Stripped: Electric Ram 1500 ‘Frame’ Revealed
Ram’s parent company Stellantis is showing off the production version of the truck chassis that will underpin a range of upcoming electrified pickups and SUVs.
Known as the STLA Frame, it has been designed to accommodate a variety of powertrains in various sizes.
The first will be an all-electric setup for the Ram 1500 REV, which will initially be offered with 168 kWh and 229 kWh battery packs, the latter good for up to 500 miles of range between charges.
The battery is tucked between the steel frame rails and there is an Electronic Drive Module at each end that provide all-wheel drive and a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,700 pounds on certain trims.
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Final specs on the Ram 1500 REV haven’t been released, but the STLA Frame can support various truck configurations from 216 inches to 234 inches in length with wheelbases of 123.7 to 145.3 inches. Widths range from 81.2 inches to 83.6 inches and the chassis can ford up to 24 inches of water and fit 33 inch tires.
The Ram 1500 REV will be followed by the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which is a Range-Extender Electric Vehicle, or REEV, that will use a smaller 92 kWh battery supplemented by a 3.6-liter V6.
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The engine is mounted up front and powers a generator rather than driving the wheels through a transmission, as in a typical hybrid setup. This allows for the truck to operate as a fully electric vehicle on short trips, likely less than 200 miles, but go up to 690 miles on a full battery and tank. Ram is pitching this one as the best option for customers who tow and haul long distances sometimes, since the gas tank can be quickly refilled, although the battery can be recharged at rates as fast as 50 miles of electricity per 10 minutes at a fast charging station. The fully electric version will be capable of 100 miles in 10 mins.
Stellantis hasn’t abandoned internal combustion, however, and the STLA Frame is also compatible with a pure internal combustion engine powertrain. The Ram 1500 was just updated for 2025, however, and Ram hasn’t announced when it will formally switch to the STLA Frame.
A Jeep Wagoneer with the REEV STLA Frame will also be revealed next year.
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