Ram targets commercial buyers with new pro division

Ram, with a broadening product portfolio that soon will include an array of electric vehicles, is going after commercial business in North America with a newly formed pro division.

Ram Professional, which will operate as a separate business unit, made its debut at the National Truck Equipment Association Work Truck Week in Indianapolis. Its lineup, which boasts the most diverse set of powertrains in the brand's history, includes the new ProMaster EV along with the upcoming 1500 REV electric pickup and 1500 Ramcharger hybrid with a range-extending generator. It also sells heavy-duty and chassis cab trucks.

Ram Professional is a brand within the Stellantis Pro One unit that is charged with achieving global leadership in commercial vehicle business. Other Pro One brands are Citroën, Fiat, Opel, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

The wave of new Ram electrified vehicles this year will open more sales opportunities in the commercial arena, Stellantis said.

Amazon was the first commercial customer for Ram's debut electric offering, the ProMaster EV. The van was designed, with input from Amazon, with unique last-mile delivery features and has a targeted range of 162 miles in city driving.

"We rode with their drivers, we saw how they utilize vehicles in the final-mile space, and we've added features and configurations to the vehicle that will help them optimize their business," Dave Sowers, head of Ram Professional Operations, told Automotive News.

Sowers said the ProMaster EV can do well in a last-mile role because it will have defined routes and return to a terminal each night for charging.

Ken Kayser, vice president of Ram Professional, said the ProMaster EV is rolling out to customers now.

The van will come in two forms: a delivery model and a cargo model. The cargo version will be available in 12-foot and 13-foot lengths.

Stellantis said a 200-kilowatt electric drive module offers 268 hp, 302 pound-feet of torque and standard front-wheel drive. The battery is located under the center of the vehicle, the company said, allowing a flat floor without reducing cargo volume from the internal combustion version.

"We have been very happy with all of the testing that we've done, all of the evaluations that we've done internally, all the mileage accumulations we have, and we're just really at the starting line with our customers actually putting real-world miles on to be able to get that feedback," Kayser said.

The Ramcharger has a 145-mile electric-only range, but it can go 690 miles with the help of its 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine. The engine, drawing from a 27-gallon gasoline tank, produces mechanical power that flows to a 130-kilowatt generator.

Sowers said the company's plan is to offer different propulsion options that will be specific to customer needs. He said the Ramcharger will work for pickup users without defined daily routes.

"They can operate on a zero-emission BEV-only basis for their short runs," Sowers said, "and then when they have those occasional longer runs, they can utilize the generator."