Electric 2024 Ram ProMaster First Look: Ram's First Full EV Is This Van
Ram's electric workhorse will go up against Rivian, Ford, and Mercedes in the e-delivery space.
Last year, the Stellantis truck and van brand made a huge splash with the concept version of the all-electric Ram 1500 REV pickup truck—then made another splash when it revealed the much tamer production and range-extender 1500 RamCharger versions. If it seems like the arc of electrified Ram products is bending toward the familiar and unexciting, the new 2024 Ram ProMaster electric van you see here likely isn't changing that perception, as it looks just like a regular Ram ProMaster cargo van from the outside. But could there be something exciting about the ProMaster EV?
In the commercial van space, sexy isn't a priority, anyway. The ProMaster EV designed to look identical to its gas-fed siblings is normal within the segment trend, too—Ford's e-Transit and the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, which are both also electric vans, also look just like their internal-combustion-engine (ICE) counterparts. Another competitor, Rivian's electric delivery van that until now has been exclusive to Amazon's fleets but is becoming more widely marketed now, is only available as an EV and looks more interesting and future-forward than all of the aforementioned vans.
What matters more than anything else here is operating costs, and electric vans have the potential to drastically lower a fleet's overhead. To that end, the ProMaster EV offers up a tactfully useful driving range at city speeds, claimed to be up to 162 miles on a full charge. That demolishes the competitive Ford e-Transit's 126-mile maximum (depending on configuration, that range can be as little as 108 miles per charge) andjustbeats the Rivian's 150-ish-mile range, while not coming close to the far pricier Mercedes eSprinter's estimated 250-ish-mile maximum (with its largest battery, and again, more cost).
A 110-kWh battery embedded in the floor juices the ProMaster EV and can be charged via an 11-kW Level 2 wall charger (available) or on Level 3 DC fast chargers at rates between 50 and 150 kW. As we've pointed out with many of the ProMaster EV's competitors, many customers aren't looking for charging much faster than that—these electric vans tend to run specific, planned-in-advance routes on a daily basis before charging during downtime and overnight. Ram does add in charging locator and trip planning software into the ProMaster EV's 10.1-inch UConnect 5 infotainment system to help drivers find chargers along their routes if need be.
Power comes from a front-mounted electric motor spinning the front tires (internal-combustion powered ProMasters are also front-wheel drive), which delivers 268 hp and 302 lb-ft of torque. The first figure is similar to that of the ProMaster's gas V-6, while the latter is notably torquier. Two body styles are available, both using a high roof and the same 159-inch wheelbase. There is a 12-foot cargo length, and a 13-footer (with the extra foot hanging off the butt aft of the rear axle). For now, Ram is only taking orders for the "delivery model," which sounds like a commercial-only option, with a non-delivery cargo variant (presumably for work-truck duty and gas-averse contractors) coming later. An "extended super-high-roof" body is available.
Either way, the ProMaster EV both maintains the regular gas-fed ProMaster's flat rear floor and its cargo volume (524 cubic feet), as well as an 86-inch interior height and a low floor height. It can haul up to 2,030 pounds of payload in the delivery variant and 3,020 pounds in the cargo configuration.
Safety-wise, full-speed forward collision warning, crosswind assist, automatic high beam controls, LED headlights, and post-collision braking are standard; adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and even Active Driving Assist (SAE Level 2 autonomy) are optional. A wireless phone charger and 115-volt household-type power outlet are optional, and there are standard 12-volt, USB-C and USB ports in the dashboard. You can even opt for a heated steering wheel and windshield.
Will the ProMaster EV haul the electric van fight to Ford, Rivian, and Benz? We'll need to wait and see how fleet operators respond—and hopefully get behind the wheel of one ourselves before we know. On paper, it seems primed for a fair fight in the streets.
A lifelong car enthusiast, I stumbled into this line of work essentially by accident after discovering a job posting for an intern position at Car and Driver while at college. My start may have been a compelling alternative to working in a University of Michigan dining hall, but a decade and a half later, here I am reviewing cars; judging our Car, Truck, and Performance Vehicle of the Year contests; and shaping MotorTrend’s daily coverage of the automotive industry.
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