- The 2026 Ram Ramcharger plug-in hybrid will now arrive within the second half of 2025
- The Ramcharger may have a complete driving vary of 690 miles
- Ram’s CEO talked about a theoretical value of $69,995
Nobody mentioned it will be fast, or environment friendly, however Ram’s upcoming Ramcharger plug-in hybrid can do the powerful truck deeds, in response to the automaker.
On Monday, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis and an engineering workforce supplied powertrain, state of affairs, and spec particulars surrounding the 2026 Ram Ramcharger plug-in hybrid pickup truck.
Timing was a part of the replace. The Ramcharger is now set to reach within the second half of 2025, whereas the absolutely electrical Ram REV will arrive the next yr—or, as Kuniskis framed it: “every time, assume late 2026.” The REV was initially resulting from be the primary of the 2 and was set to launch late in 2024.
Right here’s what Ram has revealed in regards to the 2026 Ram Ramcharger’s powertrain, newest specs, and the way it will work in numerous situations.
For patrons seeking to tow, it passes the Davis Dam SAE J2807 check with 14,000 kilos and a lifeless battery. Although, it’d hobble to get there.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
Ramcharger is a plug-in hybrid pickup truck
Nevertheless it’s not the plug-in hybrid you are considering of. The Toyota Tundra or Ford F-150 Hybrid are primarily parallel hybrids with out a plug. In distinction,Ramcharger has a plug, and it’s a sequence hybrid, which implies there is no direct connection between the gasoline engine, which acts as a generator, and the drive wheels or electrical motors. The 271-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 doesn’t run the expected-for-a-hybrid Atkinson cycle, because the Ram workforce mentioned it’s not obligatory for effectivity and provides each value and complexity.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
The V-6 powers a generator that may extract the engine’s peak output, as 202 kw, or a steady 130 kw, offering power to the battery, which then powers the 2 electrical motors (one per axle). The gasoline engine runs on 87 octane and feeds off a 27-gallon gasoline tank.
When the gasoline engine is working Ram expects it to solely common about 20 mpg. That’s notably worse than the mixed score, and considerably worse than the freeway score, of just about the complete Ram 1500 lineup. It’s additionally worse than the town, freeway, and mixed EPA gasoline economic system scores for the Ford F-150 Hybrid, that are 22/24/23 mpg.
That battery incorporates 92 kwh of NMC lithium-ion cell capability, however Ram’s solely having 70 kwh be usable. Ram mentioned it should take about 8 hours to totally cost the battery on a 240-volt connector, benefiting from the 11-kw onboard charger, or 45 minutes from 20-80% on a 350-kw CCS connector. On a 120-volt AC (Degree 1) charging Ram says to anticipate about 45 hours for a full cost.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
The entrance axle has a 250-kw motor with a coaxial 15:1 gearset and inverter all packaged collectively whereas the rear axle has a 244-kw motor with an offset 15:1 gearset and inverter in a single housing. The entrance motor will disconnect and sail at speeds above 12 to 18 mph, successfully switching to rear-wheel-drive mode. When larger speeds are reached, or larger throttle stress is engaged by way of accelerator tip-in, the entrance motor will immediately reconnect and interact for what Ram is looking four-wheel drive. There is no such thing as a 2-speed switch case to truly create four-wheel drive, and the system makes use of the brakes and stability management system to regulate wheelspin up entrance. The rear may have an digital locking differential just like the Hummer EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Tesla Cybertruck.
Whole system output is rated at 647 hp and 610 pound-feet of torque. Ram mentioned the Ramcharger will go from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and has an electronically restricted high velocity of 114 mph. Tow capability checks in at 14,000 kilos and payload is estimated at 2,625 kilos.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
How a lot vary does the Ramcharger have?
All-electric vary will examine in at about 145 miles. That will increase to a complete of 690 miles with a full tank of gasoline.
Ram mentioned it should solely enable the state-of-charge to drop to 16.75% earlier than the vary extender kicks on, and the truck will likely be charge-limited to 97%. However these numbers will fluctuate by mode.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
What are the Ramcharger drive modes?
Ramchargers may have three powertrain modes: Electrical+, E-Save, and Eco.
Electrical+ will put the Ramcharger in electric-only mode. If the accelerator is pushed to the ground the gasoline vary extender is not going to hearth so long as the battery has sufficient juice to energy the truck within the given situations and mode. When the cost reaches a low level in Electrical+ the truck will act like a hybrid.
E-Save activates the gasoline generator and preserves or sustains the present stage of cost. Ram engineers mentioned the E-Save mode will naturally run the generator a bit more durable and a bit longer to generate a state-of-charge of as much as 50%. However the gasoline generator cannot and won’t be used to totally cost the Ramcharger underneath any circumstance, in response to the engineers.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
Eco mode is alleged to “encourage accountable driving and optimize the local weather management system to optimize power use,” in response to the engineering workforce. The engineers didn’t elaborate on Eco mode.
Past the powertrain itself the truck has drive modes together with: Sport, Off-Street, Snow, and Tow. It’s unclear if there are extra modes.
Sport mode kicks on the generator instantly to warmth up the powertrain and guarantee all energy will likely be obtainable always even when the generator isn’t wanted instantly. That is to make sure that if battery cost runs low, or the motive force modifications to E-Save, the generator is heat, in response to engineers.
Off-Street mode acts like a Low mode if the Ramcharger had been a gas-powered truck with a 2-speed switch case. Engineers mentioned customers would use this mode in the event that they had been off-road, on rocks, or slippery surfaces similar to a ship launch. It’ll present the expertise of a 2-speed switch case whereas creeping off the brake pedal and smoothing throttle tip-in for extra exact energy supply.
Snow mode will clean out energy supply and desensitize the accelerator pedal to make it really feel just like the truck is partaking a second-gear begin state of affairs for much less wheel slip.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
The Ramcharger is rated to tow 14,000 kilos, even with a “lifeless battery”
Tow mode won’t ever let the state of cost go beneath 37-39%, although the workforce mentioned it’s nonetheless effective tuning the system and ultimate quantity, earlier than partaking the gasoline generator. However not all the time.
Engineers mentioned that with a full 14,000 kilos connected the truck will likely be able to climbing the Davis Dam tow check, which is required to be SAE J2807 rated, even with a “lifeless battery”—referring again to that 37-39% threshold.
When Inexperienced Automotive Studies requested what would occur if an proprietor had been to drive in one of many different modes electrically, working the battery down beneath 17%, then hitch up for Davis Dam, engineers mentioned the truck will nonetheless attain at the very least 45 mph throughout the check with the 14,000 kilos, which is the minimal requirement.
Ram engineers mentioned that if the battery was on the 37-39% minimal whereas towing, it might nonetheless accumulate cost and later be capable of maintain larger speeds. Ram engineers declare that there’s no state of affairs the place the generator gained’t sustain with the ability must the purpose of the truck not performing, although additional particulars weren’t mentioned.
With a full battery and 14,000 kilos related the Ramcharger may have an electric-only vary of about 39 miles of comparatively stage towing earlier than battery is depleted and the generator kicks on, in response to the automaker. With the 27 gallons of gasoline for the vary extender the Ramcharger can tow 14,000 kilos for a complete of 266 miles earlier than working out of juice and gasoline.
2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger chassis
What’s going to the gasoline engine sound like within the Ramcharger?
Ram engineers mentioned the workforce went with a naturally-aspirated V-6 as a substitute of a turbo-4 as a result of it’s less complicated, met the effectivity, NVH, and packaging (together with value) necessities, and was a greater answer. It’s additionally going to be a simple transition for purchasers, in response to the workforce.
Even with the battery “depleted,” which it gained’t be as a result of Ram gained’t let it go beneath 16% state-of-charge, the engine gained’t be on on a regular basis, in response to the engineers.
“The engine gained’t be working at one annoying level always,” the engineering workforce mentioned. The engine will rev up and down in accordance with the accelerator pedal and the place it’s being pushed within the pedal’s journey. It’ll really feel, sound, act like a traditional V-6-powered engine to the shopper for the expertise and energy supply. And when a buyer pushes the beginning button on the dashboard, even with a “depleted battery,” the truck will begin silently.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
How a lot does the Ramcharger value?
Ram isn’t prepared to speak about Ramcharger costs. Kuniskis famous {that a} theoretical value of $69,995 can be barely larger than the common transaction value of a gas-powered truck. Nevertheless it’s considerably decrease than the common transaction value of an electrical truck.
As for what number of trim ranges and methods to order the Ramcharger there is likely to be—the workforce remains to be collaborating in “plenty of debate” in regards to the matter, in response to Kuniskis.
