Will the Ram Revolution EV Steal The Hummer’s ‘Crabwalk’ Mode?
Ram is hard at work engineering an electric work truck for the 2024 model year. But in the meantime, it unveiled an exciting electric supertruck at the Consumer Electronics Show. The Ram 1500 Revolution boasts a ton of very advanced features. For example, its rear wheels will be able to turn up to 15 degrees to improve the vehicles low-speed maneuverability. But will it have a “crabwalk” mode like the GMC Hummer EV that allows it to drive sideways? We don’t know yet. Here’s how we know it will improve on the Hummer.
The Ram 1500 Revolution concept vehicle has rear-wheel steering
One exciting new feature of the Ram 1500 Revolution is that its rear wheels can steer. This feature will definitely reduce its turning radius. At low speeds, the truck’s rear wheels will likely be programmed to turn in the opposite direction of its front wheels. This will allow it to cut sharper corners.
This is far from a new feature. In fact, rear-wheel steer has been available on long luxury sedans for years. But it isn’t a common feature on mass-produced pickup trucks. It is often called all-wheel steering.
Did the Ram Revolution copy rear-wheel steer from Hummer?
The GMC Hummer EV supertruck features rear-wheel steering. Its rear wheels can actually turn 10 degrees in either direction. During normal operation, its rear wheels turn in the opposite direction from the front wheels at low speeds, reducing its turning radius. But when set to “crabwalk” mode, its rear wheels can turn in the same direction as its front wheels so it can drive diagonally.
Check out a Hummer EV showing off crabwalk mode in the video below:
Ram has been watching the emerging electric pickup truck segment. But it could have gotten the idea of rear wheel steer from a number of places besides the latest Hummer. Regardless of where the idea came from, Ram seems intent to outdo Hummer. Its rear wheels can actually articulate a full 15 degrees to creat an especially tight turning radius.
Will the Ram 1500 Revolution EV be able to drive sideways in crabwalk mode? Stellantis has yet to announce exactly what capabilities it will program into its new electric truck.
The 2024 Ram 1500 Revolution borrows features from other trucks
Ram has certainly been paying attention to the electric pickup truck market segment. It is borrowing features from several other trucks for its Revolution concept EV.
For example, the Ram 1500 Revolution features a fold-flat mid-gate between the cab and bed. It also has a “passhole” between the cab and front trunk (frunk). This creates an uninterrupted 18-foot storage space perfect for lumber or other long, thin materials. But Ram was not the first EV concept with this feature, a startup called Bollinger was.
In addition, the CEO of Stellantis has promised a “range-extended” configuration of the production Ram Revolution. This truck will have some manner of internal combustion generator to charge its batteries on the fly. But it was actually Ford that first patented a range extended in the bed of a pickup truck when it was first designing the F-150 Lightning.
Will the 2024 Ram 1500 Revolution be able to take these features and improve on them, making the ultimate electric pickup truck? We’ll just have to wait and find out.
Next, read why electric 4x4s will be better off-road or get an in-depth look at the Ram Revolution in the video below:
