2025 Ram Ramcharger

[freebeard]

I wouldn't have watched this if t weren't for this thread:

2025 Ram Ramcharger - Built By The Insane For The Gullible

"How many points of failure can you put between two bumpers?"

He goes on about reliability and sheer bulk, and agrees with redpoint5 (Dakota-size with 4-cylinder). Never mentions weight.

I don't know about the reliability, the electric half should be no problems. I'd want one Dodge Ramage sized.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

You need 600 HP to impress people into buying a weird new product.

The engineering beauty isn't enough on its own? /S

I would think 1/3 of the fueling cost could get some interest but then I'm being naive - HP and 0-60 times sell not fuel economy.

That said, this is likely a $60 - $100K truck depending on trim so adding $4000 in extra battery cells to allow ridiculous HP figures isn't likely to effect sales much.

[freebeard]

I look on it as analogous to a diesel-electric locomotive with an L1 cache for power.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by JSH

That said, this is likely a $60 - $100K truck depending on trim so adding $4000 in extra battery cells to allow ridiculous HP figures isn't likely to effect sales much.

Bigger battery gives many advantages, so it's always tempting to go for more. The most obvious temptation to go bigger is to add range. But then since the battery is bigger, it's relatively trivial to increase the horsepower. You also get stronger regen. Faster charging. So, you weigh all those positives against the constraints of cost, weight, and volume.

[freebeard]

Sandy's Initial Thoughts on the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger

Mr. Munro likes the Volt-like aspect but thinks the F-150 Lightning is the better choice.

I wonder if Aptera will make a Ranchero/El Camino/Rampage/Rabbit-style truck?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Mr. Munro likes the Volt-like aspect but thinks the F-150 Lightning is the better choice.

I wonder if Aptera will make a Ranchero/El Camino/Rampage/Rabbit-style truck?

I'll say it again, I really enjoy listening to Sandy talk about nuts and bolts and the things he's expert in.

He's a dummy when it comes to electrical things. His lack of understanding is why he's an EV purist (as is the explanation for many EV purists).

In that whole video, he didn't mention why the Ram is going to cost less. He didn't mention why it can tow more. His conclusion was that the winner between a truck that exists, and one that doesn't, is the F150 (because he's an EV purist).

The tell that EVs are a religion for him is that he said "we all know range anxiety is crap... a marketing fool came up with it".
1. 100% of EV drivers have experienced range anxiety
2. What advertisements are using range anxiety?

I vote for Sandy as Andy Rooney's replacement.

EDIT: I misunderstood because I was listening to Sandy and not watching. When he said "this is going to cost less" we assume "this" is the subject of the video; the RAM. If you watch, he points to the F150. You have to know the bare frame that is behind him is the F150, and that he's pointing to it.

[Hersbird]

A note on the engine choice. The 3.6 is proven reliable. CDJR doesn't make an non turbo 4 cylinder anymore. Even the lowly Jeep Compass has a turbo 4 standard. I don't think a turbo is the way to go here. Also the Jeep Wrangler came with the 3.6, the 2.0 turbo 4, and a 3.9 turbo diesel. The 3.6 was lighter than the 2.0 by 29 pounds and lighter than the diesel by 800 pounds. The 2.0 cost $2000 more and the diesel cost $6000 more.

I saw somewhere, but can't find it now, that the generator was 130kW but up to 175kW. So that's 235 hp. The 3.6 is also used in the Pacifica PHEV where it runs the Atkinson cycle and makes 260hp. Seems just right for losses and running the Atkinson cycle. I did price a new loaded 3.6 engine, throttle body to oil pan, across the parts counter and its $7200 retail. I bet that means it's under $5000 if not even a 3 or 4 thousand dollar motor at cost.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I wouldn't have watched this if t weren't for this thread:

"How many points of failure can you put between two bumpers?"

He goes on about reliability and sheer bulk, and agrees with redpoint5 (Dakota-size with 4-cylinder). Never mentions weight.

I don't know about the reliability, the electric half should be no problems. I'd want one Dodge Ramage sized.

This guy really doesn't get it. It's nothing about zero emissions in this case. What it is is power leveling a simple gas v6 to give you the tow power of a 3/4 ton 5.9 Cummins. That also gives you probably a truck as quick as the old Viper powered SRT10 to boot. And then day to day it can plug in at home and be a full zero emission EV for commuting.

All of the things he whines about the range extender needing on the 3.6, would be needed on a smaller range extender or even a tiny Honda like generator. And a 2kW or even 5kW generator is useless compared to a 130-175kW generator. Has he priced a 5kW Honda generator lately? I bet the 3.6 isn't much if any more and we are talking 26 times the ability!

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

He didn't mention why it can tow more.

He did mention 10,000 vs 14,000 pounds. What's the why?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

He did mention 10,000 vs 14,000 pounds. What's the why?

We go to other content providers that aren't so Droopy Dog to hear enthusiastic people rattle off the spec sheet; don't need Sandy to do it too. We watch Sandy to tear into something and inform us in ways those enthusiastic characters can't.

If Sandy is going to tell me it can tow more, he needs to follow that up with the engineering that allows it.