Electric trucks are slowly rolling out onto the marketplace and attempting to disrupt the current shopping trends. But there’s a big difference between an electric truck and the electric vehicles for sale in other segments, such as the electric cars and SUVs that have become increasingly popular. The only concerns for smaller passenger vehicles are range and comfort, but those requirements completely change when shopping for a full-size electric pickup truck.
There is a lot of reluctance from truck enthusiasts surrounding the new flagship electric pickups from the big three auto manufacturers. Ram is well aware of what expectations are like for its upcoming 2025 Ram 1500 REV, and that’s why the brand has attempted to go bigger, bolder, and conceptually better than the competition when it comes to the truck’s specs. But how do those specs translate into a functional pickup for utility-focused truck drivers? And what will this mean for the future of such drivers as Ram pulls away from the traditional gas and diesel powertrains?
Pushing the Maximum Range of a Full-Size EV
Most EVs have an average range of between 300 and 500 km. Expecting that same level of range from a pickup truck might seem like it would be out of the question, but the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning is rated for up to 515 km of range with its extended-range battery. It sets a good precedent for what to expect from a battery-electric pickup truck. However, the Ram 1500 REV takes things much farther with its total range.
Two different batteries will be available for the Ram 1500 REV: a standard-range battery pack and an extended-range battery pack. However, the truck goes far beyond what you would expect from a half-ton EV. The smaller 168 kWh battery pack provides an estimated 560 km of range, which is already far more power and range than the extended range 131 kWh battery pack found in the F-150 Lightning. That makes the standard range Ram 1500 REV a solid pick for most truck drivers.
But the Ram 1500 REV does not stop there. The extended-range battery pack delivers a whopping 229 kWh and provides an estimated maximum range of 800 km. That’s an impressive figure for a half-ton pickup truck operating solely on battery power. Actually, that’s an impressive range for any EV. But of course, towing will limit the total range––or, in other words, large batteries are necessary to provide sufficient range when towing. So, where does the Ram 1500 REV fall in that category?
Towing Capacity and Payloads for a Next-Generation EV
The Chevy Silverado 1500 EV and Ford F-150 Lightning both provide 4,535 kg of towing capacity in their top configurations. The Ram 1500 REV, however, sets out to trump all of the competition in the full-size electric truck segment with up to 6,350 kg worth of towing capacity. That’s not just impressive; it’s segment-defining and made possible by the vehicle’s 654 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque.
To put that into further perspective, the 2024 Ram 1500 tops out with a max towing capacity of 5,783 kilograms. If the Ram 1500 REV can perform as advertised, that means you’re gaining approximately 10% more trailering capacity over the gasoline model, which is quite a significant step up for an EV. In fact, those numbers are very close to what you might expect from an entry-level three-quarter-ton pickup.
When you consider how that ties into range, it definitely looks like there is better overall utility with the Ram 1500 REV compared to the other electric pickups or even some gas-powered pickups. For instance, consider that with the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 on the Ram 1500, you have an estimated total range of a bit over 900 km with the standard 98-litre gas tank. That isn’t vastly more range than you will get with the electric model.
Plus, while you get some extra range out of the HEMI V8, you’re losing out on the additional towing capacity you get with the Ram 1500 REV. It all really balances out depending on what you’re looking to use your truck for and how far you plan to travel. Unless you commonly tow long distances through parts of Canada that have limited charging infrastructure, it looks like the more efficient bet would be the 2025 Ram 1500 REV.
Maintaining Cabin and Cargo Box Utility
Range and towing are important facets of an electric pickup truck’s capabilities, but hauling large cargo in the bed and having access to vehicle health, telemetry, and trailering apps are also important. Thankfully for the Ram 1500 REV, it comes standard with Uconnect 5, which powers a massive 31 cm interactive digital driver display and an accompanying 37 cm infotainment touchscreen. There is even an available 26 cm touchscreen for your front seat passenger.
Through these screens, you can access battery charge, gross vehicle weight, vehicle profile settings, trailering cameras, and apps. The Ram 1500 REV is also not a minimalist EV with big screens and little else. The engineers wanted to maintain a high calibre of functionality for drivers who will put a truck through its paces and desire all the information they need to stay informed about the vehicle’s operability.
Speaking of putting a truck through its paces…hauling large cargoes is one of the most vehicle-stressing and demanding tasks required of a full-size pickup. When you look at the curb weight rating for the average EV, it leaves little room for adding any unnecessary weight to a truck. That means there is a hard limit on the cargo capacity in the bed. Surprisingly, the engineers have managed to maintain an acceptable gross vehicle weight for the Ram 1500 REV with its massive battery pack and provide a payload rating of up to 771 kilograms.
A Highly Functional Electric Truck
With features like an electronic locking rear differential, aerodynamic design, and independent air-ride suspension, the Ram 1500 REV is designed to reduce the drain on the battery and improve the performance of the truck when hauling and towing. This is extremely important because battery conservation means more range per trip, and the more range you get out of the truck without having to refuel, the more you can haul and the less time and money you have to spend not transporting the cargo. In many ways, that’s a very important feature for a half-ton EV.
Another noteworthy feature to keep the truck moving while hauling a lot of cargo is the ability to quickly recharge. You can add about 177 km to the battery’s range in just 10 minutes by using a Level 3 DC Fast Charge station. That will make the Ram 1500 REV quite convenient for moving large loads over long distances without spending a ton of cash on fuel. It definitely seems that––based on the specs and the way that Ram is positioning the Ram 1500 REV for a market release––this will be one of the most utility-focused EVs available. If that happens to be the case, then the Ram 1500 REV could easily take the market by storm and become hugely popular among hard-working truck drivers who might be interested in electric vehicles for sale.
