The 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger is shaping up to be one of the most interesting entrants in the electric pickup space. In this teardown-focused review, Munro & Associates takes a hard look at how it stacks up against the well-established Ford F-150 Lightning — and what its unique range-extended design means for performance, weight, cost, and real-world usability.
Electric vehicle (EV) engineering enthusiasts and automotive investors alike will find plenty to analyze here. With lean design, smart packaging, and cost-effective decisions all on display, the Ramcharger offers lessons for anyone tracking the evolution of electric pickups.
Understanding the Ramcharger’s Range-Extended Architecture
The core of the Ramcharger’s design revolves around a range-extending internal combustion engine — specifically, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. This proven engine, developed with assistance from Munro & Associates, has been widely lauded and even earned multiple “engine of the year” awards from Ward’s Automotive.
Unlike a full hybrid system, the Ramcharger takes a page from the Chevrolet Volt’s playbook. The Pentastar doesn’t drive the wheels directly. Instead, it acts as a generator, producing electricity to supplement the battery when needed. This architecture removes the need for a mechanical transmission — an important lean design principle that reduces component complexity and potential failure points.
According to Sandy Munro’s teardown estimates, this setup adds about 550 pounds to the truck:
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Engine: 330 lbs (stripped version)
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Radiator system: ~100 lbs
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Alt-start unit: ~90 lbs
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Associated electronics & harnesses: ~30 lbs
While this does preclude the ability to offer a front trunk (frunk), it enables truly impressive range.
Range and Performance: More Isn’t Always Better
With its range extender, the Ramcharger boasts an eye-opening 690-mile total range — nearly double the F-150 Lightning’s 320 miles. However, as Sandy notes, that’s roughly 10 hours of continuous driving — far beyond what most users need in a single day, given that the average U.S. driver covers just 40 miles daily.
The battery alone is good for about 145 miles, positioning the truck for practical daily use without firing up the generator. From a lean operation perspective, this design supports flexibility — drivers can run mostly electric for short trips and lean on the V6 only for long hauls.
Towing, Payload, and Work Truck Credentials
From a work truck standpoint, the Ramcharger clearly outperforms the Lightning in certain areas:
| Feature | Ram 1500 Ramcharger | Ford F-150 Lightning |
|---|---|---|
| Total range (w/ extender) | 690 miles | 320 miles |
| Horsepower | 770 hp | 580 hp |
| Towing capacity | ~14,000 lbs | ~10,000 lbs |
| Payload capacity | ~2,600 lbs | ~2,600 lbs |
| 0–60 mph | ~4.4 sec | ~4.0 sec |
That 14,000-lb towing capacity is a significant jump — making the Ramcharger one of the best options for demanding users hauling heavy loads. Sandy labels it “the best work truck on the planet” for this reason: a big battery plus a smart generator makes it highly versatile.
The Lightning, meanwhile, still holds its own as the best fully electric pickup currently available — with lower weight and no gas engine to maintain.
Tradeoffs: Weight and Cost
The extra weight of the range extender impacts both driving dynamics and total cost. Sandy anticipates that the Ramcharger may actually cost less than expected compared to the Lightning, due to using a smaller battery and leveraging Stellantis’s mature Pentastar engine rather than developing an all-new powertrain.
However, maintaining two systems (electric and combustion) does introduce more long-term complexity — a potential downside for lean maintenance practices.
The Future of Pickup Powertrains
One point that stood out: Sandy wishes Stellantis had considered a smaller, turbocharged 4-cylinder generator instead of the V6. This could have shaved more weight and improved efficiency further, but only if cooling demands didn’t offset the benefits.
Still, Sandy gives high marks to Ram for pursuing this direction, especially when some competitors — notably General Motors — remain heavily invested in pure gasoline pickups. He suggests that Ford and Stellantis are now poised to dominate the evolving pickup market.
How will Toyota’s Tundra and other models respond? The market will tell.
Ramcharger Teardown Takeaways
For engineers and product planners, several actionable insights emerge:
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Lean system choices matter. The Ramcharger’s generator-only architecture avoids hybrid drivetrain complexity — a smart move.
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Weight still matters. At 550 lbs extra, every pound must be justified against the use case.
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Range psychology matters. While few drivers need 690 miles, “range anxiety” still drives purchase decisions — even if, as Sandy bluntly puts it, that term was “invented by some marketing fool.”
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Cost vs capability balance is key. A competitively priced Ramcharger could outcompete even pure electrics in the work truck segment.
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Towing is still king. For many truck buyers, 14,000 lbs of towing is the number that matters most.
The Road Ahead
While Sandy hopes to see more fully electric trucks in the future, he credits Stellantis for taking a smart step forward. If the final price comes in right, the 2025 Ramcharger could carve out a valuable niche — especially for fleet buyers, rural users, and anyone who needs to tow or travel long distances.
As EV technology evolves, lean engineering will continue to play a central role — from simplifying drivetrains to optimizing weight and cost. The Ramcharger demonstrates how traditional OEMs can leverage existing strengths (like the Pentastar) while pushing toward electrification.
For ongoing teardown insights and expert EV analysis, explore more at Munro & Associates or subscribe to Munro Live for the latest in automotive innovation. Stay tuned for full teardowns once the Ramcharger hits the market.