Ram’s Electric Truck: Production Version Shorter, Innovations Coming
At the 2023 New York Auto Show, Ram executives including Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles and President & CEO Carlos Tavares confirmed that the distinguished features first seen on their Ram 1500 EV Revolution Concept will find their way onto upcoming production vehicles.
The concept was introduced with a host of revolutionary ideas, including a 28-inch touchscreen, a Shadow Function, an augmented reality head-up display, seating for three rows and even a wireless charger. Furthermore, its design exceeded the expectations of the regular version.
It’s evident that money is a consideration; however, thankfully the features of the electric pickup are more than merely fleeting attractions. Thus, why is the launch of the battery-run vehicle not accompanied by the same interesting facts?
Ralph Gilles, in an interview with MotorTrend, articulated the concept of the car as a “manifest and roadmap” of the brand’s direction. He pointed to the tuning fork design on the front of the concept, which he said will be seen in production vehicles in the “near long-term”.
Tavares, the CEO, assured that the Ram 1500 REV was crafted to perform. This impressive electric truck performs indeed, boasting 654 horsepower, over 500 miles of range, and 14,000 pounds of towing capacity – it’s a promise fulfilled! Moreover, the notion of featuring novel concepts has been kept intact, just at different stages.
“According to Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board at Groupe PSA, ‘Everything that you have seen on the CES concept car will come at different steps of the lifecycle management or for the next generation, depending on the feature.’ He went on to explain that these features could be spread out over time in order to keep the company’s products up-to-date and competitive in the market.
It is conceivable that a very similar approach will ultimately culminate in a successful outcome; however, it may require some modifications to accomplish this.
Gilles stated that electrifying the current Ram 1500 “allows us to peacefully work on the next-gen at our own pace.” It’s clear that the brand is not being idle, as they are introducing the concept across the country to get a feel for customers’ reactions. This way, when the production version is released in 2024, it will be as satisfactory as possible.
Chief Executive Officer Mike Koval Jr. of Ram stated that certain facets have already been patented, and around 98% of the technology may be included in production with the first generation 1500 REV, without having to wait for a newer model.
The 1500 shall prove to be radical as much as it will be transformative, establishing an invigorating match-up against the F-150 Lightning and Silverado EV.
