Ram unveiled the 1500 Revolution BEV concept at CES 2023 in Las Vegas on Thursday.
The concept previews a production electric model that will be unveiled in the coming months and will be available at dealerships in 2024.
Ram is a little late to the electric truck party, but the brand’s claims make it seem worth the wait. Ram said the planned 1500 BEV will lead when it comes to key metrics like towing capacity and payload, as well as range and charging times.
Given the impressive performance of electric pickups already on the market, such as the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning, that’s a tall order.
Compared to those trucks, as well as the upcoming Chevrolet Silverado EV and related GMC Sierra EV Denali, the 1500 Revolution BEV has a bolder design that seems to blend styling cues of a traditional pickup truck with those of a sleek grand tourer. It also features coach doors at the rear, has no B-pillars and replaces the side mirrors with a camera-based system.
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept
While some of these elements probably won’t make it into production, the unique shape with its long cabin should remain. Ram said the compact size of the electric motors meant the cab could be stretched farther forward, resulting in a cab that’s about four inches longer compared to the current 1500. The loading area length is approximately the same for both trucks.
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept
The longer cabin allowed the designers to fit a third row of jump seats. The jump seats are mounted to a power center gate with a power window. The EV design also allows for a hatch that extends into the front trunk, allowing objects up to 18 feet long to be accommodated with the center hatch open and the multifunction power tailgate closed.
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept
At the front of the cabin, the tuning fork motif of the headlights is repeated on the dashboard, which houses two stacked screens that form a large, portrait format display that spans 28 inches. Additional technologies include a head-up display with augmented reality, a Level 3 self-driving system, a surround-view camera system and an AI-powered virtual assistant. The truck also has a voice-activated feature that allows it to follow its owner short distances, which can save time when the truck needs to be moved slightly.
The concept uses a dedicated EV platform known as the STLA Frame EV. STLA Frame EV is one of four modular designs that will support future EVs across the board at Ram’s parent company, Stellantis, with ranges up to 500 miles. Ram hasn’t said what range the 1500 BEV will have or what the battery size will be, but the automaker said for the concept that a 350kW DC fast charger can add up to 100 miles in just 10 minutes.
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept
The drive is provided by electric motors at the front and rear. Larger engines can be used for a potential high-performance model, Ram said. In other words, don’t be surprised if the future 1500 BEV eventually spawns a model like the current 1500 TRX. The STLA Frame EV platform also supports rear-wheel steering and a self-leveling system.
The wheels are 24-inches in diameter, and Ram said the fenders can clear tires up to 35-inches in diameter.
Despite the imminent arrival of the 1500 BEV, Ram has no plans to abandon the internal combustion engine just yet. However, the automaker will electrify its entire lineup in the coming years, it announced at CES, including a possible Ram 1500 REV plug-in hybrid.
