(Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information secured after the press conference in Chicago.)
Stellantis teased the automotive world with a look at its battery-electric pickup concept, dubbed the Ram 1500 Revolution, but with few other details. TheDetroitBureau.com learned the road-ready model will be named the Ram 1500 Rev.
An official announcement is expected to come today at Chicago Auto Show. The concept version of the truck was revealed last month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. While the officials were clearly pleased with the concept, they were mum about most of the details.
Ram officials hinted then the truck could deliver between 400 and 500 miles of range, though it appears the higher number would come with the use of a range extender. Many thought the name, Rev, was a nod to the use of a range extender — a notion that brand chief Mike Koval flatly denied to TheDetroitBureau.com today.
Future plans
The truck would be battery-electric only for the first year of production, which is expected to be the summer of 2024. A range extender would likely come the following year.
The push to add miles to surpass the current electric pickups, while using proven technology on hand, is what gave credence to the need for a range extender, at least in the minds of Ram planners. Koval said “research tells us that (potential truck buyers) are more open to the prospect of electrification than ever before. But they are not willing to compromise.” He added there is a mix of requirements electric trucks need to meet, including towing and payload capacity as well as range and charging speed.
This range extender is different from a hybrid in that an onboard internal combustion engine would be solely used to generate electricity, which would be used to run the electric motors and recharge the batteries, depending upon how the truck is being used at that moment.
A source told TheDetroitBureau.com some of the details will be revealed this coming weekend during a lengthy Super Bowl commercial. But the name the automaker is going with, dubbing the all-electric model the Rev suggests speculation is accurate, including the rumor there will be a range-extender option.