The Ram 1500 is one of the best-selling vehicles in America, so there’s a lot riding on the upcoming electric variant. Known as the 1500 REV, the model was recently unveiled at the New York Auto Show and proves being late to the game might be an advantage.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, the truck will battle the Ford F-150 Lightning as well as electric versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. It will also have to fend off the Rivian R1T as well as the long overdue Tesla Cybertruck. That’s a lot of competition, but the Ram 1500 REV has a few tricks up its sleeve.
The Future Looks A Lot Like The Past
Photos Mike Gauthier/Carscoops
While a number of automakers have introduced adventurous electric trucks, the Ram 1500 REV is instantly recognizable as it closely echoes the standard model. This makes it seem a little boring, but it isn’t a carbon copy as it’s far more aerodynamic and is slated to be the “segment’s most slippery truck with an estimated .340 coefficient of drag.”
Besides streamlined styling, the truck has distinctive tuning fork headlights and an illuminated Ram logo. Buyers will also find RamBox storage compartments and a powered frunk that opens to reveal 15 cubic feet (425 liters) of cargo space. The truck also offers an all-new power up and power down tailgate for maximum convenience.
More: 2025 Ram 1500 REV Offers Up To 500 Miles Of Range Thanks To A Ginormous 229kWh Battery
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Those are nice features, but Ram didn’t push the design envelope and that’s slightly disappointing. This stands in contrast to the Silverado EV, which features a midgate that enables the model to haul items over 9 feet (2,743 mm) long with the bed closed.
Speaking of space, the truck is slated to have a 5’ 7” bed with an onboard power panel that can provide up to 7.2 kW of juice. That’s enough to power everything from lights to TVs for your next tailgate party. It also enables the truck to power tools at worksites without electricity.
An Upscale Interior With A Front Passenger Display
Photos Mike Gauthier/Carscoops
Ram really upped their game with the current 1500 and the Limited Longhorn has a two-tone leather interior with elegant swaths of wood trim. It says luxury without speaking a word.
While the Ram 1500 REV will offer five trims – including Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, and Limited – we’ve only seen the range-topping Tungsten and it comes off a little underwhelming in photos. This can be chalked up to the focus on screens as there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch infotainment system, and a 10.25-inch front passenger display.
That’s probably overkill, but they give the truck a high-tech vibe and the passenger screen will undoubtedly attract plenty of attention. It was unfortunately in ‘demo mode’ in the truck we checked out, but it can show navigation and battery information as well as exterior camera views, so people riding shotgun can act as a spotter or co-pilot.
The screen also focuses on entertainment. While it doesn’t have Netflix or Amazon Fire TV built-in, there’s an HDMI input on the dash and this enables users to mirror content from their smartphone or tablet. This doesn’t sound ideal, but you’ll likely be able to avoid a dreaded subscription.
Putting technology aside, the interior doesn’t break new ground. While there are some new additions, including a dual wireless smartphone charger, the 1500 REV will feel right at home if you own the current model.
Backseaters aren’t treated as second-class citizens as the range-topping Tungsten trim boasts heated and ventilated rear seats as well as four USB ports and a 115 volt outlet. Rear passengers will also find plenty of head- and legroom, and they can enjoy views through a massive panoramic glass roof.
The good news doesn’t end there as the truck boasts luxurious accents and impressive attention to detail. High-quality materials are abound and include a silky smooth suede headliner, metal accents, and nicely padded surfaces. That’s just the tip of the iceberg as the luxurious trim boasts a two-tone design, contrast stitching and piping, and carbon fiber trim. They’re joined by a 23-speaker Klipsch premium audio system, which features speakers integrated into the ceiling and rear of the front seats.
Two Battery Packs And An Insane 500 Miles Of Range
While luxury trucks are in vogue, Ram told us their customers are more concerned about range, towing, payload capacity, and charging speeds. As a result, they pulled out all the stops and decided to offer the truck with massive 168 and 229 kWh battery packs. The former should enable the model to travel up to 350 miles (563 km) on a single charge, while the latter boosts that figure to 500 miles (805 km). That’s among the longest ranges offered by any electric vehicle, let alone a pickup.
Ram isn’t even limiting you to 500 miles (805 km) as the 1500 REV will eventually be offered with a range-extending engine. The company hasn’t said much about the XR variant, but it will follow the electric model and have a “class-shattering range.”
Range is only part of the equation as no one wants to sit around waiting for their truck to charge. That shouldn’t be much of an issue for 1500 REV owners as the model has an 800-volt architecture and a 350 kW DC fast charging capability. This will enable the truck to get up to 110 miles (177 km) of range in as little as 10 minutes.
On the topic of charging, the truck has vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-home, and vehicle-to-grid capabilities. This means it can power your home in an emergency and charge other EVs in a pinch. It can also interface with the electrical grid and send power to utility companies. The latter capability means the truck could potentially be charged when rates are low, and then sell that energy back to the power company when rates are higher and there’s more demand on the grid.
To ensure the Ram 1500 REV was a ‘proper’ truck, engineers developed the all-new STLA Frame architecture. As the name suggests, it has body-on-frame construction and this enables the model to have a towing capacity of up to 14,000 lbs (6,350 kg). That’s 4,500 lbs (2,041 kg) more than the GMC Sierra EV and 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) more than the Ford F-150 Lightning. Buyers will also find an impressive payload capacity of up to 2,700 lbs (1,225 kg).
While many specs outshine the competition, the truck’s dual-motor all-wheel drive system only produces 654 hp (448 kW / 663 PS) and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) of torque. That’s nothing to sneeze at, but the Silverado and Sierra EVs are slated to have up to 754 hp (562 kW / 764 PS) and 785 lb-ft (1,063 Nm) of torque. That being said, the 1500 REV won’t be a slouch as it will be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds.
Too Late Or Right On Time?
The Ram 1500 REV certainly piques our interest, but it’s a ways off as it won’t arrive until the fourth quarter of 2024. That’s so far down the road that it will hit the market after all of its main competitors and land shortly before Ford’s second-generation entry. The latter is codenamed “Project T3” and Ford has said they’ll be able to build up to 500,000 units annually at full production.
That has to be a scary thought for Ram, but officials told us the 1500 REV is ready to rock and roll. They also suggested the model benefited from its late arrival as they could see what the competition was doing and then one up them in the areas that mattered most.
That being said, the truck doesn’t seem revolutionary and it could feel dated by the time it shows up late next year. However, there’s still plenty to like including an upscale interior, a 500 mile (805 km) range, and legitimate truck capability. If you think that’s a winning combination, you can sign up to get early access to preorder the model for a refundable $100 fee.
