further. If the third-row jump seats from the Revolution BEV concept make it into production, the Ram 1500 will be the only three-row pickup truck available.

The jump seats are a component of a mid-gate system that General Motors used on its gasoline-powered Chevy Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT trucks in the early 2000s, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. In this instance, though, drivers can fold down those third-row seats when it’s not in use. This is a pass-through that enables longer things to extend from the bed into the cabin.

The Revolution can fit anything up to 18 feet long with its tailgate closed thanks to a second pass-through that allows items to reach all the way into the frunk. Although the interiors of Bollinger Motors’ electric vehicles were more bare-bones than those of Ram’s, and Bollinger is now only focused on commercial sales, Bollinger previously displayed something comparable.

Truckload of tech

The Revolution outshines the current internal-combustion Ram 1500, which already has a sizable 12.0-inch touchscreen, with two enormous screens that together take up 28.0 inches of space. The lower screen, which is mounted one on top of the other, is removable, while the upper screen moves around on a rail system.

The truck can follow a person on foot like a large dog when in Shadow Mode. The voice-activated capability is designed for scenarios where a car needs to be moved a short distance so that the driver doesn’t have to continually getting in and out. To us, it sounds a lot like Tesla Summon.

A virtual assistant, smart home networking, a route planner, an augmented reality head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system are among expected technological aspects of the prototype truck. The interior lighting, chairs, suspension, and opacity of the glass roof may all be altered using a variety of Cabin Modes, which include settings for Productivity, Social, Party, Relax, and user-generated settings.

Ram also asserts that the level of automation is high enough for hands-free driving. However, Ram claims that the steering wheel, seats, head-up display, and interior lights also “work together to deliver next-level situational awareness to the driver” in case they need to regain control. The steering wheel retracts to free up more room.

Smarter charging

Ram says that the Revolution BEV prototype can recoup up to 100 miles of range utilizing 800-volt, 350-kilowatt DC rapid charging in around 10 minutes. At CES, Ram debuted a robotic wireless charger that can autonomously place itself under a car and begin charging in addition to the truck. But even if this product is delivered to customers, it won’t have the same amount of power as a DC fast charger because Ram was vague about production schedules.

Two electric motors, one for each axle, drive the concept truck’s wheels. Additionally, it has four-wheel steering with up to 15 degrees of flexibility and air suspension. However, Ram made no mention of any clever features like the Crab Mode found on the GMC Hummer EV.

Ram promises that its first electric vehicle in production “will be the leader” in the crucial parameters of range, towing, payload, and charging time, however no other details were provided. It’s no easy task, that.

Rivals

By the time the Ram 1500 EV concept vehicle goes into production, Ford and General Motors’ electric pickup trucks and Ram’s traditional rivals’ electric trucks will already be on the market. The Ford F-150 Lightning is already available for purchase and is well-received by both customers and reviewers. In order to electrify its most popular vehicles, GM is currently selling the 1,000-horsepower GMC Hummer EV and will shortly follow that up with the GMC Sierra EV and Chevy Silverado EV.

There is no exclusive market for electric trucks among well-known OEMs. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the Rician R1T, and Lords town Motors just unveiled its Endurance pickup truck for business fleets.

Ram cannot boast of being the first to introduce an electric vehicle. The main lesson to be learned from the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept is that electric trucks are here to stay now that one of the biggest holdouts has joined them. The revolution has already begun.