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Friday, April 4, 2025

Ram Ramcharger PHEV doesn’t want a cost to haul 14,000 lb up 6% grade


  • The 2026 Ram Ramcharger plug-in hybrid will now arrive within the second half of 2025
  • The Ramcharger may have a complete driving vary of 690 miles
  • Ram’s CEO talked about a theoretical value of $69,995

Nobody stated it will be fast, or environment friendly, however Ram’s upcoming Ramcharger plug-in hybrid can do the powerful truck deeds, based on the automaker.

On Monday, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis and an engineering group offered powertrain, situation, and spec particulars surrounding the 2026 Ram Ramcharger plug-in hybrid pickup truck. 

Timing was a part of the replace. The Ramcharger is now set to reach within the second half of 2025, whereas the totally electrical Ram REV will arrive the next 12 months—or, as Kuniskis framed it: “at any time when, assume late 2026.” The REV was initially as a result of be the primary of the 2 and was set to launch late in 2024.

Right here’s what Ram has revealed concerning the 2026 Ram Ramcharger’s powertrain, newest specs, and the way it will work in varied eventualities. 

For patrons seeking to tow, it passes the Davis Dam SAE J2807 check with 14,000 kilos and a useless battery. Although, it would hobble to get there.

2026 Ram Ramcharger

2026 Ram Ramcharger

Ramcharger is a plug-in hybrid pickup truck

But it surely’s not the plug-in hybrid you are pondering of. The Toyota Tundra or Ford F-150 Hybrid are primarily parallel hybrids with out a plug. In distinction,Ramcharger has a plug, and it’s a sequence hybrid, which suggests there is not any direct connection between the gasoline engine, which acts as a generator, and the drive wheels or electrical motors. The 271-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 doesn’t run the expected-for-a-hybrid Atkinson cycle, because the Ram group stated it’s not mandatory for effectivity and provides each price and complexity. 

2026 Ram Ramcharger

2026 Ram Ramcharger

The V-6 powers a generator that may extract the engine’s peak output, as 202 kw, or a steady 130 kw, offering power to the battery, which then powers the 2 electrical motors (one per axle). The gasoline engine runs on 87 octane and feeds off a 27-gallon gasoline tank.

When the gasoline engine is working Ram expects it to solely common about 20 mpg. That’s notably worse than the mixed score, and considerably worse than the freeway score, of just about all the Ram 1500 lineup. It’s additionally worse than the town, freeway, and mixed EPA gasoline economic system rankings for the Ford F-150 Hybrid, that are 22/24/23 mpg.

That battery comprises 92 kwh of NMC lithium-ion cell capability, however Ram’s solely having 70 kwh be usable. Ram stated it’s going to take about 8 hours to totally cost the battery on a 240-volt connector, profiting from the 11-kw onboard charger, or 45 minutes from 20-80% on a 350-kw CCS connector. On a 120-volt AC (Degree 1) charging Ram says to anticipate about 45 hours for a full cost.

2026 Ram Ramcharger

2026 Ram Ramcharger

The entrance axle has a 250-kw motor with a coaxial 15:1 gearset and inverter all packaged collectively whereas the rear axle has a 244-kw motor with an offset 15:1 gearset and inverter in a single housing. The entrance motor will disconnect and sail at speeds above 12 to 18 mph, successfully switching to rear-wheel-drive mode.  When increased speeds are reached, or increased throttle stress is engaged through accelerator tip-in, the entrance motor will immediately reconnect and interact for what Ram is asking four-wheel drive. There is no such thing as a 2-speed switch case to really create four-wheel drive, and the system makes use of the brakes and stability management system to regulate wheelspin up entrance. The rear may have an digital locking differential just like the Hummer EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Tesla Cybertruck.

Whole system output is rated at 647 hp and 610 pound-feet of torque. Ram stated the Ramcharger will go from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and has an electronically restricted high pace of 114 mph. Tow capability checks in at 14,000 kilos and payload is estimated at 2,625 kilos.

2026 Ram Ramcharger

2026 Ram Ramcharger

How a lot vary does the Ramcharger have?

All-electric vary will verify in at about 145 miles. That will increase to a complete of 690 miles with a full tank of gasoline. 

Ram stated it’s going to solely enable the state-of-charge to drop to 16.75% earlier than the vary extender kicks on, and the truck can be charge-limited to 97%. However these numbers will differ by mode.

2026 Ram Ramcharger

2026 Ram Ramcharger

What are the Ramcharger drive modes?

Ramchargers may have three powertrain modes: Electrical+, E-Save, and Eco.

Electrical+ will put the Ramcharger in electric-only mode. If the accelerator is pushed to the ground the gasoline vary extender is not going to fireplace so long as the battery has sufficient juice to energy the truck within the given situations and mode. When the cost reaches a low level in Electrical+ the truck will act like a hybrid.

E-Save activates the gasoline generator and preserves or sustains the present stage of cost. Ram engineers stated the E-Save mode will naturally run the generator a bit more durable and a bit longer to generate a state-of-charge of as much as 50%. However the gasoline generator can’t and won’t be used to totally cost the Ramcharger below any circumstance, based on the engineers.

2026 Ram Ramcharger

2026 Ram Ramcharger

Eco mode is claimed to “encourage accountable driving and optimize the local weather management system to optimize power use,” based on the engineering group. The engineers didn’t elaborate on Eco mode.

Past the powertrain itself the truck has drive modes together with: Sport, Off-Street, Snow, and Tow. It’s unclear if there are extra modes.

Sport mode kicks on the generator instantly to warmth up the powertrain and guarantee all energy can be out there always even when the generator isn’t wanted instantly. That is to make sure that if battery cost runs low, or the motive force adjustments to E-Save, the generator is heat, based on engineers.

Off-Street mode acts like a Low mode if the Ramcharger have been a gas-powered truck with a 2-speed switch case. Engineers stated customers would use this mode in the event that they have been off-road, on rocks, or slippery surfaces reminiscent of a ship launch. It is going to present the expertise of a 2-speed switch case whereas creeping off the brake pedal and smoothing throttle tip-in for extra exact energy supply.

Snow mode will clean out energy supply and desensitize the accelerator pedal to make it really feel just like the truck is participating a second-gear begin state of affairs for much less wheel slip.

2026 Ram Ramcharger

2026 Ram Ramcharger

The Ramcharger is rated to tow 14,000 kilos, even with a “useless battery”

Tow mode won’t ever let the state of cost go beneath 37-39%, although the group stated it’s nonetheless fantastic tuning the system and closing quantity, earlier than participating the gasoline generator. However not all the time.

Engineers stated that with a full 14,000 kilos hooked up the truck can be able to climbing the Davis Dam tow check, which is required to be SAE J2807 rated, even with a “useless battery”—referring again to that 37-39% threshold. 

When Inexperienced Automobile Reviews requested what would occur if an proprietor have been to drive in one of many different modes electrically, working the battery down beneath 17%, then hitch up for Davis Dam, engineers stated the truck will nonetheless attain at the very least 45 mph throughout the check with the 14,000 kilos, which is the minimal requirement.

Ram engineers stated that if the battery was on the 37-39% minimal whereas towing, it might nonetheless accumulate cost and later be capable of maintain increased speeds. Ram engineers declare that there’s no state of affairs the place the generator received’t sustain with the facility must the purpose of the truck not performing, although additional particulars weren’t mentioned.

With a full battery and 14,000 kilos linked the Ramcharger may have an electric-only vary of about 39 miles of comparatively stage towing earlier than battery is depleted and the generator kicks on, based on the automaker. With the 27 gallons of gasoline for the vary extender the Ramcharger can tow 14,000 kilos for a complete of 266 miles earlier than working out of juice and gasoline.

2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger chassis

2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger chassis

What is going to the gasoline engine sound like within the Ramcharger?

Ram engineers stated the group went with a naturally-aspirated V-6 as an alternative of a turbo-4 as a result of it’s easier, met the effectivity, NVH, and packaging (together with price) necessities, and was a greater resolution. It’s additionally going to be a straightforward transition for purchasers, based on the group.

Even with the battery “depleted,” which it received’t be as a result of Ram received’t let it go beneath 16% state-of-charge, the engine received’t be on on a regular basis, based on the engineers.

“The engine received’t be working at one annoying level always,” the engineering group stated. The engine will rev up and down in accordance with the accelerator pedal and the place it’s being pushed within the pedal’s journey. It’ll really feel, sound, act like a traditional V-6-powered engine to the shopper for the expertise and energy supply. And when a buyer pushes the beginning button on the dashboard, even with a “depleted battery,” the truck will begin silently. 

2026 Ram Ramcharger

2026 Ram Ramcharger

How a lot does the Ramcharger price?

Ram isn’t prepared to speak about Ramcharger costs. Kuniskis famous {that a} theoretical value of $69,995 can be barely increased than the common transaction value of a gas-powered truck. But it surely’s considerably decrease than the common transaction value of an electrical truck.

As for what number of trim ranges and methods to order the Ramcharger there is likely to be—the group continues to be collaborating in “numerous debate” concerning the subject, based on Kuniskis.

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