They Forgot to Mention 1 Crucial Ram 1500 EV Advantage
When is an electric truck not really an electric truck? When the truck has something that takes away from its all-electric properties. The new Ram 1500 EV brings a critical advantage to the electric truck market. The new Ram electric truck will include a range extender, but it won’t be part of the standard packaging. What does this mean for the EV truck market?
How could a range extender give the Ram 1500 EV an advantage over other electric trucks?
One of the most common complaints regarding electric vehicles is the driving range. When the range reaches low points, drivers begin to look for a charging station or hope they can make it home to the at-home charger set up in the garage. We call this phenomenon Range Anxiety.
Including a range extender can alleviate range anxiety for new Ram 1500 EV truck owners. InsideEVs reported the confirmation of this new feature from Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. The range extender will be offered as an option for this electric pickup truck to remove range anxiety while aiding in limiting EV range loss while towing.
What is an EV range extender?
A range extender is a small internal combustion engine that sends power to EV batteries. These engines act as a generator to increase driving range and aren’t used as a power source for driving the vehicle.
How could a range extender aid the Ram 1500 EV while towing?
Electric trucks lose much of their driving range while towing a trailer. Adding a range extender to the Ram 1500 EV could reduce this loss. The range extender can run while towing, sending power to the EV batteries to maintain more driving range while pulling a heavy load.
Can Ram make good on its promise with this new electric truck?
Carlos Tavares issued a bold statement last march regarding this new Ram 1500 EV and the advantages it could have in the market. His statement is:
“Our Ram 1500 EV is coming to the hot pickup market in 2024. According to our internal performance index our Ram 1500 will outperform all competitors on the attributes customers are most about: range, towing, payload, charge time. Really thrilling! It’s built on top of our new STLA Frame architecture, designed specifically for electric vehicles. Make no doubt, we’ll bring the best electric truck to the full-size segment!” – Carlos Tavares, from Top Electric SUVs
These are some strong words when going against the current Ford F-150 Lightning, which has a payload of 2,235 pounds and towing of 10,000 pounds. The Ram will also need to outperform the new Chevy Silverado EV, which can carry 1,300 pounds of payload and tow up to 20,000 pounds. Will the new Ram 1500 EV be up to the task?
Final thought: Is a Ram 1500 EV with a range extender cheating?
A gas-powered engine, even a small one used only as a range extender, changes the qualities of the Ram 1500 EV. At best, with this feature added, it becomes a Ram 1500 hybrid, not an EV. Some might argue this point, but all-electric vehicles don’t have gas-powered engines.
On the other hand, Ram isn’t the only brand that has considered a gas-powered range extender. Ford has had plans for one in the F-150 Lightning since 2020.
Next, check out more electric trucks, or learn more about the new Ram 1500 EV in this video below:
