2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger (gas-assisted EV) with 690+ mile range

[LincolnLuvr]

Full size EV with a full size gas engine, brilliant! Wish Ford had done something similar or at least make a larger range PHEV. I'll be adding the forthcoming Jeep Wagoneer S EV to my list as it'll have similar technology.

The truck's drivetrain is electric, taking power from a 92-kilowatt-hour battery that's mounted under the floor. That battery is charged up by a 3.6-liter V6, much like the one you'd find in a low-spec Ram 1500. The gasoline power plant engages as needed, running at a constant rpm since it isn't correlated to the truck's acceleration. It's able to go way longer between fuel-ups as a result, and the Ramcharger also gets away with a smaller battery pack than others in the space.

- 400V, 145 kW charging speed (a little slow)
- bidirectional charging
- not available until late 2024 (boo)

https://www.thedrive.com/news/2025-...hes-ev-range-with-690-miles-v6-range-extender

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[Pioneer74]

I don't know how they can call or an EV with a gas engine, but whatever.

Seems like a great idea. It'll be interesting to see how it's priced.

 

[A-A-Ron]

So it's basically like carrying a gas generator onboard to charge the EV?

 

[Tampamike]

So, it’s an EV with its own generator to recharge itself - by using gasoline. Sounds like your basic diesel electric locomotive, that you could plug in.

 

[LincolnLuvr]

I don't know how they can call or an EV with a gas engine, but whatever.

Seems like a great idea. It'll be interesting to see how it's priced.

Yes. I think they call it a gas-assisted EV. Good option until the nationwide charging network is up to snuff.

So it's basically like carrying a gas generator onboard to charge the EV?

Basically. lol.

 

[RickMachE]

But, it's a Dodge / Ram vehicle...

 

[LincolnLuvr]

Curious what the starting price will be. $50-70k and it might take away some Lightning sales. $100k and there's nothing to worry about.

 

[kltye]

I wish they'd pair it with a smaller ICE, because I'm going to be one of "those people" who say 690 miles is an unnecessarily high number. Yes, I am aware of the need for towing, but even then, I would hazard a 2.0 or 2.5L 4-banger would be much more efficient while not cutting range by too much.

 

[LincolnLuvr]

I wish they'd pair it with a smaller ICE, because I'm going to be one of "those people" who say 690 miles is an unnecessarily high number. Yes, I am aware of the need for towing, but even then, I would hazard a 2.0 or 2.5L 4-banger would be much more efficient while not cutting range by too much.

That's a great idea. But it's RAM you know, so....

 

[DYohn]

It's a hybrid much like my wife's old car a Chevy Volt.

 

[thekat03]

I have no interest in driving a truck personally, but look forward to when they make more PHEV and BEV mid-sized trucks. Sure, some people need the hulking beast of a full sized truck, but many would be fine with a Ford Ranger or Chevy Colorado, and then I can fit my car in the parking lot with all these trucks more easily. ?

 

[West1134]

So I have a '06 Silverado 2500HD (Duramax) that I use for towing our 5th wheel, and other "truck stuff" like hauling debris away, getting bark, moving furniture etc. In my situation, our 5th wheel is large enough I need a Diesel truck (technically gas would work, but be less efficient/powerful). Anyways, it basically sits on a trickle charger to keep the batteries topped off since I drive it so little and my Mach E is my daily.

What has been curious to me, especially since we are in this in-between time with charging network growth is that more auto makers haven't gone the hybrid approach. I mean if you put a really powerful electric motor in a 3/4-1 ton truck (you know the size you'd need to actually haul something of substance) which gives you all that low end torque to get the mass moving, then a much smaller diesel engine under the hood for maintaining that rolling mass going down the road, I feel you'd have the best of both worlds, and when not hauling the electric motor would get you around town most of the time saving on fuel.

My gut is diesel trucks are already $90k+ these days and adding the cost and complexity of electric components to the mix would just be too expensive but perhaps I'm wrong. I know I for sure would be intrigued to see something like I described, that I could then run as a daily on electric, while having range for towing as well because it uses diesel as well.

 

[RedStallion]

Full size EV with a full size gas engine, brilliant! Wish Ford had done something similar or at least make a larger range PHEV. I'll be adding the forthcoming Jeep Wagoneer S EV to my list as it'll have similar technology.



- 400V, 145 kW charging speed (a little slow)
- bidirectional charging
- not available until late 2024 (boo)

https://www.thedrive.com/news/2025-...hes-ev-range-with-690-miles-v6-range-extender

I'm pretty skeptical about this hybrid. That's what GM was calling a series hybrid -- idea they toyed with when designing Volt but pretty much gave up, because parallel hybrids are better in most regards (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle_drivetrain). I think sales will be dismal because the trade off won't make sense for most truck buyers.

Cons:
* higher price than ICE or EV with the same engines
* more weight than ICE or EV
* lower efficiency than ICE or EV
* more frequent services than ICE or EV
* more complexity than ICE or EV, and thus lower reliability and higher cost of service
* charging/fueling
Pros:
* driving dynamics better than ICE but worse than EV
* range is better than ICE or EV

Regarding the extending range, it also questionable. It probably has less than 200 EV miles, which means the rest 490+ miles (70%) coming from ICE, if that's so important then just buy an ICE truck. Most people will either prefer ICE -- towing battery doesn't add much value for them, or they will prefer EV -- towing gas engine doesn't add much value. And even among those who think the tradeoffs make sense to them, many will not be willing to pay extra for that.

 

[Mach1E]

I'm pretty skeptical about this hybrid. That's what GM was calling a series hybrid -- idea they toyed with when designing Volt but pretty much gave up, because parallel hybrids are better in most regards (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle_drivetrain). I think sales will be dismal because the trade off won't make sense for most truck buyers.

Cons:
* higher price than ICE or EV with the same engines
* more weight than ICE or EV
* lower efficiency than ICE or EV
* more frequent services than ICE or EV
* more complexity than ICE or EV, and thus lower reliability and higher cost of service
* charging/fueling
Pros:
* driving dynamics better than ICE but worse than EV
* range is better than ICE or EV

Regarding the extending range, it also questionable. It probably has less than 200 EV miles, which means the rest 490+ miles (70%) coming from ICE, if that's so important then just buy an ICE truck. Most people will either prefer ICE -- towing battery doesn't add much value for them, or they will prefer EV -- towing gas engine doesn't add much value. And even among those who think the tradeoffs make sense to them, many will not be willing to pay extra for that.

145 miles of pure electric range.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a45734742/2025-ram-1500-ramcharger-revealed/

Pros- 663 hp pickup that 95% of its life will be spent in pure electric mode.

The other 5% you’re towing stuff or driving long distances it can do that too.


I still hope vehicles like this take off. It really is the solution for “everyone else” who can’t accept a pure BEV.

Is it a compromise? Absolutely! But so are BEVs and ICEs.

Maybe a better question is, why would you buy the RAM pure EV over this hybrid?
https://www.caranddriver.com/ram/1500-rev

Performance basically the same. Around town efficiency basically the same (huge battery may weigh even more than the gas engine). On the highway the hybrid has way more range. Towing the hybrid has way more range.

Unless you have reasons to hate using gasoline products (don’t forget to remove plastic from your life), I have a hard time justifying the pure EV purchase for this truck.

 

[thekat03]

145 miles of pure electric range.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a45734742/2025-ram-1500-ramcharger-revealed/

Pros- 663 hp pickup that 95% of its life will be spent in pure electric mode.

The other 5% you’re towing stuff or driving long distances it can do that too.


I still hope vehicles like this take off. It really is the solution for “everyone else” who can’t accept a pure BEV.

Is it a compromise? Absolutely! But so are BEVs and ICEs.

Maybe a better question is, why would you buy the RAM pure EV over this hybrid?
https://www.caranddriver.com/ram/1500-rev

Performance basically the same. Around town efficiency basically the same (huge battery may weigh even more than the gas engine). On the highway the hybrid has way more range. Towing the hybrid has way more range.

Unless you have reasons to hate using gasoline products (don’t forget to remove plastic from your life), I have a hard time justifying the pure EV purchase for this truck.

Reliability. Keeping it simple, just an EV, means less to break.

But with a brand new model, probably wise to assume reliability is a crap shoot, either way.

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