Ram 1500 REV long-range: World's largest electric vehicle battery axed – report
Yesterday at 03:00 PM
Plans to launch an 'XL' long-range edition of the upcoming Ram 1500 REV electric pick-up have reportedly been cancelled, with attention turning to the Ramcharger range-extender plug-in hybrid.
The Ram 1500 REV electric pick-up will reportedly not launch with its biggest battery option when it arrives in the United States in 2026.
According to an email seen by MoparInsiders, Ram parent Stellantis “made the decision to cancel” the long-range 'XL' edition of the Ram 1500 REV to “focus on the launch” of the standard-range electric model and the Ram 1500 Ramcharger range-extender plug-in hybrid.
“We ask you to immediately cease all activities related to [the 1500 REV XL long-range] project and suspend all incremental spending,” the email, reportedly sent to the company's parts suppliers, said.
“Work on any parts shared with the BEV L [standard-range] should not be cancelled/stopped,” it added.
The Ram 1500 REV long-range was scheduled to launch in 2026 – after the standard-range variant – with a 229kWh battery, believed to be the largest of any electric vehicle so far, excluding buses and trucks.
An unladen driving range of around 800 kilometres was claimed for the long-range variant.
Plans to launch the standard Ram 1500 REV are unaffected by the decision to cancel the long-range edition, with the remaining variant set to offer a 168kWh battery for a driving range of around 565 kilometres.
The 1500 REV's standard battery size remains larger than the Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T, which have 122kWh, 131kWh and 141.5kWh units in extended-range form, respectively.
Flagship versions of General Motors' full-size electric vehicles – the GMC Hummer, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and Cadillac Escalade IQ – are available with batteries around 200kWh in size, with pricing above $US100,000 ($AU160,000).
MORE: Ram 1500 REV electric pick-up unveiled
A Ram spokesperson told MoparInsiders the decision to axe the 1500 REV long-range was led by a “recent move that created an opportunity to lead with Ramcharger [range-extender plug-in hybrid] technology”.
The 1500 Ramcharger was unveiled nine months after the REV in November 2023 compared to February 2023 – but it will launch ahead of the all-electric model, with order books due to open in the US in the first half of 2025 while sales of the REV will now commence in 2026.
Related to the 1500 REV, the Ramcharger adds a 3.6-litre naturally-aspirated V6 acting as a generator to charge its 92kWh high-voltage battery pack.
MORE: Ram 1500 Ramcharger unveiled – Electric pick-up with petrol generator
A 494kW and 834Nm total system output are claimed from its two electric motors for a 4.4-second 0-60mph (97km/h) acceleration time, with a combined driving range of 1110 kilometres.
While the Ram 1500 Ramcharger and 1500 REV look similar to the existing petrol-powered 1500 and appear to share body hard points, both models will debut the new 'STLA Frame' architecture, which is said to also support hydrogen fuel-cell and petrol-electric hybrid drivetrains.
Ram Trucks Australia has not confirmed the 1500 Ramcharger or 1500 REV for local sale.
The post Ram 1500 REV long-range: World's largest electric vehicle battery axed – report appeared first on Drive.
