Why did Ram choose the 3.6l Pentastar engine for the 2025 Ramcharger Hybrid truck?

What do you think about the Engine choice in the 2025 Ram Ramcharger PHEV hyrbird truck? 145 miles of range on all Electric, and 690 miles of range when the 3.6l Pentastar V6 kicks in!

This truck is truly a game changer for the full size truck market. This will be one of the first Plug In hybrid Trucks that has came out and could force other manufactures to change coarse to make similar style powertrains.

0:00 2025 RamCharger overview
1:43 2025 RamCharger Hurricane vs Pentastar engine
2:08 2025 RamCharger big generator genset
2:59 2025 RamCharger why not a diesel engine?
4:47 2026 Ford F150 and Chevrolet silverado Plug in Hybrid engines
5:44 2025 RamCharger 690 mile range
6:04 2025 RamCharger 20mpg on gas
6:34 2025 RamCharger fuel tank size
6:56 2025 RamCharger better fuel mileage than Hemi V8
7:56 2025 RamCharger vs Chevrolet Volt

[julianbruce]

I am very excited for this truck. 90% of my drives are electric, and no concerns when I tow or road trip. Very economical!

[donchaput]

I think 100 mile EV range Hybrid/Plug-ins are where it's at. Was surprised to see so many pure EV's so soon.

[johnlackner]

If Ram sent the chassis for this to a motorhome builder and they put a class A or C motorhome on it that would be a game changer in the RV industry!

[lancecorporal]

I totally agree with your analysis of "Why The Pentastar", it's an established engine that while not very exciting, is very reliable and will likely not cause any issues. Plus, there is no need for another motor if the ONLY job for the gas engine is to turn a generator.

[brewhog]

Glad to hear you're feeling better. Thanks for your thoughts on this. I'm really looking forward to this truck.

[xKruzr]

I'd been wondering "why not diesel" myself -- thanks for the overview. incredibly excited about this truck, it's perfect for my usage.

[CobraChamp]

Great video! Full of great info!!! Please keep RamCharger videos coming.

[ericl]

I'm someone who lives off-grid I see this truck as something that can be charged by my hydroelectric power system and serv as backup power during emergency.

[brandonhayashi]

Best review that I’ve watched so far! Love it!

[brewhog]

I've been wondering the same thing about towing efficiency on this vehicle. If the ramcharger gets better than the supposed 50% range tax from EV-only towing, we could be looking at 350-400 miles towing (under ideas conditions of course). That would blow my mind.

[sebastiant]

It will be like Diesel Train Locomotive. Those have been Serial Hybrids forever, and are know to deliver the best "towing" per unit of fuel. Die generator can run at it's peak efficiency point and the electric drivetrain smooths out the inconsistencies in terrain, which need sometimes more or less power.

[RR-qdgz]

Love the 3.6, efficient, reliable and easy to change the oil.

[aderond]

You nailed it with the comparison to a Volt.
I currently drive a ‘18 Volt and ‘20 Ram 2500.
This is literally a fusion of the two.
Add to that, my commute is 30 miles and I can charge there not on my buck…..
Practically pays for itself.

[SinisterMD]

What is important is that this engine can be tuned to provide the max power/torque needed at a very specific RPM. As a generator it doesn't really need to go from idle through the RPM range of a typical engine. It can be tuned to be perfect at one, or a very select few, RPM.

[druidsadwyrnemrys]

this is my next vehicle, I drive a 2017 Volt right now, and this is just the truck version. 90% of my driving is covered by the battery, long distance (I live in the western USA) will be covered with the gasoline generator. Sometimes my 4 cyl volt gasoline generator does rev high when I'm driving up mountains, so I imagine that a 6 cyl will cover the mountain drive with something in tow. The volt gets about 40 mpg when I drive (downhill is canceled by the return uphill) so if I can tow and get 20 mpg while using the truck as a truck, I will be very very happy !

[laundrupatton]

I work at TEC. I didn't know why we were still making them . And now I know. That will be the V6 DT series engine. Now I will consider a RAM fullsize pickup over a mid size pickup. Maybe just maybe. Thanks.

[angusandleigh]

...this is the best way to make an 'EV' truck (which seems to be a re-birth of the early 2000's Chrysler ENVI program)...batteries alone were never going to do it for a multitude of reasons, but by adding the genset that more or less eliminates all of the issues that truck BEV's face as they are now (and likely the future)...by running the motors off of the genset/battery combination you get the best of both worlds, quick refuels (which is extremely important to people using these for work), you never really have a need for a stand-alone charging station as once you refill the tank you drive your charger...

...also, because the engine is permitted to stay in it's peak efficiency so that you get; 1 the best mileage possible, and 2 keeps maintenance costs for that engine to an absolute minimum as you aren't revving it up and down all the time where you create carbon buildup in the cylinders and oil...and unlike say a diesel-electric locomotive, you use the batteries as a buffer. Under hard acceleration or sudden loads (passing, going uphill) the batteries absorb the heavy drain...and then when you're back to cruising the genset can power the motors as well as charge the batteries...

...there are three proper ways to build an EV type truck (and the latter two should be used on cars) this sort of range extender, pure hydrogen burn (internal combustion) or hydrogen fuel cells...all of which have the realistic benefits of an EV, but without the headache of charging and expensive battery replacements, as well as all the toxic goodness of a spent battery pack.

...the only positive of a BEV are they can be cheap to produce (to an extent, and potential penalty of dangerous cheaply made batteries), and are already here...

[codyjoe]

it's going to work on the same principles as a Edison Motors semis and pick up retrofit kits

[WubbaLub]

I’m sure the 3.6 is a great engine, but I would have loved a diesel for the ability to add an auxiliary tank to the bed for long trips. Just for the convenience of not having to fill up or making fuel a monthly expense, vs a weekly or every few days expense.

[jonathoncouchey]

The pentastar is currently Ram/dodge/jeeps most emissions compliant engine including the 3.0tt. I expect they upgrade it to Direct injection and increase the compression sometime soon.