The development of the all-electric Ram 1500 REV has been cancelled, as Stellantis shifts its strategy amid declining demand for full-size battery-electric trucks in North America. This decision leaves the company without a direct competitor to the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV in the burgeoning electric pickup market.
The announcement was made over the weekend, following a series of delays that had already put the future of the 1500 REV in doubt. Earlier this year, Ram had stated it would not pursue a long-range version of the truck featuring a 229 kWh battery capable of up to 805 km (or 500 miles) of range. At that time, the company had still planned to launch a standard range model equipped with a 168 kWh battery, which would offer a range of 560 km, but this was postponed to 2026, two years later than initially intended.
New Direction with Ramcharger Hybrid
While the all-electric 1500 REV is no longer in development, the nameplate has been repurposed for a new extended range electric vehicle (EREV) variant of the Ram 1500. This model, initially referred to as the Ramcharger, was unveiled at the 2023 New York Motor Show and features a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine. Notably, this engine does not power the wheels but serves as a generator to recharge the vehicle’s 92 kWh battery located beneath the floor.
Ram aims for a combined range of 1110 km with the Ramcharger, which will support DC fast charging of up to 145 kW. The vehicle is equipped with an electric motor on each axle, providing 250 kW at the front and 238 kW at the rear, leading to a total output of 487 kW and 834 Nm of torque. According to Ram, this configuration allows the truck to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in just 4.0 seconds.
In terms of utility, the Ramcharger boasts a towing capacity of 6350 kg and a payload capacity of 1190 kg. Although a specific launch date for the extended range 1500 REV has yet to be confirmed, marketing materials indicate it may be positioned as a 2026 model, suggesting a release may occur later this year.
With competitors like Ford and General Motors offering fully electric pickups but lacking plug-in hybrid or extended range options, Ram is set to capture a unique segment of the market. Nevertheless, they will face competition from newcomers like Volkswagen’s Scout, which plans to introduce its Terra ute in the future.
As the market for electric vehicles continues to evolve, Ram’s pivot towards hybrid technology may position it advantageously in a competitive landscape.
