Ram 1500 EcoDiesel

[CoolTech]

I had a 2016 ED 1500 that I bought new and I drove it ~65K trouble-free miles. It was a loaded "Limited" and had the air suspension. It was probably my favorite truck that I ever owned. I traded it in on a F350 when our towing needs changed... While the F350 checks the box in towing capacity, I still miss that ED and getting 20-24mpg city and 27-30mpg on the freeway.

But alas, have y'all heard about the Ramcharger coming in 2025??? It's a somewhat unique hybrid in that it has a battery but it also has a V6 (gas) engine. The engine is NOT connected to the drivetrain but is instead only connected to an on-board generator. Electric range is estimated to be in the 140 to 160 mile range. You can fire up the V6 at any time and self-charge the battery to extend the range indefinitely. Towing capacity is supposed to be ~14,000lbs - besting both Ford and GM pick-up EV's. If you want to understand the big deal, I think you need to look at this Ramcharger from a use-case perspective.

For the vast majority of buyers, 140-160 miles of electric range is more than sufficient for daily driving requirements. In short, for "normal" days of the week, you drive it in all-electric mode, charge it at night, the repeat each work day. On occasions where you need to tow and/or take an extended trip, then you can make use of the on-board (V6) generator and essentially have as much range as you need. You can choose to charge along the way or at your turn-around point or use the on-board.... whatever is more economical or convenient.

Ram also will equip these so that they will have the ability to power tools/equipment in the field and the will also have the ability to charge another EV or power your home in case of a power outage. Air suspension and all of the Limited's comfort goodies will be available.

From my perspective, this will be a very good swiss-army knife of trucks and, as of now, I'm looking forward to this replacing the F350. For prospective buyers (like me) who believe that 70-80% of the truck's usage can be exclusively in EV-mode (virtually free*), then I think it is an attractive alternative. (*) = I just completed building the home I'll die in and I purposely over-built the solar system. The whole house is electric (heaters, water heater, ovens, clothes dryer, etc) and I still have so much excess power that not only will I never have an electric bill, but I can easily have/support a couple of EV's at no cost to me.

 

[dodge man]

The Ramcharger sounds interesting. I’ve wondered for years why an engine running a generator wasn’t a thing yet. In my mind I pictured something more like a small 4 cylinder diesel though.

 

[LouNY]

I had a 2016 ED 1500 that I bought new and I drove it ~65K trouble-free miles. It was a loaded "Limited" and had the air suspension. It was probably my favorite truck that I ever owned. I traded it in on a F350 when our towing needs changed... While the F350 checks the box in towing capacity, I still miss that ED and getting 20-24mpg city and 27-30mpg on the freeway.

But alas, have y'all heard about the Ramcharger coming in 2025??? It's a somewhat unique hybrid in that it has a battery but it also has a V6 (gas) engine. The engine is NOT connected to the drivetrain but is instead only connected to an on-board generator. Electric range is estimated to be in the 140 to 160 mile range. You can fire up the V6 at any time and self-charge the battery to extend the range indefinitely. Towing capacity is supposed to be ~14,000lbs - besting both Ford and GM pick-up EV's. If you want to understand the big deal, I think you need to look at this Ramcharger from a use-case perspective.

For the vast majority of buyers, 140-160 miles of electric range is more than sufficient for daily driving requirements. In short, for "normal" days of the week, you drive it in all-electric mode, charge it at night, the repeat each work day. On occasions where you need to tow and/or take an extended trip, then you can make use of the on-board (V6) generator and essentially have as much range as you need. You can choose to charge along the way or at your turn-around point or use the on-board.... whatever is more economical or convenient.

Ram also will equip these so that they will have the ability to power tools/equipment in the field and the will also have the ability to charge another EV or power your home in case of a power outage. Air suspension and all of the Limited's comfort goodies will be available.

From my perspective, this will be a very good swiss-army knife of trucks and, as of now, I'm looking forward to this replacing the F350. For prospective buyers (like me) who believe that 70-80% of the truck's usage can be exclusively in EV-mode (virtually free*), then I think it is an attractive alternative. (*) = I just completed building the home I'll die in and I purposely over-built the solar system. The whole house is electric (heaters, water heater, ovens, clothes dryer, etc) and I still have so much excess power that not only will I never have an electric bill, but I can easily have/support a couple of EV's at no cost to me.

The Ramcharger sounds interesting. I’ve wondered for years why an engine running a generator wasn’t a thing yet. In my mind I pictured something more like a small 4 cylinder diesel though.

To me this sounds like the way a hybrid should have been done all along.
I do wish that it was using a compact, say a V4 diesel.

 

[3930dave]

The Ramcharger sounds interesting. I’ve wondered for years why an engine running a generator wasn’t a thing yet. In my mind I pictured something more like a small 4 cylinder diesel though.

diesel - usually what is used in military diesel-electric platform. Added cost is not a big deal there, and govts often just exempt themselves from any emission handcuffs.

The Chev Volt was one design I would have bought..... the combination of local electric and unlimited range is what I need.

That Ramcharger should sell well....

Rgds, D.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’ve had two of the Gen 3 versions of the 3.0 EcoDiesel and today I’ve got a Gen 2 6.7 Powerstroke in a F-250. The diesel engines do pull a trailer nicer because they work at lower RPM and stay in higher gears more often, so it’s a less fatiguing experience mentally to tow with them. However, that is the ONLY advantage.

Diesels are more expensive up front, more expensive to maintain, more expensive to fuel up, more expensive to repair, etc. They warm up slow on cold days. They have more problematic emissions equipment on them. They require additives to the fuel to try and prevent the Bosch CP4 injection pump from blowing up. They require additives to the fuel in winter to prevent gelling. They are much heavier engines which reduces traction at the rear axle which in turn requires 4x4 use more often. They are just purely a pain in the a$$.

For those reasons I’m driving my last diesel. From now on I’ll buy my trucks with the biggest gas engine I can get and the deepest axle gearing I can get and never look back.

If a guy were looking for a great truck today, the Ford Super Duty with 7.3L gas engine and 10R140 transmission mated to the 4.30 axle is the cat’s meow. That’s where it’s at. It’ll pull whatever a diesel will pull, for less than half the cost over time.

Irt sounds like your work is light enough that a gas engine will be a fit for you.

I don’t have that option.

 

[arto98607]

The Ramcharger sounds interesting. I’ve wondered for years why an engine running a generator wasn’t a thing yet. In my mind I pictured something more like a small 4 cylinder diesel though.

Probably pretty poor efficiency when running on a highway in that mode?

Would you leave it in some motel parking lot with the engine running to charge onboard batteries?

 

[LouNY]

Probably pretty poor efficiency when running on a highway in that mode?

Would you leave it in some motel parking lot with the engine running to charge onboard batteries?

The efficiency should be better, as I understand the idea behind the new RAM is the engine only runs when needed as when under a heavy load sucking the batteries fast once the load lessens and the battery is recharged the engine backs down.
Engine gensets to power electric drives have been used in many applications for years.

 

[ericm979]

The efficiency should be better, as I understand the idea behind the new RAM is the engine only runs when needed as when under a heavy load sucking the batteries fast once the load lessens and the battery is recharged the engine backs down.

Cruising on the highway takes a small amount of power, so the throttle is only cracked a little beyond idle. In that mode, engine internal friction and pumping losses are significant.The engine's more efficient when making full power.

Running off the batteries and every once in a while starting the engine and running it at full power to charge the batteries will be more efficient than using the engine to loaf down the road.

I'm surprised its taken so long to come up with this. It gets rid of the complex and heavy ICE transmission. And as noted the engine can run at it's most efficient rpm without concern for driving the wheels.

But it's going to be weird for us old folks who grew up with cars powered by ICE alone to have the engine sound completely disconnected with vehicle speed.

 

[arto98607]

This new Ramcharger pickup from Fiat / Chrysler, FCA, Stellantis, Ram or whatever they are called today sounds good.

Someone here please buy one of those Ramcharger trucks ASAP and report back after having driven it couple of winters.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

The real question is, will they burn as nicely as Teslas, the Jeep 4Xe, etc.?

I know, I know. Just don't park them in the garage, or next to another vehicle, and don't get them wet. It'll be fine.