2014 Ram 1500 Laramie on 2040-cars

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Here's what Ram may name its electric pickup

Ram's answer to the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Chevrolet Silverado EV is due out in 2024. Official details about the electric pickup are few and far between, but a recent trademark filing might have revealed the nameplate that the model will wear when it lands in showrooms. Parent company Stellantis asked the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to trademark the name "Ram Revolution" in January 2022. Discovered by CarBuzz, the filing applies to "motor vehicles, namely, passenger trucks" so it's not for a toy or an event. The filing has fueled speculation that Revolution will be the name given to the 1500's electric sidekick. It's a move that would make sense; Ram pledged to redefine the segment, so the pickup will be more of a revolution than an evolution, and the word "revolution" has "EV" in it. Unlike rival Ford, Ram doesn't have an EV-friendly nameplate in its attic that's waiting to be dusted off. Dodge's trucks were lumped under the D-Series umbrella for decades, and its limited-edition models wore names like The Dude, Warlock, and Macho Power Wagon. We suppose that the Li'l Red Express could become the Li'l Green Express, but that territory is arguably best left unexplored. And, following Chevrolet's lead by tacking "EV" after the "1500" nameplate is seemingly not creative enough for the company's marketing department. As always, a trademark filing is not a guarantee that a nameplate will see the light that awaits at the end of a production line. If it was, Volkswagen would sell the Amarok in the United States and the Falcon would again be part of the Ford lineup. Ram hasn't commented on the trademark filing, and it hasn't revealed what it plans to call its first series-produced electric truck. More details should emerge in 2022.

Stellantis aims to eliminate separate inverter, charger to improve EV efficiency

Stellantis has announced that, in collaboration with French battery company Saft and French National Center for Scientific Research, has made significant progress in eliminating two major components of an electric vehicle powertrain: the on-board charger and the power inverter for the motor. The company claims that doing this will allow for better space use in vehicles, as well as improvements in efficiency, cost and reliability of components. As a quick primer, also explained in the below video, the on-board charger and power inverter are sort of translators to get the right current to different parts of the electric powertrain. The on-board charger takes AC power from the grid and converts it to DC to charge the batteries. Then when power goes from the batteries to the electric motor, the power inverter converts that DC power back to AC. These components aren't exactly small. Frequently you'll find them packaged somewhere under the hood. What Stellantis and its cohorts have developed, and have been using on a test vehicle since last summer, are small power inverter boards that can be mounted very closely to the battery packs. They can handle both conversion needs, for charging and discharging, instead of needing two separate devices. The most obvious perk to this is that you can do away with those traditional components and free up more space, either for making smaller vehicles without losing interior volume, or adding space to a vehicle that wouldn't have had it otherwise. There's the additional benefit of reduced weight, something that EVs struggle with. Stellantis also claims improvements in efficiency, reliability, and cost, however, it didn't go into detail as to how this setup would do that exactly. We'll try to get in touch with representatives from Stellantis in order to get more information. We're still a ways out from seeing this technology in production Stellantis vehicles. The company said it aims to apply it to vehicles by the end of the decade. Saft is also looking at using it on stationary battery systems as well. So maybe we'll see it on a 2029 Ram 1500 REV, but for now, we'll be living with traditional chargers and inverters. Related Video: Green Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Fiat RAM Technology Electric

Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn could become Limited Longhorn for 2021

Residents of Laramie, Wyoming, will soon lose one of their claims to fame, according to a recent report. Ram's upmarket 1500 Laramie Longhorn will allegedly become the Limited Longhorn for the 2021 model year. Without citing sources, enthusiast website Mopar Insiders reported the name change, and explained it brings the truck closer to the range-topping Limited trim in the minds of consumers. As the publication pointed out, the Laramie Longhorn and the Limited both offer a generous serving of chrome trim, LED headlights, and fender flares, among other features. And, while the Laramie Longhorn isn't the range's flagship, it coddles buyers with a luxury-car-like cabin that features soft leather upholstery and real wood trim on the dashboard. 2021 will also bring more in-car technology, still according to the Mopar Insiders report, including an Enhanced Trailer Tow Package that bundles an integrated trailer brake controller, trailer reverse steering controls, a tire pressure monitoring system for the trailer, and a trailer light check function. Motorists will also benefit from a customizable head-up display, a digital rear-view mirror, and Off-Road Pages for the Uconnect infotainment system. It's reasonable to assume that these features will be offered on other trims, too. What remains to be seen is how the updates will affect the truck's pricing. As of writing, the 2020 1500 carries a base price of $33,840 for a rear-wheel drive Tradesman model, and tops out at $59,110 when buyers select a four-wheel drive Limited. The Laramie Longhorn that is allegedly being replaced costs $53,335 with rear-wheel drive. Note all of the aforementioned figures include the mandatory $1,695 destination charge. The spokesperson Autoblog contacted wouldn't confirm or deny the rumor. All we learned is that Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will announce its 2021 updates on September 1, 2020. Stay tuned for more, then. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. 2020 Ram 2500 Power Wagon POV drive