This is How the New 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger Works
As we wrote back in December, Ram’s first electric pickup on the market won’t be the Ram 1500 REV but rather the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which features a smaller battery pack and a gasoline engine as a range extender. A “beast” and the “ultimate, no-compromise EV truck” is what Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis calls it.
Soon to be built in Sterling Heights, Michigan, this unique offering in the full-size pickup segment will go on sale sometime in the second half of 2025. Equipment and pricing details will be announced closer to launch. During a technical presentation that The Car Guide attended on Monday, new information and specs were shared, giving us a better understanding of how the vehicle works.
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- Also: Ram 1500 REV Pushed Back to 2026, Ramcharger to Launch First
Before we take a deep dive, let’s go over some of the most important figures. The 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger uses dual electric drive modules (or motors, if you prefer) that combine for 647 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque—slightly less than initially advertised but still enough to send the big truck from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.5 seconds. It boasts a maximum payload of 2,625 lbs (with a 5’7” cargo bed) and can tow up to 14,000 lbs—both unmatched in the segment.
Ram claims a pure electric range of up to 145 miles (233 km) and, more importantly, a total range of 690 miles (1,110 km) with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 charging the 91.8kWh high-voltage battery on the go.
Built on STLA Frame
The 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger is built on Stellantis’ STLA Frame chassis, which is 8 inches (20 cm) wider in the midsection in order to accommodate the high-voltage battery up front and the fuel tank in the rear. This is where we need to tell you that the five-link rear suspension is fully independent and air dampers at all four corners enable ride height adjustments.
The lithium-ion battery uses a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathode and graphite with silicon monoxide anode. It weighs 1,216 lbs (550 kg). Despite boasting a capacity of 91.8 kWh, the battery actually has just 69.7 kWh of usable energy, with a usable range of 16.75-97 percent. In other words, it can’t be charged to 100 percent.
A full charge using a level 2 (11 kW) domestic charger takes approximately 8 hours. Alternatively, charging from 20-80 percent using a 350kW DC fast charger can be done in 45 minutes, according to Ram. But that’s not all: vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-grid capability means the Ramcharger can be used to charge another EV or power your home during an outage.
Why the Pentastar?
The picture above shows the front electric motor, as well as the gasoline engine/generator and control unit. According to Propulsion Systems Chief Engineer Joe Tolkacz, Ram chose the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 (rather than a turbocharged four-cylinder, for example) because it was the simplest and most efficient solution in terms of cost, component integration and smooth operation.
Producing 271 hp and 226 lb-ft of torque, the V6 is fed by the 102-litre fuel tank shown here, and makes do with regular gasoline (87 octane). The Ram 1500 Ramcharger uses it solely to charge the battery, which in turn feeds the electric motors that drive the wheels.
The rear electric motor alone can drive the truck in certain light-load situations. A system disconnects the front wheels from their motor when the latter is not required, maximizing energy efficiency. As soon as four-wheel drive is needed, the two motors start working together again.
Speaking of wheels, those on the Ram 1500 Ramcharger feature eight lug nuts similar to a Ram Heavy Duty truck. That’s partly because the vehicle weighs no less than 7,507 lbs (3,405 kg) and mostly because the wheels have to handle massive instantaneous torque—up to 610 lb-ft as mentioned earlier.
Several Driving and Operating Modes
The Ram 1500 Ramcharger has three main operating modes. Electric+ prioritizes the battery until it runs empty; E-Save acts like a hybrid, using the gasoline engine to preserve the battery's charge or bring it back to 50 percent if necessary; and Eco limits power and other systems (such as air conditioning) to reduce energy consumption.
On the left side of the steering wheel, you’ll find a button to access the different driving modes: Auto, Sport, Tow, Snow and Off-Road. Another button, this one on the right side, activates the one-pedal driving function where regenerative braking is maximized. We're pretty curious to see how effective this is given the truck's weight.
Finally, the cargo bed comes with 240V (7.2kW) and 120V (2.4kW) power outlets that will prove useful on many occasions (job sites, campsites, tailgate parties, etc.), drawing power from the high-voltage battery to run or charge all kinds of power appliances and tools.
Further details about the 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger will be announced closer to summer. Limited and Tungsten models, among others, are expected to be part of the lineup. If the price is right (Stellantis in general and Ram in particular have a lot of problems in this area), this is the kind of product that is likely to attract many pickup buyers.
