Stellantis is delaying its fully electric pickup truck, the Ram 1500 REV, to 2026.
The Ramcharger, an extended-range EV, will now launch first.
Stellantis cited โslowing industry demand for half-ton BEV pickups.โ
Ram parent company Stellantis on Wednesday said it will delay the brandโs first fully electric pickup truck, the 1500 REV, to 2026 from its previously announced launch date of early 2025.
But thereโs good news for fans of the brandโs upcoming extended-range EV pickup, the Ramcharger. That innovative model, essentially an EV with a gas generator that boosts range, isnโt going anywhere. Stellantis says orders will open up for customers in the first half of 2025.
Slowing growth in the EV market has pushed scores of automakers to pull back their EV investments and delay new products. Stellantis said the decision was partially motivated by โslowing industry demand for half-ton BEV pickups.โ
And in that way, the move makes sense. Fordโand, letโs be honest, everybody elseโthought the electric F-150 Lightning would be a way bigger hit than it has been. General Motors has launched three EV pickups in the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and GMC Hummer EV. So Ramโs truck will have a lot of rivals in a market that just isnโt developing as the industry expected it to.
Part of the problem there is that electric trucks need huge batteries to deliver any kind of range, and that makes them way more expensive than their gas counterparts. Plus, towing anything deals a huge blow to range. The Ramcharger seeks to solve some of those issues. It has a 92-kilowatt-hour battery, plus an engine that feeds it extra juice and doesnโt power the wheels. The idea is that on longer trips or under heavy loads, the Ramcharger can do more than a standard EV can.
And other companies are following Ramโs lead here. Stellantis is planning extended-range Jeeps, while Hyundai has some EREVs up its sleeve too.
Contact the author: tim.levin@insideevs.com
