Ram Trucks is expected to reveal an all-electric pickup concept, that’ll preview the upcoming Ram 1500 BEV, between September and December this year.
This all-electric pickup in its production form will be the brand’s answer to the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T and the GMC Hummer EV.
The production version of this concept vehicle is due to go into production in 2024, as previously reported.
From an Australian perspective, a spokesperson for Ram Trucks’ local distributor Ateco said it’s “working closely with our colleagues at Ram Trucks in the US, and are monitoring a number of vehicles that would suit the Australian market”.
This seems to bode better than a flat-out no.
Leading up to the reveal, Ram has posted a short teaser video to Twitter that shows another shadowy glimpse of the front of the concept vehicle.
From what can be seen, there’s a pronounced Ram badge in the middle of the concept, as well as a daytime running light signature appears to frame the headlights.
It definitely looks like an all-electric alternative to the fire-breathing Ram 1500 TRX.
On the roof of the concept in the video there’s also a double-bubble roof, which is a design feature that traces back to a number Zagato-designed cars and has its roots in racing cars.
It’s unclear if Ram is intending for the concept to look sporty, but it definitely looks menacing with an extremely tall shoulder line and a bulging bonnet.
Ram has previously said it’s aiming to offer electric vehicles in the majority of the segments it competes in by 2025, with a full range of electric models to be offered no later than 2030.
Ram says it’s planning two electric trucks at first: a “mid-sized” one, closer in size to the likes of the Ford Ranger, and an electric equivalent to the full-sized Ram 1500.
The former will be underpinned by Stellantis’ dedicated electric STLA Large architecture, which will also form the basis of the production Chrysler Airflow and upcoming Dodge electric muscle car, while the latter will use the new dedicated electric body-on-frame STLA Frame architecture.
A range of electric vehicles (EV) across both platforms were teased at Stellantis’ 2021 EV Day in wireframe form.
Vehicles on the STLA Large architecture will offer 400V or 800V technology and battery packs measuring 101 to 118kWh.
They’ll offer up to 800km of range, and feature both single- and dual-electric motor powertrain set-ups.
STLA Frame vehicles will feature 159kWh to 200kWh batteries and offer up to 800km of range.
Vehicles on both platforms will use electric motors with between 150kW and 330kW of power, which could mean 660kW dual-motor powertrains are on the menu.
For context, the Chevrolet Silverado EV will offer up to 495kW and 645km of range in RST First Edition guise, the Ford F-150 Lightning will offer up to 420kW and 480km of range, and the GMC Hummer EV will produce 745kW and a claimed 529km range in Edition 1 guise.
STLA-based vehicles will measure between 4800mm and 550mm long, while STLA Frame vehicles will measure between 5600mm and 6200mm long.
Ram’s promise to have a full range of EVs by 2030 suggests it’s not only working on the aforementioned mid- and full-sized electric pickups, but also EV counterparts to the rest of its model line-up.
Ram not only sells the 1500 and heavier-duty 2500 and 3500 pickups, which are all offered locally, but also offers the ProMaster City and ProMaster which are rebadged versions of the Fiat Doblo and Ducato vans.
The Ducato is already available with an electric powertrain in Europe.
