Ram 1500 REV: electric pick-up with a giant 229 kWh battery

The new 1500 REV is a fully electric pick-up that ushers in a new era for Ram Trucks. It is being unveiled at the New York International Auto Show and will reach the - American - market in the final quarter of this year.

Ram therefore joins Ford, already selling the F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet (whose Silverado EV arrives on the market this year) and, on a smaller scale, Rivian (which sells the R1T), in offering a fully electric pick-up. And, naturally, the radical Tesla Cybertruck should not be overlooked.

Giant battery for the Ram 1500 EV

It stands apart from its rivals thanks to a heavyweight advantage: a huge 229 kWh battery, making the Ram 1500 EV the electric vehicle with the world's largest battery - although its battery weight is suspected to put it outside the light-vehicle category.

It exceeds the GMC Hummer EV's 212 kWh, the Chevrolet Silverado EV's anticipated 200 kWh, and is well ahead of the 131 kWh maximum battery available for the Ford F-150 Lightning.

Naturally, those 229 kWh translate into a generous driving range, with Ram claiming more than 800 km - considerably further than any rival. For buyers who do not require that much range, the 1500 REV is offered with a smaller 168 kWh battery, which Ram says is enough to exceed 560 km.

It also features bidirectional charging, enabling it to power a home during an electricity outage or supply a mobile workplace. The charger located in the load bed delivers 7.2 kW. However, the frunk - a 424-litre front boot - houses another charger rated at 3.6 kW.

“We believe in giving our customers the right range of propulsion solutions and will continue to redefine the truck segment. Our new Ram 1500 REV surpasses the competition in the areas customers care about most, including range, towing capacity, payload and charging time.”

• Mike Koval Jr., Ram chief executive officer

Huge battery, with no compromise in performance

The Ram 1500 REV's high-capacity electrical system supplies two EDMs - Electric Drive Modules, each combining an electric motor, single-speed transmission and inverter. With one fitted to each axle, the pick-up gains four-wheel drive. Each module produces 250 kW (340 hp).

Combined system output reaches 488 kW (663 hp) and 840 Nm of torque, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in only 4.4 seconds.

For a pick-up, its load-carrying ability is certainly more important than sports-car acceleration. The 1500 REV offers a payload of 1224 kg, while its quoted towing capacity is 6350 kg. Both figures surpass those of its main competitor, the F-150 Lightning.

This is not the interior of a working vehicle

The cabin of RAM's new fully electric offering includes every luxury feature desired by even the most demanding customers. It is difficult to regard it as the interior of a work vehicle; it feels more like that of an executive saloon.

Alongside materials such as carbon fibre, leather and various metallic trim elements, it features the latest-generation Uconnect 5 infotainment system and a Klipsch Reference Premiere sound system.

Will it come to Europe?

If you are wondering whether the new Ram 1500 REV will be sold in Europe, the answer is no. Like its principal rival, the Ford F-150 Lightning, it is intended exclusively for North American markets.

For reference, Ram's first electric pick-up comes in five trim levels, all with names worthy of Uncle Sam's homeland: Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Laramie, Limited and the entirely new Tungsten.