Is the Ram 1500 REV Battery Too Expensive?

The bigger and more powerful the electric vehicle, the larger the battery pack. The new Ram 1500 REV has a massive battery pack, which could be problematic.

One of the biggest challenges and drawbacks to electric vehicles is the massive cost to replace the batteries, especially in larger vehicles. As electric trucks become more commonplace in the market, these big and powerful EVs could require much larger and more expensive batteries that will need replacing after the originals die out. Experts estimate the battery pack of the new Ram electric truck could cost more than $25,000 to replace.

Is this price reasonable?

You’ll have a hard time finding anyone who thinks a $25,000 EV battery is reasonable. This price puts the price of this battery within shouting distance of a brand-new Toyota Prius at $27,650. The Ram EV’s battery is a 229-kWh unit, which makes it one of the largest battery packs in the entire market. That said, replacing this battery pack could be a cost challenge down the road. At what point will EVs need to stop using larger batteries?

Do we have a size comparison for this Ram EV battery pack?

The 229-kWh battery pack in the Ram 1500 REV is nearly four times the size of the Volkswagen ID.4’s 62-kWh battery pack. That seems a bit of overkill, but the Ultium battery used in the GMC Hummer EV is 200-kWh, which means the Ram might not be out of bounds. Still, the cost could turn many people away from this vehicle when it’s time to buy an EV.

The Ram REV’s battery is made of nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) chemistry, which puts the cost in the middle of the range when considered on a per-kWh basis. The nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Batteries aside, what does the Ram 1500 REV offer?

This new Ram electric truck arrived on stage in a concept form with some incredible features that could take electric truck driving to the next level. Unfortunately, that level might not be what the new Ram achieves. Still, This pickup is expected to have some impressive and amazing features that put this truck ahead of others.

The new Ram electric truck could be the first to include three rows of seats. The third-row is fitted with a pair of jump seats, which are removable. The cabin is only four inches longer than the standard Ram 1500 Crew Cab’s cabin, making it hard to understand how a third row fits at all. Still, this area could be useful as a great place to store gear and tools that shouldn’t be in the bed. Those two jump seats can be secured in the bed and become lawn chairs for tailgating parties and fireworks shows.

Another cool but somewhat questionable feature of the new Ram 1500 REV is the long gear tunnel. This tunnel runs the length of the truck, which is 18 feet long. Without a gas or diesel engine under the hood, the tunnel runs through the middle, but it only measures one foot by one foot, which isn’t very wide or tall. Still, a few 2x4s could fit in this space and make it useful for some drivers.

Does the Ram electric truck change truck doors?

The concept version of the Ram electric pickup showed up with a set of rear-hinged suicide doors. This gives passengers much easier access to the rear seats, ensuring they can get in and out without much trouble. This also makes it much easier to use the rear part of the cab for storage.

This new Ram truck also features an air suspension to provide the most comfortable ride in the pickup truck market. The air suspension has five adjustable settings to make it much easier to handle the drive on rough terrain or smooth pavement. This suspension feature could make the Ram 1500 REV one of the most impressive work trucks in the EV market.

The bed extends for more practical cargo

The cargo tunnel might not be the most practical choice in this new Ram electric truck, but the bed and midgate make it easy to load full sheets of plywood in the bed. The tailgate features a split-door design, which makes it much easier to access either side of the bed than traditional tailgates.

Will the high price of replacing the Ram 1500 REV batteries turn you away from this new electric truck, or will it be just another part of the expense associated with driving an EV? Could this new Ram electric truck be the right choice for you?