How the Ram 1500 Ramcharger Is the EV for Rural America

An electric truck that can run on gas tries to split the difference between utility and eco-friendliness.

David Gluckman | 

Apr 8, 2025 | 5 min read

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While electric pickups such as the Rivian R1T and the Ford F-150 Lightning can probably get you out to the boonies and back, living with one in a rural setting can be more of a challenge because EV charging infrastructure roughly mirrors population density.

This is where Ram hopes its 2026 1500 Ramcharger will capitalize. The truck is essentially an EV with an onboard gas-engine-powered generator, similar in operation to the discontinued Chevrolet Volt.

The idea is that owners won't be hamstrung by sparse charging infrastructure, as they have a backup means of propulsion. In fact, they won't have to deal with public stations at all, if they don't want that hassle. They can fill up at any gas station and continue on their way indefinitely.

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Rural Areas Aren't as EV Friendly

The United States Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center has a handy map showing where one can (and can't) find a place to plug in. Zoom in a step or two and you may notice a lack of coverage across the middle of the country. Outside of major city centers, the concentration of charging stations in the Plains drops pretty quickly. That's not great for EV owners.

EV adoption and charging options have been chicken-and-egg in the U.S. Some states have prioritized funding for public charging infrastructure, but those dollars have generally gone toward erecting stations on major highways. Government incentives on EVs and other plug-ins have helped drive sales, but for many in the U.S., it's tough to get past the practical limitations of an all-electric vehicle.

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Without wider EV adoption or government prodding, it's not enticing for charging networks to put stations in places where they'll be seldom used.

Battery-electric vehicles have another location-based disadvantage: When temperatures drop, range does too. One study by Consumer Reports showed that miles per charge start to fall off below 40 degrees.

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This may not be a huge concern for those who own more than one vehicle or who live in or around a city and have other methods of transportation. But for people in rural settings, a vehicle is often a lifeline and a workhorse. It's how they can get supplies when the power goes out and the roads aren't plowed.

Add to this the fact that towing and hauling anything with an electric truck will demand a lot of battery power and further limit range. Plus, many charging stations weren't built to accommodate a vehicle pulling a trailer — although General Motors and Pilot Flying J are trying to make pull-through charging more common.

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Ram's Series Hybrid Has a Few Tricks

Ram claims a projected range of up to 690 miles for the Ramcharger. That's a combination of 145 miles from a fully charged 91.8-kilowatt-hour battery and another 545 miles from a full 27-gallon tank of gas. That beats even the highest-range electric pickups on the market today, but the Ramcharger's real advantage is its dual-fuel setup. You could treat this series hybrid like a regular gas-fueled truck for its entire service life and never plug in.

The Ramcharger's large battery pack sits between its frame rails, allowing for a flat floor, and feeds one electric motor on each axle. To reduce parasitic loss and maximize efficiency, the front motor automatically disengages when it isn't needed, leaving the rear motor to propel the vehicle. When the battery is depleted (or you want to make the full 647 horsepower), the 3.6-liter V6 gas engine kicks in, spinning a 130-kilowatt generator. Basically, it's an EV until it's not.

In addition to its versatile powertrain, the Ramcharger's other tricks include the ability to serve as a backup generator for a home or as a mobile power source for equipment, like at a campsite or when tailgating. It will also charge another EV.

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The Ramcharger Is Unique, for Now

Currently, there are no direct competitors to the Ramcharger. Fully electric trucks, including the forthcoming Ram 1500 REV, come the closest.

The extended-range options from Ford, Chevy, GMC, Rivian, and Tesla, with battery capacities ranging between 131 and 205 kWh, can go between 300 and 492 miles on a charge. In part because they're so saddled with bigger, heavier batteries, none of them matches the Ramcharger's 14,000-pound maximum tow rating or 2,625-pound payload cap. The Ramcharger manages to preserve capability by using a small-by-comparison 91.8-kWh battery.

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It isn't the only e-truck with an ace up its sleeve, however. Ford's F-150 Lightning can also provide backup power to a home, but once its battery is dead, the party's over. This Ram, on the other hand, can get a refill from a fuel can or the nearest gas pump.

Whether the Ramcharger will start a new segment or go the way of the Chevy Volt remains to be seen. But its dual-fuel setup gives it a fighting chance with shoppers who need their truck to do real work. And while buyers wanting an all-electric pickup might need to look elsewhere, those who appreciate the Ramcharger's ability to act as an EV or gas-powered hauler may find it's just the ticket.

David Gluckman

David has years of experience as a writer and editor for print and digital automotive publications, including Car and Driver and Road & Track. He can parallel-park a school bus, has a spreadsheet listing every vehicle he's ever tested, and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. When not searching for the perfect used car, he can be found sampling the latest gimmicky foodstuffs that America has to offer.