As an ardent truck enthusiast, you’ve likely heard the buzz about the new battery-powered Ram Revolution. As Ram’s first ever electric pickup, this marks a monumental turning point for the brand. I’m here to be your guide through everything Ram’s parent company Stellantis has unveiled so far about this soon-to-be game changing truck.
The Revolution has been teased in concept form, promoted via controversial Super Bowl ads, and speculated about endlessly in online truck fan forums. But with production slated for 2024, what do we actually know about the capabilities, tech and style buyers can expect? Read on for an electrifying revelation!
Why the Ram Revolution Matters in a Rapidly Electrifying Market
Ram is an instantly recognizable staple of American truck culture. But the competition in recent years has heated up exponentially. That’s especially true as iconic brands like Ford, GM and newcomers such as Rivian roll out battery-powered pickups setting new benchmarks for capability and performance.
As consumer appetite for electric vehicles continues growing exponentially year over year, Ram risks ceding ground to rivals without a compelling battery-electric truck offering in showrooms. The Revolution promises to fill that gap with authority, while charting an electrified path forward befitting Ram’s identity.
Make no mistake – electrification is the future for trucks even with lingering range anxiety and towing capacity concerns from traditionalists. By committing early with the Revolution, Ram asserts it will continue leading the pickup pack rather than playing catchup as more drivers go electric.
Breaking Down the 2024 Production Ram Revolution Spec by Spec
I won’t rehash introduction of the dazzling but unrealistic Ram Revolution concept that turned heads at CES 2023. As covered already, the final production version headed to market next year will look far more conventional to aid manufacturing and retail viability.
But under the familiar bodywork lies a ground-up EV architecture set to enable paradigm-shifting capability. Let’s dig into the specs and hardware giving the Revolution the muscle to outperform current electric truck rivals.
Range and Charging
The Revolution boasts a mammoth 168 kWh battery back (optional 229 kWh extended range) made up of the latest nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) pouch cells for energy density and thermal endurance. This enormous battery capacity explains how Ram quotes a class-leading target of 500+ miles range in ideal conditions.
DC fast charging at up to 350 kWh will allow adding 100 miles range with just 10 minutes plugged in. Meanwhile an 11.5 kW onboard charger fully replenishes the pack overnight on 240V home outlets. Up to 22 miles range per hour comes via Level 2 charging.
Clearly Ram pulled out all stops on battery capacity and charging tech to banish anxieties over draining the pack mid-job. Industry analysts still question if real world range and charging needs match the company’s claims once thousands of customers push the limits.
Power and Performance
Ram remained coy about detailed power figures for the Revolution until a leaked dealer order guide appeared online. Turns out motivation comes from a frothy 800+ horsepower and 950 lb-ft motor mounted on the rear axle sending thrust to all four wheels.
That handily trounces the outputs from both Ford’s mid-500s hp Lightning and GM’s 655 hp Silverado EV. Only the ludicrous 1,000+ hp GMC Hummer EV packs more power among upcoming electric trucks.
Translating all that instant electric torque into actual speed are rear and front drive modules allowing precise torque vectoring. At the helm is a next-gen ZF electric power steering unit with automatic counter-steer assistance. Powering the house is an 800V electrical architecture using up to 200A fuses.
So in terms of specs, the Revolution seems an absolute beast capable of devouring miles while pulling massive loads. But real world tests will show if it has performance bite to match the touted numbers.
Payload, Towing and Other Key Capability Metrics
Ram clearly took notes on sentiments that early electric pickups couldn’t fully match the capability expected from conventional trucks. So engineers went all out on vital stats for the Revolution to claim best-in-class hardware bragging rights.
The numbers speak for themselves:
| Ram Revolution | Ford F-150 Lightning | Silverado EV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Payload | 2,700 lbs | 2,235 lbs | 1,300 lbs |
| Max Towing | 14,000 lbs | 10,000 lbs | 10,000 lbs |
Clearly no effort was spared engineering the Revolution powertrain, chassis and body to support class-topping payload ratings up to 2,700 pounds.
But the real jaw dropper is the ability to haul trailers weighing up to 14,000 pounds. That obvious shot across the bow at Ford and GM’s 10K max tow ratings suggests ride quality, range and handling may take a hit to achieve such feat. Although Ram engineers claim breakthroughs in torque multiplication and heat endurance make it possible without compromise.
By the numbers at least, consider the Revolution the king of capability among upcoming electric pickups. Although real world testing will determine if those impressive stats translate into confidence for the most demanding truck users.
Pricing
Ram has played coy on final pricing details for the 2024 Revolution. The initial pre-order required a $100 deposit with disclaimer that final MSRPs haven’t been set. Reading between the lines, expect the Revolution to fall somewhere between the Lighting and slightly pricier Silverado EV when it comes to entry price points:
- Ford F-150 Lightning: Starts at $55,974
- Chevy Silverado EV: Starts at $68,958
- Ram Revolution: Predicted $60-65,000 Starting Price
Of course truck buyers know the final price can vary wildly depending on trim grades, options and whether you spring for a flagship limited model. What DOES seem likely is Ram undercutting established rivals to make a value proposition statement befitting their commercial brand image.
How Does the Revolution Stack Up to EV Truck Competition?
The Ram Revolution enters a pickup market revving with horsepower upstarts aiming to dethrone the long term Detroit diesel players. Breaking into the electrified truck segment requires balancing core capabilities buyers expect with introducing new technologies and priorities.
So how does the Revolution measure up beyond the Ford and GM rivals to fossil fuel-free alternatives from Tesla, Hummer and Rivian? Here’s a snapshot view:
Versus Tesla Cybertruck – Tesla boasts early mover advantage having announced its polygon-shaped pickup concept back in 2019. But persistent delays leave the door open for Revolution to beat the Cybertruck to market with more traditional utility. Tesla touts better acceleration and surfaces like the “armor glass” which Revolution can’t match. But Ram likely wins on overall capability and familiarity.
Versus GMC Hummer EV – The Edition 1 Hummer EV beats the Revolution hands-down for horsepower and acceleration. But its niche off-road mission differs greatly from the Ram’s broader utility play. And the Hummer’s stratospheric $110K starting price leaves plenty of room for Ram to undercut it. Expect far higher Revolution production volume as electrification goes mass market.
Versus Rivian R1T – The R1T has a big head start as the first EV pickup to market showing impressive early results. But Rivian is still struggling with production bottlenecks. The Revolution ultimately will benefit from far greater manufacturing scale and dealer network being first electric effort from Ram. It also edges out Rivian on capability stats.
No doubt the Revolution EV faces stiff competition as puled power pickups proliferate. But Ram’s built-in brand recognition and distribution channel advantages help positioned it strongly versus alternatives playing catchup on production and support networks.
What Losing the Engine Means for Ram Brand Identity
The most seismic shift the Revolution brings for Ram loyalists is losing the rumbling HEMI V8 long synonymous with the brand. The familiar growl torn from throaty exhausts has stoked Ram’s image as the bad boy brand compared to Ford and GM’s trucks.
Can Ram’s identity survive losing noisy engines integral to their owners’ identities? The brand is betting it can replace visceral V8 emotional appeal with instant silent motivation courtesy of electric motors.
Make no mistake – while the Revolution may look familiar outside, the behind the scenes technical revolution is very real. Ram engineers worked extensively with electrification experts from sister Stellantis brands to create an exclusively battery-electric architecture.
The skateboard-like platform houses the battery pack, electric motors, cooling and charging systems all designed specifically for truck duty. Novel rear and front axle drive modules allow precision torque vectoring by dynamically shifting power between wheels automatically. That translates 0-60 mph acceleration under 3 seconds courtesy of all wheel drive traction.
So while the engine soundtrack fades with electrification, the Revolution promises no less neck-snapping motivation. Just don’t expect the same raucous roar signaling your arrival!
Why Ram Had To Break Cover With an Electric Pickup This Soon
2024 seems shockingly just around the corner to see battery-powered Rams roll off assembly lines. But industry analysts suggest hitting the market this soon with the Revolution was mission critical for Ram to stay competitive.
Pressure mounted as arch truck rival Ford racked up huge preorders for its 2022 F-150 Lightning. The positive market response showed mainstream drivers are hungry for EV pickups marrying eco-friendly priorities with practical utility.
At the same time, consumer surveys show dramatically shifting attitudes about electric vehicles. Cost and range anxieties are declining as batteries improve and charging networks expand. In particular truck owners cite torquey instant acceleration among chief motivations for considering an EV.
With the writing on the wall about market momentum, Ram had little choice but to break cover this early with its electrification game plan. Rivals like GMC and Tesla are still working out production kinks for their highly touted offerings. That gives the more traditional Revolution an opening to seize first mover advantage among legacy truck players.
Early speculation suggested the Revolution might not arrive until 2025+ with a plug-in hybrid interim step. But insiders say Mercedes expertise acquired through Stellantis ownership allowed accelerating the Revolution’s path to market.
Will customers subscribe to Ram’s vision of electrifying while playing it safe on styling? We’ll soon find out as 2024 reservations go live for the historic Revolution promising to turn truck transportation on its head!
Stay tuned for more updates on my blog as full details and reviews emerge for Ram’s pivotal entry into the no emissions pickup segment!
