If you really, truly need a truck, this one is compelling. It's a series hybrid with 145 mile EV range, and plenty of extra features. There is also a BEV model, but the PHEV addresses the EV drawbacks for those that actually use a truck as a truck. https://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?threads/57160/
like i posted in anorher thread ..... 14,000 Lbs towing !! Although they're taking $100 refundable deposits ... and they've learned a lot from their V6 / plugin battery combo tech in their minivan .... it seems there's always bugs in the 1st iteration - so - i'd wait 'till someone else works as their lab rats. .
Stellantis has been experimenting with PHEV types. The Pacifica is a power-split, similar to Toyota's, this upcoming Ram, and the Dodge Hornet/Alfa Romeo Tonale is a through the road hybrid; FWD engine with an electric motor powering the rear.
Sandy kind of surprised me here. Similarly reading the comments on the video. Sandy (& those in agreement) really miss the point of 690 miles range. Think about it. Everyone cries about how piss poor electric range is when it gets cold &/or Towing, &/or hilly conditions. Geez I can't believe this would be an issue! So now even if you dump ½ of your range - you're still good to go. Similarly if running on the 1st 140 miles of electric range only .... if you're carrying a trailer with four horses in it through slushy Frosty weather you're still going to have probably 75 miles all electric before having to recharge - or to end up running the ICE. People running on rooftop solar may very seldom have to run the ICE unless it's freezing weather which not only warms the cab but the traction pack as well. Then there's that whole cool fact that with an onboard generator that big you could easily run your whole house electricity in times of dire conditions. .
The engine is a 3.6L V6. Likely the base one with little changes; most of them seem to be in making room for the front motor unit. The base one alone will provide less power than the EV side, so I doubt Ram will use Atkinson with it. Thought i see speculation that it's the Atkinson from the Pacifica Hybrid. Series hybrid does mean it could run at peak efficiency regardless of truck speed. The Davis Dam tow test was done running at combined engine and battery output. When towing over a distance, you'll want to go into hybrid mode as soon as feasible. They're dropping the V8 from the ICE models. replaced by turbo inline 3L 6 cylinders. Ram does talk about vehicle to grid or home with the announcement. Sandy and company also seem unaware that most chargers aren't trailer friendly.
On my trip out West, I saw several 'pull through' SuperCharger stations. With the rare exceptions of the smallest ones, four charging lanes, SuperCharger stations have one pull-in charging lane. Of course a trailer would block part of the access. Bob Wilson
re Atkinson - & Chrysler's V6 pentastar engine; https://www.kendalldodgechryslerjeepram.com/3-6l-pentastar-v6-engine-chryslers-versatile-workhorse/
A trailer blocking access is more of an issue with chargers than gas pumps. Does the incentives for new quick charging stations have stipulations about trailer access? The couple articles I had looked at didn't have much detail on the engine itself. Just saw the Pacifica engine mentioned in comments. Not much more in the press release, except the generator is 130kW. That is less than what the Otto cycle version can produce. That looks like Atkinson levels, though this engine should be one designed to run at a limited set of loads. We can only guess at how Stellantis decided to go about it. They talk about re packaging it to fit in the engine bay with the front motor and generator, so there can be more deviation from whatever engine they decided to start with. The press release has more details, or at least they were easier for me to spot. https://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com/newsrelease.do?id=25436 It is on an EV platform Can fast DC charge at 145kW for up to 50 miles added in 10 minutes Has adjustable ride height air suspension
130 KW (174 hp) likely means a low revving V6. The lack of a mechanical connection to the wheels, means that they don't need to worry about the torque requirements. Strange choice versus a 2L turbo 4 or 3L turbo 6 running in atkinson mode. a mechanical connection clutched in only when going at higher speeds would make sense for efficiency, I am curious what it will be on the highway. Toyota's 2L dynamic force Atkinson hybrid engine would make 160 KW as a 3L 6 cylinder, which after cutting down rpm and having losses through generation would come to about this, so not far off. Chief problem I see is that competition will have improvements by the time this hits the market, and it may be priced to high for the market then. Still IMHO phev trucks make a lot of sense. I am just not sure Chrysler can pull it off with this one.
I guess I see some advantage in the relative simplicity of an isolated gasoline range extender. People can do all kinds of weird stuff to the gas engine and it won't really screw with the driveline the way it would in a hybrid. It frees the manufacturer to use whatever engines they have on hand, so to speak.
“by the time this hits the market, and it may be priced to high for the market then. “ Cybertruck official release Nov 30. Nothing I’m interested in but competition for the Ram. Bob Wilson
An engine clutching in for cruising at higher speeds makes sense for efficiency, bu it will add to development costs. This is basically the REx version of the BEV that is coming out first, with a genset dropped into the spot of the frunk. The new Ram comes out as a 2025MY. The ICE and BEV should be at dealers around this time next year. The PHEV will be out sometime in 2025.
Now that Stelantis is conforming to the Tesla charger nozzle, it's a perfect time for this ride to come out .
