Electric trucks are great because they don’t need to go to gas stations and have a lot of torque and efficiency. When EV pickups are asked to carry heavy loads or pull big things, their range and efficiency go down, and their users’ stress levels usually go through the roof. It looks like Ram has a solution for people who want a full-size truck that has the best of both electric and gas engines. Here comes the new Ramcharger plug-in hybrid.
A Hybrid Plug-in Pickup
The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger is a sort of middle ground between the updated gas-powered Ram 1500 and the 2019 Ram 1500 REV, which will be electric. The name “Ramcharger” comes from Dodge’s big body-on-frame SUV, which was sold in the U.S. from 1974 to 1993. The new Ramcharger is a plug-in hybrid, but it’s not like most PHEVs on the market today.
Most plug-in hybrids use gasoline engines to power the wheels, but the Ramcharger’s gasoline engine is only used to make electricity. There is a Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine under the hood that powers a generator that can either power the truck or charge the huge 70.8-kWh battery.
Ram says that a full charge will give the car a range of 145 miles when going only on electricity. If the battery’s charge level drops below a certain percentage, the gas engine kicks in to extend the range. Three different EV modes (Electric+, E-Save, and Eco) and different drive modes (Off-Road, Snow, Sport, and Tow) control when the ICE starts to work.
Ram says that the 400-volt electrical design of the Ramcharger can charge at a rate of up to 145 kilowatts when plugged into a DC fast-charger. This can add 50 miles of range in 10 minutes. Most people use the truck’s Level 2 (240V) charger, which can handle up to 11 kilowatts, at home.
Even better, the Ramcharger lives up to its name by being a mobile charging station. Its 7.2-kW max output can power a home or charge an EV that got stuck. The Ram’s onboard generator is similar to the ones in the Ford F-150 hybrid and F-150 Lightning pickups. It can be reached through the charge port or the power panel in the luggage bed.
A Strong Ram with a Long Range
The all-wheel-drive Ramcharger is said to have a time of 4.4 seconds to 60 mph. Its front and back electric motors produce a total of 663 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque. Truck’s front motor instantly disconnects from the wheels when it’s not racing between stoplights or when dual-axle traction isn’t needed. This makes the truck more efficient. There is also an automatic locking differential on the rear axle to help with traction when it’s needed.
Ram says that the Ramcharger can go up to 690 miles without stopping for gas or electricity if the 27-gallon tank is full. Obviously, that number of almost 700 miles isn’t based on sustained highway speeds, since electric cars don’t work nearly as well there as they do in stop-and-go traffic.
The same warning should be used when pulling, especially if the Ramcharger is hooked up to something that weighs more than its maximum 14,000 pounds. And that’s about 2400 pounds more than the gas-only trucks’ grade. It’s the same as the Ram EV’s. Plus, the Ramcharger can carry up to 2625 pounds, which is more than its ICE cousin, which can only carry 2300 pounds.
Frame with Body on STLA
The Ramcharger uses the same body-on-frame platform as its electric brother. It’s called STLA Frame. Frame rails that are wider make way for and protect the battery and fuel tank. It is made of steel. Every Ramcharger comes with standard air springs at all four corners and an independent back suspension. These springs let you change the height of the ride.
Even though it’s not a hybrid, the Ramcharger looks more like its nonhybrid brothers that have had their faces refreshed than it does like the Ram 1500 REV. The “RAM” badges on the PHEV version’s bodywork are the best way to tell it apart from the EV truck because they have a unique design. Besides that, most Ramchargers can be told apart by their unique body color bits and headlights that branch off into the tailgate.
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