2025 Ram Ramcharger - Built By The Insane For The Gullible

When we heard that the new for 2025 Ram Ramcharger EV was going to be equipped with a gasoline powered generator to be used as a "range extender", it seemed like a practical and novel answer to the issue of range anxiety.
The reality is they've created an over stuffed, over complicated, oversized Frankenstein that has no accurate classification within the current world of vehicles. It's not an EV, It's not a Hybrid and it's not anything that could ever be considered sustainable.
MERCHANDISE:

[MSWMSW]

I guess you guys have been living under a rock. Diesel-electric Locomotives feature a big engine that turns a generator that powers electrical motors connected to the wheels. They have no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels and have been around since the 1930's (before most of you were even born). They have PROVEN themselves to be the most efficient and reliable method of transporting mass cargo over the land.
To say that this new RAM truck's hybrid system is "new" is just ignorance. The old Chevy Volt had the same system, as do the current Toyota Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime (there are more but can't think of them now). Automotive journalism calls these "Plug-in Hybrids", been around for more than a decade now.

[surethatsok]

Yes, I agree. Simple, lightweight, small gasoline engines in smaller vehicles with simple standard transmissions would be a hell of a lot more efficient way to go. In 1993, they sold a Honda civic that got 73 mpg(imperial). Why the hell do we need 800 horsepower, 4 ton machines with endless wiring and electronics, self driving and self parking, etc., etc.? Technology has gotten out of control. It's way beyond logical. People would love to have access to simple, efficient, reliable transportation that they could actually afford to buy and maintain.

[vinnycruise]

I was asking about mini trucks and what happened to them and I found that manufacturers are claiming they can't make them because of the EPA's C.A.F.E. regulations. It looks to me American manufacturers wanted those regulations the way they are so they could sell the consumer vehicles with higher margins while using the EPA as a scapegoat.

[mmoth]

An Optional engine to go on 500+ miles range makes a lot of sense to me. When you are going around town doing your jobs and commuting, you just leave it in EV. While towing or on the highway, you have the engine juice up the batteries in order to keep moving longer. It makes a lot of sense, displaces the pollution to outside the cities while polluting less due to a smaller displacement but still making big power. Seems logical. The mechanical side also has less failure points because all it is doing is running the alternator. No power train.

[TimberWolf]

And people wonder why I bought a 1985 Ford F-150, with the 4.9L Inline 6, and a manual trans. The truck is absolutely beautiful in it's simplicity, from the Carter single barrel carb, to the 8.8 rear end.

[michionwheels]

I live in germany and for over a decade now I'm driving a little volkswagen polo 2 (wasn't available in the US).It has a small 1.3L engine with only 54 hp but it only weights about 1650 pounds. If there is an unrepairable engine failure I can change the whole engine to one that I have in my shelf in about 4 hours.
In my opinion, there is hardly anything handier and environmental friendlier than such an old car.

[curtiswhite]

This is what people were asking for... I don't think the average person needs this but it would work well for guys that want to tow long distances. The EV range will make most peoples daily commutes without needing to run the gas engine at all. The v6 generator makes enough electrical power to run it without needing to stop. I own an f150 lightning and wouldn't give up my frunk space for a range extender, home charging is enough 99% of the time. If I was towing long distances regularly I would want this ramcharger mainly because DC charging infrastructure is lacking

[couch]

Due to CAFE standards forced onto car manufacturers they have to continue to build bigger and bigger vehicles so they can meet the fuel efficiency requirements.. the heavier the car/truck the less miles per gallon they need to get.. look into it and your head will explode.. great video Tony keep them coming

[rdpig]

When I say "Car companies can't get any dumber" they seem to consider it a challenge and then prove me wrong. I agree with you, a mid sized truck with a very efficient 4 or 6 cylinder engine, backed up by a simple 5 speed manual transmission, priced under $20k, with simple analog gauges, manual crank windows and the absolute minimum computer controls and it would sell like hotcakes.

[sccarguy]

Unfortunately your 100% wrong on this one one. First of all this has already been been done already in the BMW I3, and Chevy Volt. The reason it’s a generator only… because this way you get the benefit of the electric motors (Monster torque), easy AWD, without the complication of a transmission and extra axles and drive shafts. Why the 3.6… because it already bolted into the chassis and the motor itself is paid for technically… also to provide enough electricity to keep up with the demands of running the truck real time, especially if towing they need a fairly large generation unit…. Lastly this will get x range on EV only but mid 20’s when the motor runs. Thats more efficient than any gas only truck including the 3.6 automatic, partially because the 3.6 will be able to run at a steady efficient rpm constantly.

[cbrturbo]

Hybrids don't barely justify existing. I drive about 100k per year for work. My Sonata hybrid gets about 55 mpg/700 miles per tank. This is with half city, half highway. I had the same car without the hybrid system, it did 19 mpg city, 38 highway. The hybrid is doing 50+ in the city, and about 60 on the highway if kept to 65 mph. If the government cared about the environment they would push hybrid cars, not EVS. My hybrid has a 1.62 kWh batter, a typical EV can be around 80 kWh. They could make about 50 hybrids for the same lithium/other metals and put no stress on the electrical grid, and no resources wasted on charging stations.

[danielkoch]

It's a stepping stone to "You will own nothing and be happy.". He wasn't lying when he uttered those words. I drive a 33 year old Miata with hand crank windows and I feel like it has too much electronic bs on it. My next car will be a 50s or 60s VW. Become ungovernable.

[killerta]

After talking to some people who work for Stellantis, this system is designed to be a prime mover. That is why it uses a 3.6 engine and not smaller 2.0L, 1.4L turbo or such. It needs the high horsepower to run system. This will be amazing, sadly old people will only slow evolution.

[busyboy]

Tony you are so true about technology gone to far. The garbage most car makers are putting out today. I would never buy a new vehicle.

[steveniles]

As a 30 year Mopar parts employee, I can’t tell you how glad I am I was able to retire before seeing this legacy brand embarrass itself on the world stage.
This is possibly the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard of. Feel bad for guys still out there working in this industry.

[evangrimmett]

My wife's PHEV Cadillac ELR (Chevy Volt powertrain) has been great. We've had zero issues from the gas generator engine in the 95K miles we've had it. The ELR/Volt are very much like the Ramcharger in that the ICE really only acts as a generator to power the battery/electric motor. The only thing I question on the Ramcharger is why they used a V6, they could have gone with a smaller 4-cylinder generator, but maybe there was some benefit to using an engine that's standard across their platforms already.

[doomman]

Tony knows as little as we all knew. The busses in my town are gasoline generators powering the electric drive motors. It’s great tech, small engine emissions and big power

[CreationsVibration]

Lemme guess, you can only use the v6 if you buy a subscription for it

[WB-Brown]

It takes a lot of power to turn a 180kw generator. Also, it won't be running all the time and the ice will be running at the right rpm for efficiency. I like it.

[replica]

Tony, the size of vehicles has inflated (especially trucks) because there is a vehicle footprint factor to CAFE fuel standards, if you have a larger truck, it has to make less gas mileage.
If you had a truck the size of a first gen Dakota, it would have to make something like 70 mpg based on current year CAFE requirements, or carry a guzzler tax on the vehicle when sold new