The years 2024 and 2025 are shaping up to be big ones for Stellantis as it expects many of its brands to show off important electrified vehicles. This includes the first all-electric Ram 1500, which we’re suspecting is aimed directly at the Ford F-150 Lightning. As part of Stellantis’ electrification offensive, Ram will have a full range of all-electric trucks and vans.
Based on the quick teaser provided in the video shown by Ram during Stellantis’ EV Day, the Ram 1500 electric truck will have a full-width LED headlight cluster. The cab appears to be more aerodynamically shaped, too, and isn’t as upright as the current truck. Expect a wide variety of customization options from multiple bed lengths and cab styles, allowing Ram to stand out in the full-size truck segment. Currently, the Ford F-150 Hybrid and F-150 Hybrid are only offered with a short bed and a crew cab. Ram’s entry could deviate from that as it provides a broader range of options in its products to suit customers’ requirements.
Mike Koval, CEO of Ram, reveals that the brand’s research has found that truck customers are open to electrification but aren’t willing to sacrificed power, performance, and capability. The reason? Many are towing or hauling regularly or have aspirations to do so with their pickups. Van segment customers, on the other hand, are concerned more about payload, cargo space, and light towing. They’re also more focused on commercial and business needs. As a result, Ram is tailoring its approach based on what its buyers are looking for instead of using a “one size fits all” method. “There is no reason why electrification should limit the choice of solutions we owe to our customers,” added Koval.
Ram aims to offer a fully electrified portfolio of products that offer the capability, performance, and flexibility to better compete in the segment. It also aims to lower ownership costs and include neat work and storage solutions to make its trucks and vans more appealing. To mitigate customer concerns, it will equip its vehicles with DC charging that can peak at rates of up to 150 kW, a dynamic range mapping system, charging station location, smart charging, preconditioning, and an energy use prediction feature. The new lineup of battery-electric powertrains aims to provide more power and torque, improved efficiency, and real-world range.
The Ram 1500 electric pickup promises to leapfrog its competitors when it arrives in 2024. By 2025 Ram will offer fully electrified solutions in most of the segments. It will eventually electrify every vehicle in its lineup by 2030. Expect Ram’s next-generation vehicles to use Stellantis’ STLA Frame platform, meaning certain versions could have the ability to travel up to 500 miles on a single charge. However, keep in mind that aerodynamics, equipment, battery size, weight, and shape all play a role in determining how far a vehicle can go on a single charge. The battery-electric Ram 1500 is most likely the first vehicle underpinned by that new architecture and will likely be followed by the next generation of heavy-duty pickups. Ram’s van lineup should also end up on that platform too and could benefit from the flat floor to maximize payload and cargo space.
