revealed during Stellantis CES 2023 Its answer to an increasingly crowded battery-electric truck market: tech-laden broad-shouldered pickups, a longer cabin with third-row folding seats, cup holders in the trunk, and even a movie projector.
The Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept isn’t one the Stellantis brand plans to put into production until 2024. (This version will be shown later this year). Still, it provides a clear indication of Ram’s next-generation truck plans and how it intends to compete with other entrants in the nascent EV truck market, including the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV.
It starts with a body-on-frame architecture designed for a full-size EV that integrates the battery pack as well as underbody aerodynamic panels and an active diffuser to improve the car’s aerodynamics. Two electric drive modules are mounted on the front and rear axles to provide all-wheel drive, and a rear-axle steering system allows the driver to turn the rear wheels by up to 15 degrees.
Ram didn’t reveal some important EV specs, such as range and battery pack size; that’s expected later this quarter. The brand does say that the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept can add 100 miles of range in about 10 minutes and fast-charge at 800-volt DC at up to 350 kW. Of course, this suggests that the production version will feature an 800-volt electrical architecture, allowing for fast charging.
The automaker really packed a lot of features, technology, and a new design language into the Ram 1500 Revolution. This is where it stands out.
Fresh Faces, Salongate
There are various interesting exterior design choices in the Ram Revolution, such as a new “face” that includes more modern badging and an animated LED tuning-fork headlight design.
Perhaps the most notable design feature is the lack of a B-pillar, which makes opening the doors limousine-style. Design decisions make the roomy interior seem even more spacious. The cabin is actually four inches longer than Ram’s gas-powered trucks. Salon style doors just hammer that idea into a home.
Image credits: stellantis
3D printed side view mirror
Image credits: Kirsten Korosek
The side mirrors are smaller than those on any other Ram truck, a design choice to reduce drag and increase aerodynamics. The side-view mirrors, which use digital cameras to capture the truck’s surroundings, are also made using 3D printed parts.
The truck concept also features a backup camera and mirrors that communicate with biometric cameras that observe the truck’s surroundings.
mobile movie projector
The truck is equipped with multiple built-in projectors to visually communicate information to the user. But really, we care about that because the projector also doubles as a mobile cinema.
Electrochromic roof
Image credits: Kirsten Korosek
The Ram Revolution Concept features an all-glass roof with electro-coloured panels and integrated roof rails. Inside the cab, occupants can use the overhead console to operate the ambient lighting.
They can also use Ram’s tactile slide technology to configure the sun visors or the entire electrochromic roof to adjust the opacity.
personal assistant
Like many vehicles today, the Ram Revolution has a personal assistant. According to Ram, a 3D Ram avatar acts as the face of the vehicle and will respond to the user’s various voice commands.
A neat feature is that the personal assistant can even follow the owner’s commands when the owner is not in the car. Users can tell the vehicle to close the windows, play music, take a photo, and “follow me” using shade mode.
shadow mode
Image credits: Kirsten Korosek
Yes, Shadow Mode, a feature that allows the vehicle to automatically follow a driver walking in front of the vehicle. This feature, which uses sensor and camera technology to get around obstacles, is being marketed to people who might be on a job site and might want the truck to follow and carry tools.
Adjustable and removable lower display
Image credits: Kirsten Korosek
According to Ram, the lower display (pictured above) can be used as a tablet, passenger display, truck bed workstation, vehicle control, or video game controller.
The two 14.2-inch displays can also be combined to provide a larger viewing area.
jump seat
Image credits: Kirsten Korosek
What do you do with the roomy interior? Of course, add a third row of seats.
Third-row jump seats, handy when you want to seat six in the truck cab — say what? — Folds until needed. Folding seats are mounted on the center door with a removable lower part.
The interior layout is actually flexible, allowing users to remove the center console and reconfigure the seats.
Image credits: Kirsten Korosek
frank hole
Speaking of flexibility. The flexible layout includes access through the center console and into the trunk. I officially call it a frunk hole. This feature allows objects up to 18 feet long to be loaded into the truck.
A hole located between the driver and passenger seats allows objects to pass through into the trunk. Credit: Kirsten Korosek
Note that the hole is very narrow. One could imagine installing metal or PVC pipes here, or perhaps a pair of skis.
Not sure if an object will fit? The concept also comes with a mobile app that helps users measure objects to determine if they can be transported in their vehicle. Users can scan a product’s barcode or use the built-in augmented reality camera measurement tool. The mobile app will show users how best to place objects in their vehicles. According to the company, the interior and exterior cabin projectors can also be used to display guidelines for target storage locations.
Frank Cup Holder
Unfortunately, I couldn’t peek inside the electric front trunk, or frunk for that matter. But I was told that if you look at the hood with one-touch opening and closing, there are cup holders. (It’s a trailing thing.)
Other power features on the vehicle include a power charge port door located on the driver’s side front quarter panel, a power tailgate, flush-mounted door handles, power side steps and power rear steps.
