Stellantis’ Ram brand has been hinting for several years that while there may be an all-electric truck in the future, it also sees a plug-in hybrid truck as part of the plan.
With the unveiling of the Ram 1500 Revolution Concept at CES on Thursday and confirmation that a production version will launch within a few months and be delivered in 2024, the EV is now out. Ram CEO Mike Koval confirmed to Green Car Reports that the plug-in hybrid also has a place in the brand’s timeline.
Koval said of the electric truck: “Let’s face it, it’s going to have outstanding performance in terms of acceleration and horsepower. “The driving dynamics and characteristics are phenomenal.”
That said, Koval was quick to admit that there was a hitch for electric trucks.
He said: “Call the elephant in the room, and that’s real world scope, especially when pulled. “So when we talk about the Extended Range Pattern Breaker (REPB)…it will carry all of the features outlined but will also provide leading real-world coverage in the segment. segment.”
And offering a plug-in hybrid as part of the Ram line of trucks will help differentiate it from Ford, Chevy, GMC and Toyota, Koval argues.
“When I talk about the portfolio of solutions—optionality—that’s really what sets Ram apart in the segment,” he said.
Range Electric Paradigm Breaker – 2021 Stellantis EV Day
What Ram has yet to explain is whether such a plug-in hybrid truck would look like a traditional petrol pickup or the modern, completely different Ram 1500 Revolution Concept. If that’s any hint, a 2021 trailer showed REPB follow a future profile which looks like that of the concept truck.
The layout of the PHEV truck has also not been detailed. But in 2020, the head of global propulsion Micky Bly suggests that it has a good set of building blocks with plug-in hybrid system featured in jeep 4xe driver and Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe—a system that can be applied to other trucks on the automaker’s list.
2020 eTorque mild hybrid system Ram 1500
Meanwhile, Koval explained that the electrified members of the Ram family won’t be meant to compromise.
“This truck still has to do truck stuff. Electrification cannot be a limitation. I cannot stress that enough,” he said. “Our customers are willing to go with us, but they don’t want to make sacrifices, they don’t want to compromise on those core attributes.”
Starting with the Ram BEV, Koval says, there will be a full range of electrified solutions “that can surpass what our competitors have announced in terms of performance, traction, range, charging time as well as the load”.
While all-electric trucks may not come out on top in all those categories compared to gas-powered models, Ram will likely show it off, in a way that other vehicle manufacturers haven’t. , that daily tram driving and weekend towing are not mutually exclusive.
