Ram's new battery electric concept called the Ram 1500 Revolution is designed to outdo the competition with more interior and cargo space and faster charging. It also has futuristic features like being able to follow you while you walk and a virtual assistant.
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Ram unveiled its Ram 1500 Revolution battery electric vehicle concept at the CES 2023 show in Las Vegas. While it may not be the truck we see eventually in dealer showrooms, it does show us the direction that the company is taking the truck in. The BEV looks somewhat like the 2023 Ram 1500, but it is designed from the ground up to accommodate the battery at the base of the vehicle. “It’s a good evolution.” Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles told me in an interview yesterday. “More function, more revolution, keeping all that is good in the current design and elevating it.” The 2024 Ram 1500 BEV production vehicle will be unveiled in the coming months.
Ram elevated the pickup world when it added luxury and more interior space to the 2018 Ram 1500. It promises to redefine the Battery-electric truck market as well, with advanced technology, more cargo space, range, towing and payload. There is so much space in the cabin that Ram has created a third row of seating in the form of jump seats.
“The Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept is our clearest signal yet that we’re on the precipice of something extraordinary at Ram and points directly to where we’re going on our electrified journey,” said Mike Koval Jr., Ram brand CEO – Stellantis. “At Ram, we’ve redefined what pickup trucks can be, and we will do so again by pushing past what competitors are offering by delivering the best electric pickups on the market.”
Fascinating Future Ram Technology
The Ram 1500 Revolution concept features much of the technology that I wrote about when explaining the Chrysler Synthesis Cockpit demo that is also on display at CES 2023. It has Autonomous Driving, Virtual Assistant and Phone and Calendar integration. Gilles told me that they borrowed from the Stellantis luxury brands when adding many of the specialized features. He emphasized that they "packed the concept" with luxury.
The truck also has something called Shadow Mode which allows the vehicle to follow the driver when he or she is out of the vehicle. According to Ram, “This voice-activated feature can be useful in situations where the driver needs to move a short distance and doesn't want to get back in the truck, such as when picking up tools or equipment from a job site. The truck will follow the driver at a safe distance, using sensors and camera technology to navigate around obstacles. This innovation increases efficiency, making the job easier and more convenient.”
The BEV concept also has a movie projector. Multiple built-in projectors provide an efficient way to visually communicate information to the user. The projectors also double as a mobile movie theater, allowing the owner to have movie night anytime, anywhere.
A full touchscreen display comprised of two screens offers up to 28 inches of screen space as the centerpiece of an interior loaded with advanced technology. The lower display has three different positions depending on the task at hand – minimal view, extended view and full screen view – and can be removed and used in different areas of the truck.
Watch the Ram 1500 Revolution Reveal:
Ram 1500 Revolution BEV has More Interior Space
Like other electric vehicles, the Ram 1500 Revolution has a frunk. The cabin is four inches longer and the bed size remains the same as current non-electric trucks.
The doors to the truck have been redesigned into what Ram is calling saloon-style opening. They have removed the B-pillar, creating a much more open and configurable space. The console in the front can be moved or folded down to create a workspace. The console can also be removed entirely.
One cool feature is a powered mid-gate. That is where the jump seats are mounted. There is a removable lower section that allows for multiple flexible seating configurations. It also enables a pass-through (and into the frunk) that can fit objects up to 18-ft. long. The pass through could come in handy for anyone hauling lumber or similar over-sized objects.
Powered by two electric drive modules (EDMs), the concept features all-wheel-drive capability. The Ram 1500 Revolution also has four-wheel steering with up to 15 degrees of articulation for greater vehicle maneuverability.
Ram didn’t release any range estimates when it unveiled the concept, but it did say that the Revolution can add up to 100 miles of range in approximately 10 minutes with 800-volt DC fast charging at up to 350 kW.
“The Ram Revolution represents several important things to the Ram brand,” Koval added. “Of course, it’s our new Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept that serves as a roadmap to our electrified future. Yet Ram Revolution is also our philosophy as we redefine the pickup segment, with a steady drumbeat of announcements and initiatives as we embark on our electrified journey.”
Gilles described the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept as “brutiful” which stands for brutal yet beautiful. A modern “R-A-M” badge stands out as the all-new face of Ram. The headlights have a new LED “tuning fork” design. The back features fully animated LED taillamps and badging. The Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept also features skid plates and new pivoting tow hooks for the drivers that love to go off-roading.
The concept features revolutionary side-view mirrors that are smaller. The side-view mirrors use a digital camera to capture the truck’s surroundings, allowing for a smaller physical size. The rearview mirror is smaller than traditional truck mirrors. It uses a smart backup camera with 360-degree views, speakers, and receivers compatible with voice assistants, such as Alexa and Siri. When in reverse, the camera stitches together images from various other cameras around the truck, providing the driver with a 360-degree view on the interior digital screens. This allows the driver to see their surroundings helping to avoid accidents and improve safety, especially when backing up to a trailer.
The charge port illuminates and blinks while charging. An audible sound will signal it’s plugged in and charging has begun. The charge port features Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging on the top half and DC fast charging on the bottom half of the charger.
The Ram 1500 Revolution BEV’s Ultimate Customer
When I asked Ralph Gilles who he sees as the Ram Revolution’s number one customer, he laughed and said “Kevin Costner”! Gilles is, of course, referring to the actor’s smash hit ‘Yellowstone’. The Ram 1500 has been featured on the television series. Gilles says the series has done a great job “showcasing the truck and showing that a truck can be used in every aspect of everyday life”. Customers are already lined up hoping to integrate the 2024 Ram 1500 Revolution BEV into their everyday lives.
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Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
Follow Mary Conway at @maryconwaymedia and send her car news tips for future stories.
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