2024 Ram 1500 EV | What We Know So Far
2024 Ram 1500 EV | What We Know So Far
Posted on November 27, 2021
Ram trucks hold a dominant place in the Canadian pickup market, with the best-selling Ram 1500 leading the half-ton pack while the 2500 and 3500 provide support on the heavy duty front. However, there's one gaping hole in the company's lineup: so far, the use of electric vehicle technology has been limited to a 48V mild hybrid system, with no full hybrid or all-electric vehicle in sight.
Ram seemed to have been lagging far behind other truck makers including Ford, Tesla, and GMC who've released or announced all-electric trucks in recent times, but that's all about to change with the announcement of the Ram 1500 EV slated to arrive in the 2024 model year. Full details of the model have yet to be revealed, but here's what we know so far.
New Platform and Design
Ram says that the new truck will be named the 1500 BEV, short for Battery Electric Vehicle, and will be targeting a similar level of capability to the current gas and diesel models in the range. However, the platform will be completely reworked to focus on the fully electric powertrain.
The new platform is said to be one of four designed from the ground up to provide the basis of a complete new range of electric vehicles from Ram, Dodge, Fiat, and Chrysler. The particular platform used in the 1500 EV goes under the name of STLA Frame, which will be a body-on-frame design rather than a unibody, for increased towing capacity and better off-road stability.
In terms of looks, only a shadowy hint of the profile has yet been released, but from first impressions it looks like the new Ram will be sleeker, lower, curvier, and more futuristic than current models, but without entering the all-out sci-fi territory occupied by Tesla's Cybertruck.
Range and Charging
The technical details of the new Ram 1500 EV are still a little hazy, with few confirmed specifications available. Nonetheless, the company claims that a hefty 200kWh battery will be included, offering up to 800km of all-electric range. The battery will be chargeable using DC Fast Charging facilities, with a quoted recharge rate of up to 150 kWh, which is said to translate to 32km per minute of extra range.
No details of towing capacity or payload have been made available, but Ram claims that the underlying technology will outshine that of current rivals. This is quite a claim to make considering the Tesla Cybertruck has a maximum output of 690 horsepower and 824lb-ft of torque, and the forthcoming Ford F-150 Electric has a predicted towing capacity in excess of 5,500kg.
Test Drive the Ram 1500 in Ottawa
Can't wait for the Ram 1500 EV to be released? Visit Myers Manotick Ottawa to test drive any current model in the Ram range, from the affordable 1500 Tradesman to the super-high-performance Ram 1500 TRX. The EV future might be rapidly approaching, but there's still plenty of high-power life in the gas and diesel Ram trucks models to help you get the job done with comfort and capability.