- The 2026 Ram Ramcharger plug-in hybrid will now arrive within the second half of 2025
- The Ramcharger could have a complete driving vary of 690 miles
- Ram’s CEO talked about a worth of $69,995
Nobody mentioned it’s going to be fast, or environment friendly, however Ram’s upcoming Ramcharger plug-in hybrid can do the robust truck deeds, in keeping with the automaker.
On Monday, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis and an engineering workforce offered powertrain, situation, 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 totally electrical Ram REV will arrive the next 12 months—or, as Kuniskis framed it: “each time, assume late 2026.” The REV was initially attributable to 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 varied situations.
For consumers seeking to tow, it passes the Davis Dam SAE J2807 take a look at with 14,000 kilos and a useless battery—although it’d hobble to get there.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
Ramcharger is a plug-in hybrid pickup truck
However it’s not the plug-in hybrid you are pondering of. The Toyota Tundra or Ford F-150 Hybrid are primarily parallel hybrids with no plug. In distinction, the 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 crucial for effectivity and provides each price 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 vitality 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 gas tank.
When the gasoline engine is working Ram expects it to solely common about 20 mpg. That’s notably worse than the mixed ranking, and considerably worse than the freeway ranking, of just about your complete Ram 1500 lineup. It’s additionally worse than town, freeway, and mixed EPA gas economic system rankings for the Ford F-150 Hybrid, that are 22/24/23 mpg.
That battery comprises 92 kwh of NMC lithium-ion cell capability, however Ram’s solely having 70 kwh be usable. Ram mentioned it is going to take about eight hours to totally cost the battery on a 240-volt connector, making the most of the 11-kw onboard charger, or 45 minutes from 20-80% on a 350-kw CCS connector. On a 120-volt AC (Stage 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 greater speeds are reached, or greater throttle stress is engaged through accelerator tip-in, the entrance motor will immediately reconnect and have interaction for what Ram is looking four-wheel drive. There isn’t any 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 could 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 prime 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 test in at about 145 miles. That will increase to a complete of 690 miles with a full tank of gasoline.
Ram mentioned it is going to solely permit the state-of-charge to drop to 16.8% earlier than the vary extender kicks on, and the truck shall be charge-limited to 97%. However these numbers will range by mode.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
What are the Ramcharger drive modes?
Ramchargers could 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 won’t 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 degree 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 beneath any circumstance, in keeping with the engineers.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
Eco mode is alleged to “encourage accountable driving and optimize the local weather management system to optimize vitality use,” in keeping with the engineering workforce. The engineers didn’t elaborate on Eco mode.
Past the powertrain itself the truck has drive modes together with: Sport, Off-Highway, 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 shall be out there 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 keeping with engineers.
Off-Highway mode acts like a Low mode if the Ramcharger have been a gas-powered truck with a 2-speed switch case. Engineers mentioned customers would use this mode in the event that they have been off-road, on rocks, or slippery surfaces akin to a ship launch. It is going to 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 scenario for much less wheel slip.
2026 Ram Ramcharger
The Ramcharger is rated to tow 14,000 kilos, even with a “useless battery”
Tow mode won’t ever let the state of cost go under 37-39%, although the workforce mentioned it’s nonetheless high quality tuning the system and last quantity, earlier than partaking the gasoline generator. However not all the time.
Engineers mentioned that with a full 14,000 kilos connected the truck shall be able to climbing the Davis Dam tow take a look at, which is required to be SAE J2807 rated, even with a “useless battery”—referring again to that 37-39% threshold.
When Inexperienced Automotive Reviews requested what would occur if an proprietor have been to drive in one of many different modes electrically, working the battery down under 17%, then hitch up for Davis Dam, engineers mentioned the truck will nonetheless attain not less than 45 mph in the course of the take a look at 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 could nonetheless accumulate cost and later have the ability to maintain greater speeds. Ram engineers declare that there’s no scenario 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 could have an electric-only vary of about 39 miles of comparatively degree towing earlier than battery is depleted and the generator kicks on, in keeping with 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 an alternative of a turbo-4 as a result of it’s easier, met the effectivity, NVH, and packaging (together with price) necessities, and was a greater resolution. It’s additionally going to be a simple transition for patrons, in keeping with the workforce.
Even with the battery “depleted,” which it gained’t be as a result of Ram gained’t let it go under 16% state-of-charge, the engine gained’t be on on a regular basis, in keeping with 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 price?
Ram isn’t prepared to speak about Ramcharger costs. Kuniskis famous {that a} steered worth of $69,995 could be barely greater than the common transaction worth of a gas-powered truck. However it’s considerably decrease than the common transaction worth of an electrical truck.
As for what number of trim ranges and methods to order the Ramcharger there could be—the workforce continues to be collaborating in “plenty of debate” in regards to the matter, in keeping with Kuniskis.
