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Ram opts for series hybrid with 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger; targeted range of 690 miles

Ram unveiled the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger featuring a series hybrid powertrain that will deliver a targeted range of up to 690 miles. The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger features a 92 kWh battery pack, paired with an on-board 130 kW generator, sending power to 250 kW front and 238 kW rear electric drive modules (EDMs).

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Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-home bi-directional charging affords the Ram 1500 Ramcharger the flexibility to charge another Stellantis battery-electric vehicle or provide power back to the grid. An onboard power panel in the bed can provide up to 7.2 kW.

With unlimited battery-electric range, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger is the pinnacle of the light-duty pickup truck segment and the ultimate electric truck. The new Ramcharger is a beast of a light duty—663 horsepower, 615 lb.-ft of torque, 4-second 0-60 mph, 14,000 lbs. of towing—and zero need for a public charger.Tim Kuniskis, Ram brand CEO – Stellantis

Targeted performance figures include a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, 663 horsepower and more than 615 lb.-ft. of torque, up to a best-in-class 14,000 pounds towing with a class 5 hitch and a best-in-class maximum payload capacity of 2,625 pounds.

The EDMs combine the motor, gearbox and inverter along with all-wheel-drive capability. The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger features one EDM on the front axle with an automatic wheel-end disconnect that allows the front wheels to spin freely in certain conditions, maximizing efficiency. The second EDM is positioned on the rear axle with an available electronic-locking rear differential.

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Power flows in sequence from the 3.6-liter V-6 engine to the on-board 130-kW generator. The engine generates mechanical power that is converted to electrical power by the generator. The electrical power can be used to charge the battery when the battery is depleted or if the driver wants to preserve the battery power. It can also be applied to the high-voltage bus where the EDMs can use the generator electrical power plus the battery electrical power to provide maximum power to the wheels. There is no direct mechanical path from the engine to the wheels.

The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine is adapted for the specific mission of powering the onboard generator, with unique packaging to make room for the front EDM. The on-board generator mounts directly to the engine while a power inverter module mounts on the vehicle and connects to a junction box.

A liquid-cooled 92-kWh battery pack features a design that incorporates the pack efficiently with a pouch cell format in a parallel configuration. Ramcharger’s battery is positioned under the floor in the center of the truck and maintains a flat floor. Ram offers customers a quick and convenient recharging solution with the ability to add up to 50 miles of all-electric range in approximately 10 minutes with 400-volt DC fast charging at up to 145 kW.

The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger uses the all-new STLA Frame platform and is designed specifically for full-size electric vehicles featuring a body-on-frame design. The all-new high-strength steel frame is comprised of advanced materials to be lightweight, yet stiff and durable. The STLA Frame is wider in the middle to efficiently incorporate the battery pack while still using protection afforded by the frame rails.

Drivers will enjoy class-leading ride and handling, a multi-link independent rear suspension with standard, segment-exclusive, active-level, four-corner air suspension. The adjustable air suspension enables five different modes: entry/exit, aero, normal, off-road 1 and off-road 2.

Autonomous Drive Assist System (ADAS) vehicle capabilities include Hands-free Highway Assist (L2+) offering hands-off driving at all speeds and lane centering on approved roadways for even greater driving convenience. The system will predictively slow the vehicle down in tight curves, automatically resume control after driver override and verify that the driver is paying attention to the road. Autonomous parallel and perpendicular parking assist is also available and uses multiple sensors, including radars and cameras, to dictate appropriate roads for the technology.

Ram will also offer an all-electric 2025 Ram 1500 REV that arrives in the fourth quarter of 2024. Ram is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis.

Comments

JamesDo88039200

This is the way...please put a small European sized 4cyl diesel in this @130_150kw run it at its BSFC peak only to charge the pack and you should be in the 40 mpg range. Bidirectional power is a huge plus for those of us who actually use a truck for truck jobs. Having 50 amps @240V on tap anywhere opens up a whole host of working modes. No more gas powered air compressors for framing or roofing or spray painting. Same for DC arc welders and TIG welders those both need 240v. Having 7kw of 120v means 14amp chain saws two of them at once or a chain saw and a log splitter. No more 2cyl fumes only one central power source that's diesel or gas powered and no $$$ battery packs for each tool. 100ft extension cords are cheap.

With a bed tank and 100gal of diesel you would have days of job time while roaring the climate control in the cab for the boss man or thousands of miles of range. While in town you could do all your grocery getting on plug power at one third the cost per mile of gasoline. Or in my case charge off solar panels and not pay the power company at all. 145 miles is enough for a 40 mile round trip average commute at less than 50% DOD if they are using LFP cells that means tens of thousands of cycles till end of life. LFP love shallow cycles.

Bernard

James,

Many brands have tried to get small diesels to pass US emissions regulations. We all know how that turned out.

This version could be economically viable for contractors who can charge overnight, provided that it sells cheaper than a base-model F150 Lightning. Whether or not it is viable for private ownership is irrelevant. American families take-out 10-year loans on "Hemi" pickups that get appalling fuel economy anyway, so they probably aren't interested.

Gryf

@James
Even Europe is phasing out small diesels, so unless it is a Class 3 and above truck not a good idea.
However, here are two options that are very close to your spec.
Option#1:
The Geely Radar RD-6 Pickup has a 60 kWh LFP battery and a Range Extender option. How can it come to North America? Geely owns Volvo and has a JV with Renault, which has an alliance with Nissan. Nissan should build this pickup in the US with Volvo and Aurobay parts. Who is Aurobay? A JV between Geely and Volvo that builds Miller Cycle 4 cylinder engines that are more efficient than diesels.
https://cdn.aurobay.com/Aurobay_MP_Miller_White_Paper_52ec2ab000.pdf
The Volvo EX30 has a 51 kWh LFP battery for Europe and would be the basis for the small pickup.
Option#2:
If you must have a diesel then you need something like a Cummins. The Ram 2500/3500 still has an option for the Cummins 6.7L engine. Just swap that engine for the smaller 4BT 3.9L engine which can handle the 130 kW generator.

JamesDo88039200

I should have been more clear. Dodge already has a relationship with Cummins and the 5.9 six cylinder is of legend in the States. Cummins already sells a EPA tire 2 bin 5 spec diesel here the 3.9L 4cyl 170hp/400+ftlbs this is exactly what I would want in this truck.

Why? Because I have a slew of other diesel powered equipment, bed tanks with pumps that are diesel not gasoline rated. Plus diesel is 30% more dense per gallon in energy content, stores for months without going stale. The fact that you can drop a lit match into a bucket of diesel and it won't burn let alone explode is also a huge plus for diesel.

I have zero interest in a gasoline powered truck and never will own one. My current F250 replaced a Dodge ram 2500 5.9 so I have much love for Cummins already. The F250 was $10000 cheaper than an comparable Dodge so it got the spot its 7.3 power stroke is a beast. I fully expect it to go 500,000 miles or more. Not having to cart around a diesel genset plus a slew of smaller diesel powered equipment would be a plus for contractors/homebuilders. Since I already own solar panels having a 145 mile all EV truck would mean grocery getting and Friday Saturday night trips to the entertainment district in the city would cost me zero in fuel costs.

Come on Dodge put a small diesel as an option for this. You already have a T2B5 EPA approved one here in the USA.

Gryf

FYI
Cummins has already tested a similar engine as a Ranger Extender powering a 130 kWh generator.
“ Cummins Electric Truck with Range-Extending Engine (ETREE) Project (Final Technical Report)”
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1741039
https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1741039/
So it should work for every Ram Truck 1500 - 5500.

Gryf

Correction: “130 kW generator”. Similar in size to the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger.

JamesDo88039200

Gryf thanks for the links this is exactly what I want. A 65% reduction in diesel use plus a 100 ish mile all electric range would economically justify selling the F250 before it's EOL depreciation cycle. Plus the added essentially free benefits of zero cost solar charging. Using electric tools rather than diesel small engine ones is also a plus. The range extender will without doubt be more efficient than a small single cyl diesel engine powered equipment. Cleaner and quieter as well.

Nothing is going to beat diesel in energy density for decades to come if ever. Only metal air fuel cells or hybrid fuel cell batteries can come close to 38MJ/l with diesels now getting 45% BSFC or more that's only reachable in theory by a few metal air cells . ALL other battery technology this is not possible by the laws of physics. Plus the short refuel time at 10 gal per min flow rates at 100,000+ retail points. Even higher at private or wholesale fuel depots 10 gal/min is fed regs but only at retail pumps. I can fill my 100 gal bed tank in three min at the wholesale off-road diesel depot. 100 gal diesel = 3800mj that's 1055kwh in raw energy and close to 500kwh in usable work. No battery tech ever is going to match that density in 660lbs of mass stored in a plastic tank the size of a large ice cooler. Certainly not rechargeable in 3 min either and walk away safe with no loss of energy for 6+ months at a time.

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