Revealed during a one-minute Super Bowl ad, the RAM 1500 REV is this pickup brand’s foray into the all-electric market. Showcased initially as a concept truck called the Revolution BEV, this production model is now slated to hit the market in the flesh sometime in 2024.
Now with photos released, we’ve got some idea of what this new electric pickup from RAM will actually look like. We’ve also got some info on the powertrain, internal features, and charging capabilities of this EV pickup.
Known for their blistering speed as much as for their efficiency, modern electric vehicles such as the GMC Hummer EV and Tesla Model S Plaid boast 0-60 MPH acceleration times in the 2-3 second range. But what of this EV pickup from RAM? Will it go the same route and entice buyers with an adrenaline-pumping ride? Details aren’t complete yet, but what we’ve gleaned so far indicates the RAM 1500 electric pickup to be a very exciting truck.
2024 1500 REV Is RAM’s First Electric Pickup
The first thing to know about the new RAM 1500 REV is that its exterior and other visual components are largely based on RAM’s gasoline-powered models currently in production, so there’ll be plenty of familiar parts on both the interior and exterior.
For example, the bed and interior will share strikingly similar proportions to previous editions of the standard 2023 RAM 1500. And the interior will feature pretty much the same infotainment and cabin comfort systems as current RAM 1500 models. But the front of the pickup will sport a redesigned bumper, hood profile, grille, and LED headlights.
Another ubiquitous EV-only feature that the new 1500 REV will incorporate is a ‘frunk’. This will increase storage space with a convenient cavity where the engine is normally situated in a gasoline-powered car.
The 2024 RAM 1500 Electric Truck Performance
Getting to the most exciting part of the RAM 1500 REV’s rollout, we’ll be able to expect pretty exceptional performance from this EV pickup. Being a pickup truck, of course, a sizable chunk of that performance will revolve around towing and payload capacity. Built on a brand-new STLA body-on-frame platform designed specifically for EVs, the 1500 REV will have an operating voltage of 800 watts.
Placed on this platform will be two electric motors, powering each axle on the standard 1500 REV. Having said that, there is talk of both a one-motor RWD version, a performance, and an off-road version that features triple-motor AWD. The highest power number put forward yet is 885 HP, presumably from the proposed triple-motor performance packages.
Perhaps taking a cue from the Hummer EV, it’s said the RAM 1500 REV will feature four-wheel steering that allows the rear wheels to turn up to 15 degrees. This will increase the off-road maneuverability of this pickup and also make it easier to navigate city streets with this big truck.
RAM says the towing, payload, range, and charging times will be pretty competitive – despite releasing no specific numbers yet. But they do assure us this truck will “outperform all competitors”. Looking at one of the competitors, the Chevrolet Silverado EV features a towing capacity of up to 20,000 pounds and a max range per charge of up to 400 miles. So if they’re going to stay true to their word, the proposed RAM 1500 REV should result in pickup trucks with very competitive numbers
RAM 1500 REV Vs Model S Plaid And Hummer EV
Now for the big question, how might these predicted performance numbers rank the 2024 RAM 1500 REV compared to its EV competitors? And when we say “competition”, we aren’t confining the rivals to just pickup trucks. This is because the radical new electric platforms make sports cars, supercars, pickup trucks, and even luxury cars a lot similar.
Compared to the GMC Hummer EV’s 1,000 horsepower, 885 horsepower for the RAM 1500 REV doesn’t seem quite on par. But, let’s be honest, that’s still pretty impressive. The Tesla Model S Plaid’s horsepower reaches a little over 1,000 and underpins its reputation as the fastest-accelerating vehicle (in a straight line) in production today.
In the end, it’s hard to nail down exactly what the 0-60 MPH time of the RAM 1500 REV will be at this stage. Besides horsepower, it also depends on other factors such as curbside weight and aerodynamics. Acceleration times could very well be within its competitors’ ballpark, though the 1500 REV is unlikely to be quite as fast as the spaceship-inspired Hummer EV or maniacal Model S Plaid.
What it definitely will be is quite a bit faster from zero to sixty than its combustion-engine counterparts. This is an interesting wrinkle to the transition period we’re experiencing from gasoline-powered vehicles to EVs. Neck-snapping acceleration from a standing start might become something we’ll have to get used to. This is because breakneck 0-60 MPH times will be available in pretty much any vehicle that’s for sale on the road in the future. But we think that’s something we can learn to live with!
