2024 Ram ProMaster EV

Electrification is finding its way beyond passenger vehicles to help keep the wheels of commerce turning. It makes a lot of sense. Battery-powered vans have zero emissions, which is especially welcome in cities. Maintenance costs are low. And they can be charged overnight at off-peak rates, another contribution to manageable running costs.

Usually, the EV initials apply to any electric vehicle, but Ram has repurposed it to stand for “electric van” in the case of the 2024 ProMaster EV. It’s the electric equivalent of the excellent ProMaster van that runs on gasoline. Its maximum range of 162 miles could easily be enough for many businesses, likewise its payload capacity and competitive choice of cargo areas.

The Ram ProMaster EV makes its debut for 2024.

To compare, the Ford E-Transit Cargo Van starts at around $50K, while the taller Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Cargo Van is more in the $72K region. The regular combustion-powered ProMaster comes in at about $45K.

Before buying a new ProMaster EV electric van, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying.

A single electric motor generates 268 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque, going solely to the front wheels. Torque-wise, this makes the ProMaster EV a credible contender against the most muscular Mercedes-Benz eSprinter (201 horsepower and 295 lb-ft) as well as the Ford e-Transit (266 horsepower and and 317 lb-ft).

Most of the ProMaster EV’s systems are situated ahead of the cargo area. The battery is stored under the floor, which remains low enough for convenient loading and unloading. Maximum cargo area is 524 cubic feet, which beats the eSprinter’s 488 cubes, but not the Ford e-Transit’s 536 cubic feet (extended length and highest body). It’s also another 4 cubic feet better than the gasoline ProMaster. Maximum payload is 3,020 pounds, better than the Mercedes-Benz rival, not quite as good as the Ford. If this aspect is crucial, the gasoline ProMaster can handle 4,820 pounds.

Although the gasoline-powered ProMaster comes with a standard-height roof, this ProMaster EV goes straight to the high-roof version that has 77 inches of vertical room inside. Or there’s the super-high roof version, whose cargo area is 86 inches tall. That’s 4.5 inches more than the tallest Ford e-Transit. There’s also a choice of length, either 12 or 13 feet, although the 159-inch wheelbase stays the same. Ram offers a roll-up rear door made of anodized aluminum. It provides quick and easy access to the cargo area, and is great for working in confined spaces.

Digital rearview mirror
Seeing what’s behind a van can often be impossible. This optional feature uses a rear-facing camera and sends wide-angle images to what looks like a regular rearview mirror. A 360-degree camera system is also available.

Infotainment system
This well-designed system can store up to five user profiles. Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is standard. And it’s capable of over-the-air map updates.

Alexa in-vehicle assistant
Another aspect of the infotainment system, this allows remote starting and remote lock/unlock, as well as including to-do lists, news, weather, and traffic information.

Safety tech
Standard safety features in the 2024 ProMaster EV include forward collision warning, crosswind assistance, road sign information, and drowsiness detection.

Last-mile navigation
It says last mile, but the intention is to provide walking directions through a connected phone app to the proper delivery address.

Upfitting
Just like the gasoline-powered ProMaster, this full-size electric van can be upfitted for every buyer’s specific requirements.

Ram says the ProMaster EV can travel for up to 162 miles before needing a full recharge. In these days of electric vehicles having 400-mile ranges, this might not seem like much. But if the ProMaster EV is working mainly around town, then its daily mileage would be a lot less than that. Plug it in overnight and it’s ready to go the following morning. Should an urgent recharge be necessary during the day, the ProMaster EV can take a respectably high current from a DC fast charger. It also offers a charging station locator, and calculates how much energy is required for trips. The ProMaster EV’s 162 miles of range compares well to the Ford e-Transit’s maximum of 126 miles, but not as well against the approximately 250-mile range achieved by the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter.