New 1100km driving range plug-in hybrid ute release rushed forward: Ram pushes 1500 REV electric ute back in favour of 1500 Ramcharger range extender to rival Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra but will it come to Australia?

It seems the worm has turned on electric pick-up trucks.

With the Ford F-150 Lightning finding limited success in the US, Ram has changed the game plan to electrify its popular 1500 pick-up. 

A battery electric model was scheduled to launch in mid-2025, but Ram has brought development of its ‘Ramcharger’ range extender electrified powertrain forward. The petrol-electric combo with 1100km driving range will be released in US come the first half of next year.

Apparently this was “driven by overwhelming consumer interest, maintaining a competitive advantage in the technology and slowing industry demand for half-ton BEV pickups,” according to a statement issued by the company. The electric model is now due in 2026. 

Converted to right-hand drive locally, the new-look Ram will arrive in Australia in the first half of 2025 with a twin-turbo straight-six petrol engine to replace the outgoing car’s ‘Hemi’ V8.

A spokesperson told CarsGuide the range extender version is "under evaluation" for this market. A right-hand drive conversion program typically takes anywhere between 12-18 months, so if the Ramcharger gets the green light it wouldn't arrive until 2026 at the earliest.

2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger

Full details of the new Ramcharger range-extender are yet to be shared but initial stats are promising. The 1100km driving range comes from a huge 92kWh lithium-ion battery combined with a 3.6-litre V6 that can charge the battery at up to 130kW.

Current is then sent to a pair of electric motors, the front one developing 250kW and the rear 238kW. Ram is targeting 494kW and 834Nm combined peak outputs and four-wheel drive. 

This should allow a 0-100km/h sprint in under five seconds — quicker than a Toyota Tundra hybrid or Ford Ranger Raptor — along with 6.3-tonne towing ability (with correct hitch) and a 1190kg payload. It should be the most capable of the big utes, then. 

It will also offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, including being able to charge another electric vehicle, sending power back to the home and bi-directional charging.

When running in range extender mode, Ram’s figures translate to a fuel efficiency of 11.8L/100km, which is not outstanding but better than any other vehicle of its size and claimed pace. Ram is yet to detail the 1500 Ramcharger’s weight. 

Its EV-only efficiency is very poor, though, with Stellantis suggesting the 92kWh battery will only take the ute 227km when charged to 100 per cent. For reference, a Polestar 4 Dual Motor Long Range can travel 580km from a charge of its comparable 94kWh battery. 

The Ram 1500 Ramcharger accommodates fast-charging at up to 145kW (DC). Other charging details are not yet confirmed. 

More innovative drivetrains are picking up steam in the ute segment. BYD was the first to launch a plug-in hybrid with its groundbreaking Shark 6 ute, while GWM offered the first hybrid in its Cannon Alpha. Ford will get on the program in 2025 with the Ranger PHEV. 

2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger

Electric utes are facing an uphill battle at the moment, in the United States and Australia, with compromised ranges — especially when towing. Cases in point, the LDV eT60 and Ford F-150 Lightning. 

Ram has enjoyed success selling US-sized pick-ups in Australia, with conversions starting in earnest nine years ago in 2015. Since then, 28,495 examples have found homes. 

This year has been tougher for Ram in Australia, with sales down 47.5 per cent to 2692 as the outgoing model enters run-out. More rivals, including the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra, have popped up recently, too.