Ram Plays Grinch with All-Electric Pickup, Offers an Ornament Instead!

TL;DR: Ram has officially canceled its much-anticipated all-electric 1500 REV pickup truck, shifting focus to a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) called the Ramcharger. The move echoes Ford's recent change in EV truck strategy, signaling a broader industry pivot away from pure-EV pickups for now.

Meta: Ram cancels all-electric 1500 REV pickup, pivots to range-extended Ramcharger, following industry trends.

Well, Merry Christmas, everybody! Unless you were hoping to get your hands on a full-size, all-electric Ram 1500 REV pickup truck anytime soon. Because it looks like Ram—or should I say Stellantis—just played the Grinch with your EV truck dreams. After teasing us for what felt like an eternity, and pushing back launch dates more times than a late-night talk show, Ram has officially pulled the plug on its pure-electric pickup. The good news? You can still get a miniature version for your Christmas tree for $30. Ain't that somethin'?

The EV Pickup Pipe Dream Deflated

Former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares had big dreams for the Ram 1500 REV, promising it would outshine the competition with class-leading range, charging speeds, and towing capabilities. It was supposed to be Ram's answer to the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Tesla Cybertruck. But, as we're learning in this wild EV market, dreams don't always pay the bills. The development of the all-electric Ram truck has been shut down. Instead, Ram is pivoting hard to the Ramcharger, a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV).

This isn't just Ram getting cold feet; it's a trend. Crosstown rival Ford recently made a similar move, ending production of the current F-150 Lightning to focus on a next-gen Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) version. It seems the high cost, range anxiety, and charging infrastructure concerns that plague pure-electric trucks are pushing automakers to a more hybrid-like solution. It's like everyone wanted to go vegan, but then realized bacon still exists and tastes pretty good.

Enter the Ramcharger: The REEV Strikes Back

The Ramcharger is basically a compromise, but a powerful one. It packs dual electric motors, a 92 kWh battery, and a 3.6 L V-engine paired with a 27-gallon gas tank. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis boasts that this combination delivers "unlimited" range, up to 690 miles. It's also Ram's most powerful pickup, rocking 647 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque. So, while it's not purely electric, it offers the best of both worlds: electric driving for daily commutes and a gasoline generator for those long hauls or remote job sites without a charging station in sight. It’s like having your cake and eating it too, then going back for pie.

So, if Ram isn't going to sell you a full-size electric pickup, why the heck are they selling a Christmas ornament of one? Maybe it's a bittersweet tribute to what could have been, a little memento of the EV dream that got tabled. Or maybe, just maybe, they really were planning to launch it at one point, and the ornaments were already in production. Either way, it's a reminder that the road to an all-electric future is rarely a straight line.

What’s Next

The focus for Ram will now be squarely on the Ramcharger, as it aims to deliver a powerful, long-range solution that appeals to truck buyers wary of pure-EV limitations. This shift by major players like Ram and Ford signals a potential industry trend towards REEVs or EREVs as a bridge solution, especially in the demanding pickup truck segment. Keep an eye out for how these range-extended models perform in the market; they might just be the practical answer many consumers are looking for right now.

So, whether you're decking the halls or driving a truck, remember: sometimes you gotta adapt, or you're just left with a $30 ornament. And that's the truth, Ruth!