Magna eBeam Electric Axle Could Lead to a Ram 1500 EV

Magna eBeam could replace the rear axle in the Ram 1500, or add it up front to create a hybrid pickup.

The folks at Magna recently introduced their eBeam scalable electric rear axle assembly, which can introduce all-electric or hybrid capabilities to a pickup truck, SUV or light commercial vehicle by simple swapping the rear axle. In theory, the Magna eBeam system would allow the folks at Ram to easily introduce an all-electric half-ton truck that doesn’t compromise any of the capabilities of the popular pickup. Of course, the electric axle system could be integrated with a traditional internal combustion to create a hybrid pickup that can still tow or haul significant amounts of weight without any other modifications.

“It is a bold endeavor to electrify pickup trucks, whose owners demand the towing and hauling capabilities they are currently used to, and we’ve accomplished it with our eBeam technology,” said Tom Rucker, President, Magna Powertrain. “We know axles are core elements of a truck’s strength, and we are excited to have developed the first significant improvement to the solid beam axle in over 100 years.”

Stellantis

How the Magna eBeam Works

The Magna eBeam integrates all of the key components of an electric drive system into a solid rear axle assembly and a connected battery pack. The axle eBeam bolts into the chassis at the same points as the factory solid rear axle, using all of the factory suspension and braking components.

It replaces the traditional engine, transmission, driveshift and differential assembly with three different formats. There are two single-motor setups, one with a single speed and one with two speeds, while the twin-motor, single speed system features integrated torque vectoring. Power levels range from 120 kW to 250 kW for the rear-drive layout, but there is also the option of a four-wheel-drive package. That translates to roughly 161 to 355 horsepower.

Magna can provide a front axle-based electric drive system as well, complete with the software the controls to seamlessly integrate the four-wheel-drive system. This would allow an automaker to have electric power to the front and rear wheels, or a truck could feature combustion engine power to the rear wheels with an electric Magna front axle working together.

An All-Electric Ram 1500

The Magna eBeam is designed to serve as a direct replacement for a factory solid rear axle, making the Ram 1500 an excellent candidate for this new technology.

In theory, this electric drive unit would allow the truck maker to remove the combustion engine, transmission, driveshaft and rear differential and in their place, this electrified rear axle with twin motors would replace all of it. This electrified Ram 1500 would still have the same suspension, chassis and braking components as the current production trucks, so there would be no compromise in working abilities. They could add another electrified axle up front to create an all-electric four-wheel-drive Ram truck.

The other option is to keep the 5.7-liter Hemi and the 8-speed transmission sending power to the rear wheels while the Magna eBeam front axle could create a unique hybrid drive system. When the electric front axle is working with the ICE-powered rear axle, it would offer hybridized four-wheel-drive, but it could also operate only in electric mode with the front axle doing all of the work.

Of course, this is purely speculation based on the introduction of the Magna eBeam technology, but this electrified axle could be the next step in the evolution of the electric truck in the United States. In the meantime, check out the video below for more information on this unique electric axle assembly.

Photos: Magna, Ram

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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