Ram first announced the electric Ramcharger back in November 2023. The range-extended pickup truck adds a Pentastar 3.5-liter V-6 engine used solely to charge the battery, leaving the dual electric motors to handle propulsion. We were given some basic information back then, but now Ram is ready to share a bit more about this full-size truck. And Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis is excited about it.
“I think this is really going to be a secret weapon in the industry,” he said to media during a Ramcharger preview. “It’s why we wanted to share it with you as soon as possible. It’s not a PowerPoint slide. This thing is real, and it’s coming fast.”
Photo by: Ram
A specific launch date hasn’t been confirmed aside from sometime in the second half of this year. It’s officially called the 2026 Ram Ramcharger (though Kuniskis concedes most people will simply call it the Ramcharger), and when it arrives, it will have slightly less horsepower than originally planned. Instead of 663 hp, the new estimate is down to 647. Torque is also down to 610 pound-feet, though we’re still talking about enough punch to reach 60 mph in approximately 4.5 seconds.
That was done to preserve efficiency. Ram says the Ramcharger can achieve 690 miles of combined range when using all the battery power and fuel in the tank. The truck utilizes a 27-gallon tank and a 91.8 kWh (69.7 kWh usable) battery nestled between its widened STLA Frame undercarriage. Designed to accommodate both combustion and electric systems, the STLA Frame is eight inches wider through the center section for the Ramcharger, adding considerable weight. At 7,507 pounds, it’s the beefiest half-ton Ram of the lot.
Ram Development Chief Doug Killian explained three modes you’ll find next to the drive selector of the Ramcharger: Electric+, E-Save, and Eco. In Electric+ mode, the Ramcharger’s gas engine will stay off until the battery is depleted of power. When that happens (in about 141 miles under normal driving conditions) the engine kicks on and powers the generator, which feeds electricity directly to the front and rear motors. The generator can add some power to the battery, but it’s not able to fully recharge it.
Photo by: Ram
In E-Save mode, the engine will come on and maintain the battery at its current state of charge while you drive. This is useful if you want to save some electric-only operation for later, such as a city where only zero-emission vehicles are allowed. If the battery is below half charge, the engine will charge the battery back to 50 percent. Eco is designed to conserve power when possible, reducing available horsepower and dialing down creature comforts like the heater and air conditioning.
It’s important to note that the engine isn’t connected to the drive wheels in any way, shape, or form. It only turns a built-in generator to charge the battery. However, in situations where you want all the hp, the engine will be on, charging the battery as it doles out electricity front and back.
Photo by: Ram
Ram still hasn’t announced pricing for the Ramcharger, but Kuniskis says it will be comparable to combustion-powered Ram 1500s with similar capabilities. With approximately 100 more horsepower than trucks with the high-output Hurricane I-6, that likely means a starting figure somewhere in the $70,000 to $80,000 range. But it could provide truck buyers with a vehicle that can skip gas stations completely for weekly commutes, then tow up to 14,000 pounds on weekend getaways without worrying about finding a charging station.
Kuniskis believes it’s a best-of-both-worlds truck, combining the best attributes of electric power with the convenience and familiarity of combustion-powered trucks.
“I’m really glad we have options,” said Kuniskis. “I know a lot of never BEVers; even they say to me ‘not sure I’m going to buy one but you know what, you got my attention.’ When you can get a never BEVer to say that, you know you’re onto something.”
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