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Ram Emphasizes Electric Power with Ramcharger Pickup

by | November 7, 2023

With all the buzz about the new midsize hybrid pickup coming, Stellantis latest EV almost got lost in the shuffle. The new Ram 1500 Ramcharger introduces Stellantis’ take on an electric full-size pickup — and its different.

Stellantis Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis talks Ramcharger debut

Tim Kuniskis, Ram brand CEO — Stellantis, introduced the new Ram 1500 Ramcharger.

 

Ram has something new up its sleeve for 2025: a full-size pickup truck for 2025 with an both an engine and large battery.

But under no circumstances should the Ram 1500 Ramcharger be labeled as a hybrid.

“It’s not a hybrid,” according to Tim Kuniskis, Ram brand CEO — Stellantis. “The technology is completely different,” added Kuniskis, noting the Ramcharger runs only on electric power and the 3.6-liter V6 engine is not connected in any way to the driveline. The engine recharges battery.

A familiar approach

Kuniskis shows powertrain

The gasoline engine in the Ramcharger is only used as a generator to keep 92-kilowatt-hour battery charged, giving the truck a range of 690 miles, which is more than enough to banish range anxiety or difficulties in finding charger.

The concept is reminiscent of the technology behind the Chevrolet Volt. In the Volt, the gasoline engine was used to recharge the vehicle’s battery, it also had a mechanical connection to the driveline, according to Stellantis engineers, who studied the Volt  and worked on the Ramcharger.

In the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger, the battery-electric vehicle technology delivers the industry’s best combination of range, towing and payload.

“There are a lot of people intrigued by battery-electric technology. But they have challenges with the infrastructure,” Kuniskis told reporters during a presentation at the Stellantis Design Studio in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Details, details

The Ramcharger is built with a 250-kilowatt front and a 238-kW rear electric drive module powered by an on-board 130 kW generator, which is built around the 3.6-liter gasoline motor, and a 92 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery with a targeted range of up to 690 miles.

Not only does it go far, but also the truck also goes fast: 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. It can tow up to 14,000 pounds and carry a payload of up to 2,625 lbs.

Ramcharger front EDM

The Ramcharger is built with a 250-kilowatt front and a 238-kW rear electric drive module powered by an on-board 130 kW generator.

It’s built on new STLA Frame architecture designed by Stellantis specifically for full-size electric vehicles, and it features a body-on-frame design that incorporates the battery pack efficiently. The all-new high-strength steel frame is comprised of advanced materials and designed 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.

“With unlimited Battery Electric range, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger is the pinnacle of the light-duty pickup truck segment and the ultimate electric truck,” Kuniskis said. “The new Ramcharger is a beast of a light duty truck and zero need for a public charger.”

The 2025 Ramcharger will offer class-leading ride and handling, officials note, pointing out the 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.

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.

Kuniskis said Ram’s mission is “built around serving our customers, the truck can also send power to a home during a storm, run the tailgate party or provide power at the camp or jobsite.” An onboard power panel in the bed can provide up to 7.2 kW of power.

Ram 1500 Ramcharger also is part of Ram’s significant contribution to Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan to lead the way the world moves by delivering innovative, clean, safe and affordable mobility solutions.

Ramcharger powertrain rendering

The Ramcharger is built around the 3.6-liter gasoline motor, and a 92 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery with a targeted range of up to 690 miles.

Give it some gas

Power flows in sequence from the 3.6-liter V-6 engine to the on-board 130 kW generator. The engine generates mechanical power which 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 electric drive modules, or 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 on-board 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.

The Ram charger’s battery is positioned under the floor in the center of the truck and maintains a flat floor, while offering a convenient recharging solution with the ability to add up to 50 miles of all-electric range in approximately 10 minutes.

It is equipped with a Level Two Autonomous Drive Assist System vehicle capabilities, which include Hands-free Highway Assist 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.

Looking the part

The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger features a unique blend of exterior styling that incorporates the new themes seen in the Ram 1500 gas-powered truck and the Ram 1500 REV all-electric vehicle. Ramcharger telegraphs the bold presence Ram is known for through a modern design aesthetic.

A large, forward-leaning grille features subtle styling differences and a prominent R-A-M badge.

A drawn body-side character line stretches from front to rear, tying together the front fender, cab doors and bed fenders for a consistent horizontal profile. The bed and cab are sub-flush to reduce aerodynamic disturbances.

The charge port has been thoughtfully placed on the driver’s side front quarter panel and, when plugged in, the R-A-M badge pulsates to indicate the charging status. An audible sound signals the Ram 1500 Ramcharger is plugged in and charging has begun. The charge port features Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging on the top half and DC fast charging on the bottom half of the charger.

Moving to the back of the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, an all-new power tailgate and a new, modern, and contemporary R-A-M badge are unique to the lineup. Like the front, the rear of the Ram 1500 Ramcharger features an all-new, EV-specific, premium LED taillight design that spans onto the tailgate, indicating it is an electric Ram truck.

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