This appears to be another sign that hybrids are leading the charge while sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are declining.
The giant car company Stellantis is postponing the planned market launches of two highly anticipated Ram models. The brand's first electric pickup has been pushed back to 2026, while the Ramcharger plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will take center stage next year.
“The decision to launch Ramcharger first was driven by overwhelming consumer interest, maintaining a competitive advantage in technology, and slowing industry demand for half-ton (battery EV) pickup trucks,” Stellantis said in a statement.
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Orders for the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger will open in the first half of 2025.
Hybrid vehicle sales drove overall electric vehicle sales higher in the third quarter, reaching a record 10.8% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales. According to a Consumer Reports survey, hybrid vehicles are now considered just as reliable as gasoline-powered vehicles. They also offer a cheaper option than pure electric vehicles while saving drivers the worry of finding available chargers.
Meanwhile, consumer hesitancy toward electric vehicle charging and lifestyle changes explains why RAM delayed the launch of its all-electric pickup truck, seen as a potential competitor to Tesla's Cybertruck and the Ford F-150 Lightning, to 2026.
The new Ramcharger promises innovations, including in the area of plug-in hybrids. It's essentially an electric vehicle with an electric range of 145 miles, but its gas generator extends the range up to 690 miles. It features a 92-kilowatt-hour battery pack paired with an integrated 130-kW generator that sends power to 250-kW front and 238-kW rear electric drive modules (EDMs).
The new Ramcharger also enables bi-directional vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-home charging, giving it the flexibility to charge another electric vehicle with a Stellantis battery or feed power back to the grid.
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