2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger: The Ultimate Plug-In Hybrid Pickup?
Earlier this year, we saw the first electric Ram pickup truck – the Ram 1500 REV. The brand’s first electric pickup truck offers 654 hp and a massive and heavy 229-kWh battery that the company claims will deliver up to 500 miles* of driving range. Now the company has introduced its second electrified Ram model, the 1500 Ramcharger – a truck that claims to offer “unlimited” battery electric range, and one with “zero need for a public charger.”
How can that be? Well, it’s because in addition to having a big 92-kWh battery pack, the 1500 Ramcharger is equipped with what Ram calls an “on-board generator.” Otherwise known as a gasoline 3.6-liter V6 engine. Yes, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger is a plug-in hybrid, but one with a huge battery.
Huge EV Range with Gasoline Convenience
Ram thinks that the combination of a large EV battery and the ability to charge it with the gasoline motor gives drivers the best of both worlds. The 92-kWh pack can be charged at home or work, making all daily driving tasks possible using electric power alone. On a long trip, the gasoline engine can be fired up to charge the battery quickly, making for improved convenience – drivers don’t have to search for or stop at an EV charger to keep going.
Arguably, from an environmental perspective, the 1500 Ramcharger is a less-efficient way of going electric, as it combines the weight of a huge battery with a gasoline engine, fuel system, fuel tank, and all of the associated hardware. It therefore lacks the mechanical simplicity that makes EVs so appealing, and its engine and mechanical bits will require maintenance. But there’s no question that the combination of a big battery and a gas engine offer unprecedented levels of convenience and capability.
Ram 1500 Ramcharger: How It Works
How does it work? Owners can charge the battery using a conventional plug on a low- or high-speed charger, making for emissions-free driving in most conditions. The battery is positioned under the floor in the middle of the truck. Using a 400-volt electrical system (the Ram 1500 REV uses a more expensive 800-volt system), maximum charging speed is 145 kW, enough to add up to 50 miles of electric range in about 10 minutes on a Level 3 charger.
When needed, the gasoline engine can start up to charge the on-board 130-kW generator, which converts the 3.6-liter engine’s mechanical power to electrical power to charge the battery, or provide electricity directly to the vehicle’s EV system. The gasoline engine isn’t connected to the wheels.
Under most conditions, the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger sends power from its battery pack to front and rear drive modules with integrated electric motors and gearboxes. Power output is an impressive 663 hp, backed up by 615 lb-ft of torque. Despite its huge weight, this electrified pickup can dash to 60 mph in just 4 seconds, and it can tow up to 14,000 pounds and haul a payload of 2,625 pounds. The on-board gasoline-powered generator means that towing shouldn’t massively affect range, as the gas engine can fire up to charge the battery.
Like the pioneering Ford F-150 Lightning, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger also has vehicle-to-load ability, and it can provide up to 7.2 kw of power through a power panel in the bed for tools on a job site, appliances at a campsite, for a tailgate party, or even for an owner’s home in the case of a natural disaster.
All-New EV Platform
Partly to make up for the weight of the battery, the engine, and all of the associated hardware, the all-new 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger uses a new frame designed specifically for full-sized EVs. Still featuring a conventional frame for the strength required by pickup drivers, the structure uses advanced lightweight materials, and the frame is widened in the middle to efficiently incorporate and protect the EV battery. Mounted to the frame is a sophisticated all-independent suspension with adjustable air springs that allow drivers to choose their preferred mode and also vary the height of the vehicle.
The 1500 Ramcharger also offers an impressive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including an innovative “hands free” highway assist system. Under certain conditions, the vehicle can keep itself centered in a freeway lane as well as brake for and accelerate around curves without the driver needing to steer. The system constantly monitors if the driver is paying attention to the road. In parking lots, autonomous parallel and perpendicular parking assistance is also available, leveraging multiple sensors and cameras to park this large vehicle with ease.
Ram 1500 Ramcharger: Design
Bold new styling distinguishes the 1500 Ramcharger inside and out, incorporating design elements from both the gasoline-powered Ram 1500 and the Ram 1500 REV all-electric truck. There’s a lit-up, forward-leaning grille, a bold character line on the side, and the bed and cab are flush to improve aerodynamics. At the back, the tailgate is power-operated, framed by bright LED rear lights that span into the tailgate. Lockable storage compartments on either side of the pickup bed are unique to the Ram brand in the segment, and they even include illumination, a 115-volt outlet, and drain plugs.
Inside, the 1500 Ramcharger offers plenty of space and practicality with impressive luxury. Available finishes include carbon fiber, metal, and leather elements that elevate the interior beyond most pickups. The driver faces a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and most infotainment functions are operated through a 14.5-inch touchscreen. The front passenger also gets their own 10.25-inch screen, and even the rear-view mirror is digital. Drivers can set up their smartphone or smartwatch as a digital key to access and start the vehicle, and digital keys can be shared with other devices at the driver’s discretion.
We have yet to know what the starting MSRP is of the new Ram 1500 Ramcharger, and whether it will be eligible for any tax incentives. We also don't know when the first deliveries will happen, but on paper, it’s an impressive, if heavy and complicated, package. Drivers will be able to enjoy zero-emissions driving the majority of the time while having the convenience of that on-board generator for longer trips.
*All mileage is EPA estimated.
