Stellantis, the parent company behind Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Fiat, Chrysler, and others, is set to release several new all-electric vehicles next year to kick off its EV campaign. Here’s a look at the first EVs due out next year.
Stellantis to launch EV offensive in 2024
Although later than much of the competition, Stellantis will launch its first electric cars for four brands next year.
Under its Dare Forward 2030 strategy, the auto giant aims for 50% of total US sales (100% in Europe) to be electric by 2030. The plans include several brands going all-electric, including Alfa Romeo by 2027 and Chrysler by 2028.
Despite this, the company’s first all-electric vehicle in the US, the Ram ProMaster EV, will debut later this year. Next year, Stellantis will ramp things up with the first EVs from Jeep, Dodge, and Fiat.
Fiat will kick things off next year with its new 500e launching early next year. The Fiat 500e is the brand’s top-selling electric car in Europe, and CEO Oliver Francois believes it can also make a mark in the US.
Fiat’s new 500e (Source: Stellantis)
Ram 1500 REV electric pickup
Ram’s first electric pickup, the Ram 1500 REV, is due out in late 2024 to take on Ford’s F-150 Lightning and upcoming Chevy Silverado EV.
2025 Ram 1500 REV electric truck (Source: Ram)
CEO Carlos Tavares vows Ram’s electric truck will “outperform all competitors” in range, towing, payload, and charge time.
The Ram 1500 REV will be built on the Stellantis STLA large frame with dual 250 kW electric motors providing up to 654 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque. Ram says its pickup will be able to tow up to 14,000 lbs and payloads of up to 2,800 lbs.
All-electric 2025 RAM 1500 REV (Source: RAM)
It will be offered in two battery options – 168 kWh or 229 kWh. The former has a 350-mile targeted range, while the latter aims for 500 miles. Ram also claims the EV truck can add around 110 miles of range in 10 minutes with 800 V fast charging.
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT
Dodge will also dive into the EV era next year after showing us a sneak peek of what to expect with the Charger Daytona SRT Concept.
The automaker calls it “the future of electrified muscle,” with patent-pending features like front aerodynamic wings, an “exhaust” noise system, and multi-speed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting.
The concept is powered by a new 800 V Banshee propulsion system that Dodge says will outperform the brand’s famed SRT Hellcat engine in all key measures.
Dodge’s Charger Daytona SRT features a three-point Fratzog badge that originated on Dodge muscle cars in the ’60s and ’70s. The return represents Dodge’s electrified future and commitment to its performance heritage.
Jeep
Jeep will launch its first electric vehicles in the US next year, including the Recon and Wagoneer S.
The rugged SUV brand revealed three all-electric models set to hit the market. The first was the Avenger, released in Europe earlier this year.
Jeep Recon (Source: Stellantis)
Next up will be the Recon and Wagoneer S, poised to hit the US market next year. The Recon will be a “rugged and fully capable electric SUV” inspired by the Jeep Wrangler. Like the Wrangler, the Recon will feature options like removable doors and windows.
We caught a sneak peek of the 2024 Recon Moab 4xe after images leaked out of a dealer event in Las Vegas.
Jeep Recon Moab 4xe (source: Jeep Recon Forum)
Jim Morrison, head of Jeep North America, said the upcoming Recon “has the capability to cross the mighty Rubicon Trail,” known as one of the hardest off-road trails in the US.
Perhaps, more importantly, Morrison claimed you will also be able to “reach the end of the trail with enough range to drive back to town and recharge.”
Jeep Wagoneer S (Source: Stellantis)
The next electric Jeep arriving will be the Wagoneer S. Jeep’s premium electric SUV has targetted 400 miles range, 600 hp, and a 0 to 60 mph time in around 3.5 seconds.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, other Stellantis brands, including Chrysler, will continue the offensive with its first all-electric crossover due out in 2025.
Ram is expected to release a smaller electric pickup that’s expected to launch around 2026. Dodge also has an electric crossover expected out in early 2026.
According to AutoForecast Solutions (via Automotive News), Dodge may also launch a four-door electric charger in the near future. Meanwhile, the iconic Challenger will likely get an electric upgrade over the next year or so.
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Volvo’s flagship electric sedan is almost here. With its debut just weeks away, Volvo previewed the new ES90, boasting it’s “one of the most technically advanced cars on the market today.” Packed with two high-tech NVIDIA computers, it will also be the most advanced Volvo car yet.
Volvo teases new ES90 EV ahead of its debut
The ES90 is Volvo’s first vehicle to feature dual NVIDIA Drive AGX Orin computers, making it the company’s most powerful in terms of computing capacity.
NVIDIA’s new in-vehicle computer platform delivers around 508 trillion operations per second (TOPS). To give you a better idea, the most powerful PlayStation (PlayStation 5 Pro) has 16.7 trillion, or around 3% of the computing power. It’s even an eightfold improvement from Volvo’s previous models.
Combined with Volvo’s Superset tech stack, the electric sedan is a “truly software-defined car,” making it more efficient and safe than ever.
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Anders Bell, Volvo’s chief engineer, claimed, “The Volvo ES90 is one of the most technically advanced cars on the market today. It will also improve with regular OTA updates that are now standard on all Volvo models based on the Superset.
The new EV is loaded with an array of sensors, including a lidar, five radars, eight cameras, and twelve ultrasonic sensors, for advanced safety and driver assistance functions.
Volvo’s safety system, called “Safe Space Technology,” is designed to detect and avoid other vehicles, bystanders, and objects, even in the dark.
Volvo ES90 teaser (source: Volvo Cars)
The ES90 is Volvo’s second EV, following the three-row EX90 SUV, built on the Superset tech stack. Volvo also plans to upgrade the EX90 with dual NVIDIA Drive AGX Orin computers as it improves the lineup. Existing EX90 customers will get an upgrade free of charge.
In the preview, you can see that the ES90’s profile resembles that of its hybrid S90 sedan. The teaser hints at a more modern design, with elements pulled from the EX90, including upright tail lights.
Tesla announced that it would finally launch wait queues at Superchargers, a feature long requested by Tesla owners after a fight broke out at a station between owners arguing about who is next to charge.
For years, Tesla owners have been asking the automaker to implement a system to queue at Supercharger stations when they are full.
It doesn’t happen often — in fact, we now learn that it happens about 1% of the time — but when it does, it can be problematic.
When a Supercharger station is full, and more Tesla drivers arrive, they generally try to form a physical queue at the station. However, the parking lot can sometimes be limited, leading to issues with people cutting ahead.
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We reported that this would become a bigger problem after Elon Musk fired Tesla’s entire charging team last year. This slowed down Tesla’s Supercharger deployment, which was already expanding at a lower rate than Tesla’s fleet.
A simple solution would be for Tesla to include a system to queue through the Tesla app or in-car system for people as they arrive at the station.
This week, Tesla finally announced that it is going to pilot a virtual queue at some sites next quarter:
Virtual queuing pilots starting in Q2 at select sites. Goal is a net customer experience improvement for the ~1% cases of a wait time. Wider rollout this year if feedback is positive. We also continue to expand the network 20%+ year-over-year, closely tracking site-level demand.
What did it take for Tesla to move forward with that finally? A fight.
The above message from Tesla’s charging team about launching a queue system was in response to this video of a fight between Tesla owners at a full Supercharger station that has been going viral:
While this is the first time I have seen a video of such a fight at a Tesla Supercharger, there have been many reports of such incidents over the last few years.
It’s good to hear that Tesla is finally addressing the issue. Now, the question is: will this virtual queuing system also work with non-Tesla vehicles, which Tesla is onboarding on Tesla’s Supercharger network – contributing to the crowding issue.
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Kia just pulled the covers off its new electric van, the PV5, giving us our first look at the futuristic model. The mid-size model is the first in Kia’s upcoming lineup of purpose-built electric vans that’s expected to shake up the growing market. From the first look, the PV5 will rival the Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Ford E-Transit. Check it out below.
Here’s our first look at the Kia PV5 electric van
We first saw the PV5 concept at CES last January after Kia introduced its “game-changing” Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) platform.
The PV5 was showcased alongside the larger PV7 and smaller PV1 models. Unlike Ford’s E-Transit, Kia’s electric van rides on a dedicated EV (PBV) platform. The flexible modular architecture will underpin the entire lineup as part of Kia’s plans to secure a leadership role in the electric van market.
After teasing the production model last week, Kia unveiled the exterior design for the first time on Thursday. The PV5 will be available in several configurations, including Passenger and Cargo models.
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Kia said it will introduce another model during its upcoming EV Day on February 24. As you can see, Kia went all out with this one.
Like its newest EV models, the PV5 features a bold, almost futuristic-like design. In Kia’s words, the electric van’s “contemporary design transcends traditional light commercial vehicles.”
Kia PV5 Passenger electric van (Source: Kia)
Massive windows that span the entire Passenger model add to the modern look, but also make it easier to see when driving.
Added black geometric wheel arch claddings and rocker panels give the PV5 a slightly rugged, off-road feel, “confidently linking the high-tech upper cabin with the more rugged and purposeful lower body.”
Kia PV5 Cargo (Source: Kia)
Although the Cargo model has a similar design, the boxy profile enables more interior space for delivery and other business uses (and don’t forget the camp lifers). Kia also included twin side-opening tailgate doors, making it easier to load and unload.
Kia will reveal additional info, including powertrain specs, seating setups, and more, during its EV Day next week. The event will be held in Tarragona, Spain, on February 24. Official details will be released on February 27. Check back next week for more on the Kia PV5.
Kia PV5 Cargo electric van (Source: Kia)
At the event, Kia will also introduce the EV4 electric sedan and hatchback models alongside a smaller, more affordable EV2 concept.
With its official debut coming up, the PV5 was spotted testing in the US this week (check them out here). Images and a video sent to Electrek byAlex Nguyen reveal a Volkswagen ID.Buzz-like design.
Kia’s PV5 Cargo Compact concept, the most basic model, is 177.2″ long, 74.8″ wide, and 74.8″ tall. However, that’s the “Compact” model. The regular Passenger and Cargo variants will be bigger. To give you a comparison, the US-spec ID.Buzz (LWB) is 195.4″ long, 78.1″ wide, and 76.2″ tall, while Ford’s E-Transit is 237.6″ long, 81.3″ wide, and 83.9″ tall.
What do you think of Kia’s mid-size electric van? Do you like the look better than the ID.Buzz or E-Transit? Let us know in the comments below.
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