Ram takes on Tesla and Rivian in electric truck arena with tech-laden 1500 Revolution BEV Concept

Pick-up trucks may not enjoy widespread popularity in Singapore's urban environment, but they continue to do serious business for manufacturers in the U.S.A.

Not content with letting the likes of Rivian (with its R1T), Tesla (with its still-pending Cybertruck) and legacy-maker Ford (with its bestselling F-150 Lightning) dominate the switch to all-electric utes, Stellantis Group is now throwing its hat into the ring - with the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept, unveiled at the CES 2023.

The concept references Ram's longstanding '1500' nameplate, which is used for certain variants within its flagship product line of pick-up trucks. The model entered its fifth generation in 2018.

As a ground-up EV, the 1500 Revolution BEV Concept will be built atop of Stellantis' STLA Frame architecture (for full-size vehicles), while drawing power from two electric drive modules positioned towards the vehicle's front and rear.

Besides maximising interior space (and allowing for a frunk), Ram is hinting at a possible electric supertruck with the new platform, which takes larger-capacity EDMs into account for future high-performance applications.

As a "vision of the ultimate pickup truck", the truckmaker says that the 1500 Revolution's design was guided by a "brutiful" philosophy, crossing "brutal" and "beautiful" in the same image. 

The pickup is fronted by an animated 'R-A-M' badge, which is then flanked by LED lights with a fluid 'tuning fork' design. Tail lamps and badging on its rear also get full-LED, animated treatment. 

Viewing the vehicle from either the side or a three-quarter angle will also make the hourglass-likeness of its body evident. Ram says that the unique design of the truck's fender wells allows it to clear 35-inch tyres, although the concept car presented in pictures rides on 24-inch wheels. These feature centre caps that can apparently light up and stay level.

Further aiding the car's clean and surprisingly sophisticated look are a skid plate integrated with its front fascia, and new pivoting tow hooks that can sit flush.

Naturally, the design isn't just for aesthetic pleasure. Smaller and lighter-weight sideview mirrors (to be 3D-printed) help optimise aerodynamics and reduce drag, even as they use digital cameras to capture the truck's surroundings. The truck also features flush-mounted door handles.

Speaking of these, Ram says that the doors have been "reimagined in a grand saloon style opening" - effectively its own speak for suicide doors, which open to a cavernous cabin without a B-pillar.

This is being dubbed the "one space environment" by Ram, where several interior configurations will be made possible. As a cool touch, the centre console can be removed for even more space, while its armrest can be folded out into a workstation surface.

At the same time, the sheer level of room on offer will supersede anything seen on past Ram pick-ups - especially because Ram's designers have envisioned a singular continuous space, stretching all the way from the front of the cabin to the truck's flatbed.

A powered midgate (the panel separating the cabin from the flatbed outside) will be available as an option, while the second row of seats will be able to fold flat. Lightweight and robust, they will boast integrated seatbelts, grab handles and speakers.

The truck will also come with a nifty rail attachment/floor track system, named "Ram Track", for a heightened level of versatility and utility in space. Apart from the seats and console running along the system, the tracks are also found in the frunk and flatbed.

With the midgate open and rear seats down, the 1500 Revolution will boast an incredible 5.48m of pass-through storage (all the way into the frunk) with the tailgate closed. The extra space unlocked by the STLA Frame architecture also means that the truck has room behind its second row for a new, third row of jump seats.

Not keen on losing in the tablet-infotainment game, the 1500 Revolution will also boast a full touchscreen display, with two screens combining to offer up to 28-inches of digital real estate.

The lower display can even be removed and used in different areas of the truck, while the upper screen can slide on the truck's Ram Tracks. Ram is aiming for Level 3 autonomous driving with the concept.

To further elevate the luxury and ease of using the truck, a whole host of features will be powered, including its charge-port door (on the driver's side front quarter panel), tailgate, side steps, and rear step. The 1500 Revolution's frunk will also be powered, with one-touch open-and-close functionality.

As for charging, Ram claims that the STLA Frame architecture allows for 800V DC charging at up to 350kW. At this rate, the 1500 Revolution can regain more than 160km of range in approximately 10 minutes.

Naturally, Ram hasn't forgotten the experience of being behind the wheel of the truck. Besides having self-levelling capability, the 1500 Revolution will come with four-wheel steering, boasting up to 15 degrees of articulation. Ram says this will help the vehicle's manoeuvrability at low speeds and off-road, while increasing its steering response at speed.

Among other cool (but not wholly necessary) novelties accompanying the concept's release was a new inductive robot charger that detects the vehicle’s presence and moves automatically under the vehicle to charge it.

Despite its rather futuristic proposition, Ram is targeting a 2024 release of the 1500 Revolution - a mere two years from now - and may just beat the delay-plagued Cybertruck to launch if it manages to keep to the timeline.