Ding Dong, Electric Is Gone: Ram EV Canceled
You might be surprised to find that most of us here at Car Junkie Mag aren’t really big EV haters. But we don’t love them either, they just aren’t on our radar. But when we heard the Ram EV was officially canceled, we knew it was good news. We like to hear and feel what we drive, not hum down the road in a boring appliance… If we just wanted to get from A to B, we’d take the bus.
Its official, Ram has canceled its first fully electric pickup, the Ram 1500 REV. Just two years ago, Ram unveiled it at the 2023 New York Auto Show. Originally intended to rival the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV. The project faced repeated delays before Stellantis decided to halt development altogether.
Ram Pulls The Plug On Its First Electric Pickup
In a statement released Friday, Ram confirmed it will “discontinue development” of the battery-electric truck, the Ram EV, citing slower-than-expected demand for full-size EV pickups in North America. Instead, the “REV” badge will now be applied to the brand’s Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV), better known as the Ramcharger. This hybrid truck uses a gas engine as a generator to extend battery range, offering a middle ground between traditional combustion power and pure EV capability. If you think it’s ironic that the truck that you can’t rev is going to be called an REV, you’re not alone.
The Ram EV half ton truck was initially slated to launch in 2024. But earlier this year the company pushed the timeline back to 2026 as its priorities shifted toward the Ramcharger. With today’s announcement, that plan has been scrapped entirely.
V8 Power Returns As EV Plans Scale Back
Meanwhile, Ram is also leaning into what many customers have been asking for: the return of the Hemi V-8. Under new CEO Tim Kuniskis, the brand admitted that dropping the beloved engine was a mistake. “We screwed up,” Kuniskis told reporters, adding that the V-8’s comeback has already been well received by buyers.
Ram’s pivot reflects a broader trend in the auto industry. Audi has shelved its RS6 EV project, Honda recently canceled a large electric SUV, and Lamborghini is reportedly rethinking its future EV program. With demand for large electric trucks cooling, Ram’s decision to kill of the Ram EV suggests the market may be recalibrating faster than anticipated, which is good news for guys and gals like us.
