Stellantis ditches all-electric Ram in favor of hybrid version

After several release delays, Stellantis has announced that it is discontinuing development of the full-size all-electric Ram 1500, as “demand for full-size battery-electric trucks slows in North America,” the company said in a release.

And it's not likely to get better soon, as the federal government's EV $7,500 tax credit is also set to expire on Sept. 30. 

Instead, the company is pivoting focus to its plug-in hybrid pickup, the Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV) Ramcharger. It's getting a name change to the Ram 1500 REV. 

Whatever you call it, the hybrid works much like a typical EV in operation, drawing power from a 92 kW battery. The RAM 1500 REV also has a 3.6L V6 Pentastar engine to charge the battery, by way of a  130-kw generator, to provide additional range. With a fully charged battery and full tank of gas, the hybrid can reach a 690-mile range.

Stellantis spent little time lamenting the loss of the EV, saying the REV "will set a new benchmark in the half-ton segment, offering exceptional range, towing capability, and payload performance."

The powertrain generates 663 hp and over 615 lb.-ft. of torque, with a towing capacity of 1,4000+ lbs., and payload capacity upwards of 2,600 lbs.

These specs put it well ahead of the Chevy Silverado EV's Work Truck trim, which has just shy of 500-mile range, 580 lb.-ft. max torque, and 12,500-lb. towing. The REV doubles the extended-range Ford F-150 Lightning's stamina. The Lightning, which has seen production cuts and will likely see a major refresh in 2028, has a max range of 320 with its larger battery configuration.

Why the pivot?

In 2022, Stellantis launched its Dare Forward 2030 strategy, hoping to reach 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. The CEO at the time was Carlos Tavares, who unceremoniously resigned late last year after butting heads with the board, poor stock performance, and among several other reasons, how he handled its North American EV planning.

New CEO Antonio Filosa, who took the position in June, came directly from overseeing Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler as COO of Americas, so it's likely he understood the full-size electric pickup market is not mature enough for America's discerning pickup owners.

According to GM Authority, battery-electric pickup sales dropped 19% in Q2 2025, though the Silverado EV was up 8 percentage points, now owning a 19% market share. The Lightning is on top with a 35% market share.

Q3 should be better as customers try to beat the EV tax credit deadline, which is the last day of the quarter. But overall demand for EVs does not look good in the near-term, as the EPA under President Trump has dismantled what the administration deems "EV mandates." Federally, the EPA is in the process of eliminating the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, the backbone of all modern emissions regulations. Furthermore, state initiatives to push EV adoption have been undercut by Trump. 

He signed Congressional Review Act resolutions in June to remove three California Air Resource Board's Clean Air Act waivers. Among these was Advanced Clean Cars II, which would make zero-emission cars, SUVs, pickups, and trucks the only purchase option for California consumers by 2035. The scaling would have started with MY2026.

That's not to say electric pickups don't have a place in homes, fields, and fleets. Fleet Maintenance covered three different fleets' experiences with electric pickups due to their drivability, power, and ease of maintenance.

California-based Falcon Towing, for example, started complementing its Ford F-550 tow trucks with 20 Ford Lightning trucks to use for roadside assistance.

“From the day to day, I do like [the EVs] more, and they perform well,” said Kam Najmi, president of Falcon Towing. “The technology on it is great. Good quality trucks.”

He added, “maintenance is just tires and brakes."