Stellantis has revealed its “Game-changing” Ram 1500 Ramcharger, equipped with an electric generator and a gas engine, which will be available for sale in late 2024.
The truck can run as a zero-emissions electric vehicle until its battery dies, at which point an electric onboard generator powered by a 27-gallon, 3.6-liter v6 engine kicks in, to power the vehicle. According to Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, the outcome is a truck with the advantages of an EV, such as quick acceleration and some zero-emission driving, without the range anxiety associated with most existing EVs.
“This is the ultimate solution for battery-electric trucks because It’s unlike anything else anyone has,” Kuniskis noted. Moreover, he adds, “This will completely change the landscape of battery-electric trucks.”
The automaker revealed the Ramcharger can travel up to 690 miles, including 145 miles when using a fully charged 92-kilowatt-hour battery instead of the gas engine and 130-kilowatt electric generator for extended range. This range is comparable to the all-electric Ram 1500 REV pickup’s anticipated 500 miles of range. It also surpasses the current Ram 1500, which, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has a 3.6-liter V-6 engine and a 26-gallon fuel tank with a maximum range of 546 miles.
Stellantis describes the Ramcharger as rare because the gas engine produces electricity to charge the battery and doesn’t directly turn the wheels. The truck also bridges conventional trucks with internal combustion engines and all-electric trucks, which presently encounter significant challenges with range anxiety and charging infrastructure, particularly when the vehicles are towing.
While Kuniskis wouldn’t release estimates, he did state that to comply with impending fuel economy and emissions regulations in the U.S., more than 20% of Ram sales must be powered at least partly by electricity.
