Several automakers have announced the development of EV trucks in recent years, most notably Tesla and Ford. Stellantis (the Dodge parent company) is the latest automaker on the electric scene, teasing its first electric muscle car earlier this month. News of the Dodge eMuscle dropped with an awe-inspiring trailer and a tentative release date in 2024. So, what about the Ram 1500 pickup truck?

MotorTrend confirms that an all-electric version of the Ram 1500 will be released soon. Despite sharing the name, the electric Ram 1500 will have some notable differences that make it special. Still, we’re concerned that its late release date might hinder its potential success.

Does the electric Ram 1500 offer more or less power?

The current 2021 Ram 1500 has several engines on offer, but the base V6 produces 305 hp. One available V8 engine makes 395 hp, while the most powerful engine makes 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. This V8 is also the quickest option, only requiring 4.1 seconds to reach 60 mph during MotorTrend testing. All engines come paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

Towing capacity differs between engines and whether they have eTorque equipped or not. The V8 versions can tow up to 12,750 pounds without eTorque but have lower payload ratings than the V6. The V6 diesel engine can tow up to 12,560 pounds, while the base V6 can only tow 7,730 pounds.

We don’t know how much power the electric Ram 1500 will make, nor its exact towing capacities. However, Autoblog reports that the truck will have different battery packs varying between 159-200 kWh. The most powerful battery should be able to provide drivers with 500 miles of electric range.

That’s incredibly efficient for a full-size truck. The Ram 1500 can only get 22/32 mpg city/highway at best with the RWD EcoDiesel V6. The thirstiest V8 option gets 15/21 mpg city/highway.

Ram EV construction differences

Jalopnik also informs us that three unibody platforms are also on the table in addition to a body-on-frame platform. Unibody pickups have increased in popularity in recent years because they’re easier to manufacture due to their lightweight construction. This makes them more efficient as well as less likely to flip during a roll-over accident. The large unibody frame will still provide 500 miles of electric range, so it’s just as powerful as the body-on-frame platform.

Jalopnik also calls attention to the electric Ram’s unique exterior design, likening it to the fictional Warthog from the Halo franchise. However, you can’t really see too many details due to the shadowed teaser picture. The LED lightbar stands out the most, as well as the drastically shorter cargo bed. Combined with the sleek roofline, it has a very different silhouette compared to the gas-operated truck.

We don’t know whether or not the short bed will have too much of an effect on the truck’s cargo capacity. The current Ram 1500 can be had with either a six-foot-four bed or a five-foot-seven bed. Meanwhile, Ram 1500 Classic models feature an eight-foot cargo box.

When will the electric Ram 1500 be released?

According to The Drive, Dodge is holding off on releasing the eRam until 2024. Ram’s CEO says that this is to ensure further Ram fans that this truck will be just as capable as the gas-operated one. Meanwhile, the Ford F-150 Lightning preorders are expected to ship this coming spring, two years earlier than the electric Ram truck.

Elsewhere, the GMC Hummer EV is also expected to be released next fall. With the established precedence of these two vehicles, it might be hard for the electric Ram 1500 to stand out, so we’ll have to wait and see. It will reportedly outperform the Lightning in terms of range to become more popular thanks to its power alone.