New all-electric version designed to offer utility, flexibility and strong TCO. 

Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen the North American commercial and delivery van market undergo a rapid transformation. First was the arrival of the “Euro” vans in the 2000s, with models such as Ram ProMaster, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Ford Transit supplanting and replacing old stalwarts such as the Ram Van and Ford E-Series. In the last several years, we’ve seen the segment evolve further with all-electric versions of these vans debuting.

The latest, is the Ram ProMaster EV. Available to Canadian fleet customers towards the end of this year, the ProMaster EV comes in two different guises—as a delivery van, or as a regular commercial panel van in either 12 or 13-ft cargo length configurations.

Dare Forward 2030

Based on the regular ProMaster architecture, which is unique in the North American commercial van segment in offering unibody construction and front-wheel drive, the ProMaster EV is part of Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan which will see the company investing more than 30 billion Euro through 2025 in specific vehicle electrification solutions, including battery-electric commercial vans and software.

For North American fleet customers, the ProMaster EV’s introduction is also tied in with a re-branding and re-focus of Stellantis commercial vehicle offerings, which now fall under the Ram Professional brand.

The whole concept behind Ram Professional is to offer a turnkey solution for fleet customers, including vehicles, as well as aftersales and technical support, upfitting options, telematics solutions and infrastructure to support them when operating in the field.

According to Stellantis, the Ram ProMaster EV can deliver a targeted range of up to 261 km in city driving, and while we weren’t able to put that to the test this time, the ProMaster EV delivery van that we sampled demonstrated fairly good range efficiencies during our multiple test loops in and around Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Low cargo floor

A big advantage of the ProMaster, due to its design, is a low cargo-floor and for the EV version, placing the standard 110 kW/h battery pack under the floor results in a high degree of usable cargo space and no compromises compared with its gasoline engine counterpart. The cargo van versions, with a 159-inch (4,039 mm) wheelbase and high roof configuration also maximize space efficiency, delivering 524 cubic feet (14,838 litres) of cargo space.

The delivery model, with a single driver’s seat, sliding “pocket” style front passenger door and heavy duty, anodized aluminum roll-up rear door, provides added durability for high-duty use cycles and ease of access. While the delivery van version essentially competes with purpose-built models, such as the BrightDrop 400/600, and even more specialized Morgan-Olson C250e, it provides a different driving experience, delivering more car-like comfort and ergonomics.

Drive comes courtesy of a 200 kW EDM (electric drive module) that transmits power to the front wheels. Delivering the equivalent of 268 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque, it provides a very satisfying level of power delivery, enabling drivers to accelerate quickly when needed—an important consideration in busy city driving and frequent stop-start conditions. Off-the-line traction is very good, and thanks to the low centre of gravity, the delivery van version corners well at most speeds with benign handling on the open road— providing both fleet operators and drivers with peace of mind during operation.

Digital rearview mirror

Visibility is of primary concern for delivery and commercial van drivers, and in addition to the standard high-resolution back-up camera and large exterior mirrors, Ram offers a digital rearview mirror display that provides real-time viewing in all drive modes. It proves particularly useful when driving on busy city streets or multi-lane roadways and will likely be a popular option for most fleet customers. It can also be turned off and revert to a traditional rearview mirror when required.

A 360-degree Surround View camera system is also available, designed to provide the driver with a birds-eye view of the vehicle and its immediate surroundings and the system uses dynamic grid lines and a 10.1-inch centrally mounted touch screen for added clarity and convenience.

In order to maximize flexibility, the ProMaster EV offers a range of charging solutions. There are four different Level 3 DC Fast Charging options, comprising of 50 kW, 85 kW, 125 and 150 kW. To help simplify the process and save time, the charge port illuminates once the ProMaster EV is charging, and an audible sound alert indicates when the charging cycle is complete.

Additionally, there’s also a Level 2 charging option that comes with a wall mounted box with up to 11 kW, providing a suitable overnight charging solution, particularly for sole proprietors or small business operators.

The van also features a Charging Station Locator to help drivers locate the nearest compatible EV chargers, particularly important when range starts to drop, plus an EV Dynamic Trip Prediction helps drivers with peace of mind by illustrating the projected and actual modeled discharge profile for the ProMaster EV’s battery pack (so they can clearly see the percentage of the battery pack that has been discharged relative to its overall capacity).

Telematics and connectivity

A big draw for today’s fleet operators is connectivity and the ability to track assets knowing how they are being utilized. The Ram ProMaster EV offers a standard Telematics Module that encompasses nearly 50 different functions ranging from Firmware Over the Air Updates, to Apps Over the Air and 4G LTE WiFi hotspot wireless connectivity.

Uconnect 5, offered on the ProMaster EV, offers a fully customizable home touch screen, designed to provide quick and easy access to popular functions as well as up to five different user profiles that customize climate control, mirror angle and music choices in the vehicle.

Besides AppleCar Play and Android auto, there also an in-built Alexa virtual assistant that enables the vehicle to be remote started, the doors to be locked or unlocked, as well as play music and add items to the to-do list—everything from checking the latest news, and weather and traffic conditions to finding out the latest sports scores!

Another handy feature for delivery firms and drivers is an over the air map update feature on the Uconnect NAV system, that provides access to the latest routes, as well as highlighting changes to locations including road construction and traffic flow, so they can find alternate routes by simply monitoring the centre-mounted touchscreen.

Ram also offers an optional wireless charging pad and connectivity ports for added convenience. The Ram ProMaster EV, like its gas-powered counterpart features a standard 12-volt power outlet and a fully functional USB outlet, plus a standard USB Type C port for faster device charging. A 115-volt/150-watt outlet is optional and is mounted right below the USB ports.

Suitable solution

While it remains to be seen how popular all-electric delivery and commercial vans will be, for certain use cases, such as last-mile delivery, they make perfect sense, particularly if they can be charged at a central depot overnight. While range concerns are still very much a reality, Stellantis, through its Ram Professional brand has provided a solid battery-electric solution for delivery customers with the ProMaster EV.

Range and battery efficiency is decent, while exterior visibility is excellent, particularly with the optional digital rearview mirror. Handling and driving dynamics are also strong, and a range of upfitting solutions allow both the cargo and delivery van versions to be highly customized to the needs of specific operators.

Charging solutions are also good and since this space continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how they improve in the months and years ahead.

Granted, the Ram ProMaster EV isn’t for everyone, but it complements a well-rounded portfolio of Ram Professional vehicles and solutions and, based on our first impressions, is most worthy of consideration—particularly if you’re looking for a zero-emissions delivery vehicle that’s high on flexibility and competitive when it comes to Total Cost of Ownership.