As automakers attempt a shift to electrification, the lead times between a vehicle’s announcement and on-sale dates have grown. That has caused headaches for many companies as buyers’ preferences and the economic environment change rapidly, including Ram, which is canceling its long-awaited electric pickup to focus on its soon-to-be-released range-extended model.
Ram’s statement on the truck reads, “As demand for full-size battery-electric trucks slows in North America, Stellantis is reassessing its product strategy and will discontinue development of a full-size BEV pickup. As part of this Ram is renaming its REEV-powered pickup to Ram 1500 REV (formerly Ramcharger). This vehicle will set a new benchmark in the half-ton segment, offering exceptional range, towing capability and payload performance.
The switcheroo is a bit confusing, but Ram basically cut the electric truck and renamed the range-extended truck. It’s a bummer to lose the electric model before it even made it through the starting gates, but the range-extended Ram sports some pretty impressive specs.
It offers a 14,000-pound tow rating and up to 2,625 pounds of payload. It’s powered by two electric drive motors and a 92-kWh battery, and it carries a Pentastar V6 engine that acts as a generator to charge the battery. While it’s not connected to the wheels, the engine helps the truck far surpass normal EV range numbers, though it will still require charging.
[Images: Ram]
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