Ram Again Delays Launch of All-Electric 1500 REV Til “Late 2026″

The 1500 REV, the all-electric version of the Ram half-ton pickup, is again on hold, the truck brand’s CEO now saying it won’t arrive until “late 2026” at the earliest due to slowing demand in the battery pickup segment. But production appears to be staying on track to bring the extended-range Ramcharger to market during the second half of this year. Headlight.News has more.

With sales of competing all-electric pickups from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Rivian and Tesla all lagging behind expectations, Ram boss Tim Kuniskis formally confirmed this week what many industry trackers had been anticipating. The Ram 1500 REV has again been delayed.

Originally due out late last year, production was pushed into 2025 and now, said Kuniskis, we should “think late 2026” for its arrival – though sources who talked on background to Headlight.News suggested the big EV might be delayed even further, some wondering if it might wind up on indefinite hold.

That doesn’t mean Ram is giving up on the EV market entirely. It announced late last year that it would flip-flop production plans and debut first the extended-range version of the REV, dubbed Ramcharger. The series hybrid is now due to go on sale during the second half of the year, said Kuniskis.

Market slowdown

There’s no question the U.S. EV market hasn’t maintained the fiery sales growth seen between 2019 and 2023, demand growing eightfold. Last year, that fell to a still significant pace just below 10%.

But all-electric pickups have been an anchor on the EV market. Ford has had to repeatedly trim production plans for the F-150 Lightning. Tesla has transferred workers off the Cybertruck line as demand tumbled following the controversial pickup’s November 2023 launch. Rivian’s R1T has lost momentum and General Motors’ three trucks, the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EV and Sierra EV, have missed targets, according to industry data trackers. GM has delayed launch of a second EV pickup plant in Orion Township, Michigan until mid-2026.

Last December, Ram said the initial delay in launching the 1500 REV was due to “slowing industry demand,” and things haven’t gotten any better, with few signs of a turnaround.

More opportunities for a hybrid

The Stellantis truck brand is betting there’ll be more opportunities for a plug-in alternative as it could address concerns about range, especially when towing or carrying heavy payloads.

There already are hybrid pickups, notably versions of Ford’s F-150 and Maverick trucks. But those use “parallel” hybrid drivetrains, allowing the wheels to draw power either from an internal combustion engine, electric motors or both simultaneously.

The Ramcharger opts for a relatively uncommon “serial” hybrid layout first seen on the old Chevrolet Volt. It also will have both an internal combustion engine onboard to supplement the battery drive system. But the gas side of the drivetrain will be used solely – when needed – to help charge the battery pack when it starts to train. As with the 1500 REV, the Ramcharger’s wheels will be directly powered solely by a pair of electric motors.

More EV News

• Ram 1500 REV Delays Add to Stellantis Headaches
• BMW Shifts Plans for Mini EV Production
• Toyota Shows Off Serial Hybrid Pickup Concept – But Will it Build it?

What are the benefits?

There are several potential advantages:

• The battery pack will retain a charge until the internal combustion engine runs out of power, significantly extending range;
• It will take far less time to gas up than to plug the pack into a charger – though both filling up and charging up will be the most efficient – cleanest and lowest operating cost;
• The gas engine will operate at a relatively steady speed, a “sweet spot” that is designed to be its cleanest and most efficient. And that means it won’t need all the emissions control tech required when an ICE powertrain is directly driving the wheels.

If anything, the Ramcharger will have additional advantages, even with the added gas engine. It should be lighter, with a smaller, 92 kWh lithium-ion battery pack offsetting the mass of the 1500 REV’s 168 kWh pack.

The Ramcharger’s range will be a max 690 miles with a full tank and a full charge, compared to 350 for the 1500 REV. (Plans for a 229-kWh pack offering 500 miles per charg have been dropped.)

With the boost from its 3.6-liter V-6, Ramcharger will make a max 663 horsepower, compared to 654 hp for the REV.

Others will follow

With pushback from potential buyers worried about range, other manufacturers have also been rethinking EV pickup plans. Scout, the reborn brand Volkswagen will bring to market in 2026, has indicated it also will offer a range-extender option for its Terra pickup – and Traveler SUV.

GM has confirmed it will add some plug-in hybrid packages to its line-up, starting around 2026. It has offered no specifics, however. It’s not clear if it is working up parallel, serial or both options. Nor has it announced specific product lines, though the Detroit automaker did indicate the technology will focus on some bigger product lines, suggesting that could include mid- and full-size SUVs and pickups.

Ford has delayed the rollout of a second-generation Lightning. It hasn’t indicated whether it might also look at plug-in hybrid options, however.