- ram ceo mike koval jr. says the ram 1500 ev will offer a range extender, as first reported by evpulse.com.
- a range extender is a generator that recharges the truck's battery, and it's currently not found on other ev trucks.
- ford has already patented a bed-mounted range extender for the electric f-150, so ram isn't the first to think of the idea.
by the time the ram 1500 ev hits the market in 2024, it'll be a couple of years late to the all-electric-pickup-truck party that's already getting started. however, it could arrive with an available range extender, which is not currently offered on rivals such as the f-150 lightning, the gmc hummer ev, or the rivan r1t.
ram ceo mike koval jr. first mentioned that the upcoming ram 1500 ev will be offered with a range extender in an interview with ev pulse. acting as a generator that can recharge the truck's battery pack, it might help alleviate concerns some people have about driving range. it's particularly concerning to early adopters of electric trucks who plan on using them to tow, as it significantly affects efficiency and range.
while we haven't heard of any other new electric trucks that'll offer a range extender, it's unlikely that ram would be the only company to have one if it's an effective solution. in fact, ford in 2018 filed a patent for a bed-mounted range extender for what we now know is the f-150 lightning. however, ford's patent was for a modular unit versus one that's built-in like those used on bmw's now-defunct i3 hatch and mid-engine i8. koval didn't say what type of range extender would be used or when it might be available.
the news about the ram 1500 ev's range extender comes after the brand recently announced an initiative to gather input from real people regarding the development of its electric trucks and commercial vans via ramrevolution.com and a yearlong series of events called the ram real talk tour.