PHEVs to Rule Trucks?

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Towle
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insightman said:
I wondered if Stellantis would spend the massive bucks to develop this unique serial-hybrid platform and then use it for only a single vehicle. These bloggers suggest it would fit the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, too.
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Trucks and SUV’s are high profit vehicles. It makes sense to produce profitable vehicles. It isn’t unique, or new. The Fisker Karma and BMW i3 Rex used the same platform. To my knowledge , the only other Serial Hybrids offered for sale in the US. Ever seen a diesel-electric locomotive? It isn’t necessarily a simple system, but it eliminates the mechanical connection between the engine and wheels that exists in other hybrids.

insightman said:
Perhaps, Stellantis' silence indicates they won't be ready to mass-produce the Ram 1500 Ramcharger as soon as they hoped
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They haven’t been silent. They have stated the REV will be available late-2024 and the Ramcharger in early-2025. Certainly, labor disputes, supply issues or other circumstances could delay the actual release dates. Just ask anyone who waited for a Cybertruck.
 
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Landshark said:
Certainly, labor disputes, supply issues or other circumstances could delay the actual release dates.
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At this point I think delays are highly likely, given that we're in October and no one has seen (let alone driven) a REV yet. They haven't even reported detailed specs, trims, options, or prices yet. All of this applies to the Ramcharger too.
 
NorCalPete said:
At this point I think delays are highly likely, given that we're in October and no one has seen (let alone driven) a REV yet. They haven't even reported detailed specs, trims, options, or prices yet. All of this applies to the Ramcharger too.
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I'm in Sarasota, epicenter of the latest lovely weather. There has basically been no gasoline available here for 4 days. I had 3 days without electricity, but was saved by my little natural gas powered generator. Neighbors with gasoline powered ones struggled to keep them on enough. The Ramcharger could really cover all bases for me if it could operate, even while only stationary, on natural gas to recharge its batteries, which I could then use to power my house. But I'm guessing its not as easy as it used to be to convert a vehicle to natural gas, what with direct injection etc. Anyone have any experience with doing this? I haven't seen it discussed anywhere in a long time.
 
David Towle said:
The Ramcharger could really cover all bases for me if it could operate, even while only stationary, on natural gas to recharge its batteries, which I could then use to power my house. But I'm guessing it’s not as easy as it used to be to convert a vehicle to natural gas, what with direct injection etc. Anyone have any experience with doing this? I haven't seen it discussed anywhere in a long time.
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Such a conversion would undoubtedly void any and all warranties on the vehicle.

The gas in the tank in the Ramcharger will convert to about 300kWh’s. The batteries hold 92kWh’s. Every 5 gallon fuel container that was filled prior to the impending disaster will convert to roughly 50kWh’s. Once you know your daily energy needs in kWh’s, you’ll know the amount of fuel that will need to be on hand. The missing link, of course, is the Ramcharger.

Given that you have natural gas on site, you may want to consider having a backup generator installed. I’d imagine that a few other folks are ruminating over the same option as well.
 
Landshark said:
Such a conversion would undoubtedly void any and all warranties on the vehicle.


Given that you have natural gas on site, you may want to consider having a backup generator installed. I’d imagine that a few other folks are ruminating over the same option as well.
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I have a $700 natural gas fired portable generator which ran constantly, including charging up the EVs. Very very useful. "Having a backup generator installed" is for wimps.
 
Today, The Detroit News reported here that production of the REV will be delayed until next year (as stated by Ram CEO Christine Feuell):
The Detroit News said:
Ram — including on its website — has stated the Ram REV is coming out in the fourth quarter of 2024, while the Ramcharger is coming in 2025, though Feuell said Tuesday that the REV will actually hit dealer lots "later next year." She did not discuss more specific timing for the Ramcharger.
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So it appears that the Ramcharger also will see a significant production delay. Looks like I'll be sticking with my current TT tow vehicle a while longer.
 
“Later next year” gives them the entire year before they have to revise the estimate again.

At least things are now running smoothly at Sterling Heights and they are laser focused on meeting customer demand, which they are doing by preparing to expand production of ICE trucks while trying to liquidate existing ICE trucks on dealer lots through incentives, when they have at least 30,000 people waiting to buy trucks they have yet to produce.
 
Autoweek says RAM's electric REV pickup is being pushed back to 2026 while they push UP the delivery of the RAM Ramcharger series hybrid. It appears PHEVs will, indeed rule trucks. I don't know of any more interesting hybrid on the horizon.
  • Ram says the Ramcharger will be available to order in the first half of 2025.
 
That makes sense, given that more of the people on the pre-order list preferred the Ramcharger (75%) compared to the REV (25%).
 
I kind of like the Ramcharger idea... except that is going to be made by Stellantis/RAM. Not for me. I am a Toyota guy, and I wish they would make a Tacoma PHEV, but, unfortunately, they dropped that ball with the new 4th gens. And the only hybrid options they have with Tacoma and Tundra are to add a bit of power and torque to powertrains that don't need that at all and not to improve economy. Big fail, IMO.

Even a "standard" PHEV would be great in a mid-size truck like a Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado, etc. Toyota could make such with a RAV 4 Prime like drivetrain and there would be plenty of room to add a PHEV battery that gets ~100 miles which would make it highly useful.
 
Raylo said:
I kind of like the Ramcharger idea... except that is going to be made by Stellantis/RAM. Not for me. I am a Toyota guy, and I wish they would make a Tacoma PHEV, but, unfortunately, they dropped that ball with the new 4th gens. And the only hybrid options they have with Tacoma and Tundra are to add a bit of power and torque to powertrains that don't need that at all and not to improve economy. Big fail, IMO.
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So, what makes you a Toyota guy?
 
The Ramcharger was featured during the 5 hour commercial special that was occasionally interrupted by a football game last Sunday.

The Sterling Heights production calendar indicates that production for the 2025MY will begin on April 14 and end on June 6. Production for the 2026MY will begin on June 16. Availability is anticipated in May.

I’d imagine that those who have shown interest would be made aware of available vehicles prior to the general public. Although I haven’t received any updates from Ram since last September.
 
I also haven't received any updates from Ram since September. Other than a Ramcharger chassis appearing at a few car shows, Ram has been very quiet about rolling out their new truck.
 
Landshark said:
The Ramcharger was featured during the 5 hour commercial special that was occasionally interrupted by a football game last Sunday.
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I must have missed the commercial during the Super Bowl that featured the upcoming Ramcharger pickup truck.

The only "featuring" of the Ramcharger I remember was 5 seconds long (starting here) in Glen Powell's "Goldilocks and the Three Trucks" commercial.

"Next he took the Ramcharger deep into the woods to flex his artistic muscles." The only hint the Ramcharger is electrified occurs when he plugs in two electric chainsaws and sculpts a tree into a ripped statue of himself (at the bottom of this scene it reads, "Fake tree. No trees were harmed in the making of this ad.")

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insightman said:
I must have missed the commercial during the Super Bowl that featured the upcoming Ramcharger pickup truck.

The only "featuring" of the Ramcharger I remember was 5 seconds long (starting here) in Glen Powell's "Goldilocks and the Three Trucks" commercial.
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Yes, that was the spot.

Having worked with advertising firms over a 40 year career it became apparent that the creative concept was more important than providing the consumer with information about the product. This phenomenon was most prevalent during the production of Super Bowl commercials.
 
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