663HP Hybrid Pickup? Why the 2025 Ramcharger 1500 Might Beat Out the Ford F-150 Lightning
Over the last couple of years, we've seen all of America's large automakers introduce all-electric pickup trucks, and in many ways these trucks are impressive.
They offer massive horsepower and torque figures, great towing ability, silent operation and the ability to avoid to pumping gasoline in a segment not known for great fuel economy.
But there are also some serious compromises that come along with them: namely high prices, limited driving range, a lack of charging infrastructure, and the crucial reality that driving rage shrinks very quickly when towing and doing other "truck stuff."
Have it Both Ways
But now Ram is bringing an alternative truck that has the potential to combine the performance benefits of an electric truck without those other compromises.
The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger will represent the middle ground between the upcoming all-electric Ram pickup and the traditional gasoline-powered Ram 1500.
To put it simply, this Ram will have a battery and two electric motors to power the wheels (one up front one in the rear), but it will also have a gasoline-fed 3.6L V6 that will act as a generator for the electric motors when the battery runs out of juice.
The 92kwh battery will be mounted under the floor in the center of the truck, and when fully charged, Ram says it will provide about 50 miles of all-electric driving range.
Power to Spare
And when that charge is depleted, the V6 engine steps in as a gasoline generator that can be fueled up anywhere, giving the Ramcharger a combined range of around 690 miles.
Unlike a traditional hybrid though, the Ramcharger is powered only by its electric motors, and they will deliver some impressive performance. Total output is 663 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque — figures not far off the outgoing Ram TRX and its supercharged Hemi V8.
The Ramcharger will be good for 0-60 times in the mid-four-second range, and more importantly, can tow up to 14,000 pounds and carry a payload of 2,625 pounds.
Changing the Game?
There are plenty of other plug-in-hybrids out there, including Stellantis' own Jeep 4xe and an upcoming Ford Ranger PHEV, but the Ramcharger will be the first full-size pickup to combine plug-in electric and gasoline power.
What we don't know yet, is how much the 2025 Ramcharger will cost. We do know it will be offered in a few different trims, from the entry-level Tradesman to the lux'd out Tungsten flagship.
It's unlikely to be cheap, though that price could be lessened by tax rebates and incentives depending on how the specific pricing shakes out. And unlike other pure electric trucks, that Ramcharger should be a lot more versatile for long trips and weekend adventures.
While plug-in hybrid vehicles are nothing new, a full-size pickup that can utilize both electricity or gasoline has potential to be a game-changer for the segment. We'll know more when the Ramcharger goes on sale at a currently un-specified date, likely a year or so from now.
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- Does the Ramcharger name sound familiar? Here's a look back at the original version.
