Could the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger Turn Into the Perfect EV and Gas Truck Combo?

Almost half a century ago, in 1974, the Dodge Ramcharger arrived in North America as a large sport utility vehicle built on a short wheelbase variant of the Dodge D Series/Ram pickup truck chassis. Sporting the looks of a full-size two-door off-road SUV, the Ramcharger and its Plymouth Trail Duster sibling (between 1974 and 1981) were pitted against the likes of Chevrolet's K5 Blazer and Ford's F-Series-based 1978–1996 Ford Bronco.

Interestingly, in North America, the Dodge Ramcharger was retired from the market at the end of the 1993 model year. Now, three decades after its demise, the Ramcharger nameplate is making a potentially stellar comeback on board the full-size EV pickup truck hype train. However, there's a big catch that might turn out to be the linchpin to great success or a spectacular failure.

So, Ram Trucks has recently introduced the refreshed 2025 Ram 1500 series, and it comes with fresh design cues (although some of them might be a lot subtler than anyone expected) plus a significant cockpit overhaul that includes a Uconnect 5 ecosystem connected to a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a new 14.5-inch center touchscreen, and the "segment-first" 10.25-inch passenger screen. However, there are more 'screens' onboard – the digital rearview mirror and a Head-up Display (HUD).

But that is not all because the 2025MY waves goodbye to the Hemi V8 options and welcomes into the fold the "more powerful, more fuel-efficient Hurricane" engine family. That's mostly true in the case of the base 5.7-liter because the 3.0-liter SSTs (straight-six turbo) come with more horsepower – 420 or 540 ponies for the H/O version. Alas, it's partly a lie when comparing the upcoming 2025 Ram 1500 RHO that will replace the 2024 Ram 1500 TRX at the top of the off-road game – 540 hp is quite a long distance from the 6.2-liter supercharged V8's 702 hp rating.

Interestingly, the regular 2025 Ram 1500 series already touches the ground with both gasoline-based options and electrified mills – the base model is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 fitted with the eTorque mild hybrid system. All three versions – along with a new flagship trim called Tungsten – will arrive at dealers during the first quarter of 2024, just in time for a big battle with the best-selling, also-refreshed 2024 Ford F-150. So, the Hurricanes are in, and the TRX is out, in a nutshell.

Ram Trucks also gave us an update about the arrival of new variants – the all-electric 2025 Ram 1500 REV is slated to arrive during the final quarter of next year, which is quite late to the full-size EV pickup truck party. However, it turns out that the rivals might have rushed in without proper knowledge. The GMC Hummer EV is selling in dismal numbers, the 2024 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra EV have been postponed numerous times, and even the Ford F-150 Lightning is having trouble because of those incredible MSRP hikes.

Only Rivian seems happy about the situation and keeps adding novelties to the R1T and R1S roster to keep early adopter fans happy – and prepared to deal with the menace represented by the impending arrival of the quirky and edgy Tesla Cybertruck. Well, perhaps it's best that Ram Trucks is playing a waiting game to see what on Earth is going on with the on-and-off EV revolution. Plus, they have a trump card – they might have found the perfect blend of EV and gasoline with their 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger revival.

Alongside the 2025 Ram 1500 series and the all-electric REV version, the company will also sell – probably sometime starting in early 2025 a truck that's not just a plug-in hybrid, not just an EV, and not just a gasoline-powered vehicle. Instead, it's a little bit of everything because it has 250-kW (335 hp) front and 238-kW (319 hp) rear "electric drive modules (EDMs)" powered by a liquid-cooled 92-kWh battery pack. The EDMs combine the electric motor, gearbox, and inverter – and together form the basis of electric all-wheel drive capability.

But that is not all. The truck can recharge from the grid via 400-volt DC fast charging at up to 145 kW and targets an EV range of around 145 miles. Suppose it sounds too little for a 92-kWh EV, no worries. In that case, there's also a 3.6-liter V6 onboard providing energy to a generator that recharges the battery on the go – and the targeted total mileage is quite impressive - up to 690 miles (1,110 km).

If that sounds impressive, the other figures are even better. Total system output is rated at 663 hp and 615 lb.-ft. of torque, which is not that far from the 702-hp Ram TRX, right? Additionally, it will hit 60 mph (96 kph) in 4.4 seconds and harbor a payload of up to 2,625 pounds (1,191 kg) or tow up to 14,000 pounds (6,350 kg). The latter figures are even better than the gas-powered 2025 Ram 1500 series, which can only do up to a maximum payload of 2,300 pounds (1,043 kg) and a maximum towing capacity of 11,580 pounds (5,253 kg)! If it sounds too good to be true, we really hope it's not – this truck uses the all-new STLA Frame (body-on-frame) platform, hides the pack between the frame rails, and also features a multi-link independent rear suspension with "standard, segment-exclusive, active-level, four-corner air suspension."

If you want my nutshell again, it seems like the reborn Ramcharger is the jack of all trades and master of all. More precisely, it doesn't worry you about range anxiety because you can plug it in at home, at the mall, at the office, or during trips at a DC fast charging station. Then, when the electrons are depleted, you can always top up with gasoline at any fuel station and continue on your merry way. Plus, it can act like a true workhorse, perform like a sports truck, chill on the highway thanks to features like Hands-free Highway Assist (L2+), and also hit the trails because the suspension has dedicated off-road modes! Long story short, all full-size truck foes need to worry about the Ramcharger – F-150 Lighting and i-Force Max hybrid Tundra rivals included!