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FloridaMan655321

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Regarding diesel, the after treatment system required in USA is as expensive or more expensive than the entire diesel engine itself. So it doubles the cost. This was the case with the 1st gen RAM Ecodiesel offering. Probably worse economics in 2026.
I wonder if aftermarket’s will tackle this. Get an old VW TDI engine or something that we can put cooking oil in
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mr.Magoo

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While a diesel would technically offer better thermal efficiency (getting more energy out of every drop of fuel), the trade-offs in weight, emissions complexity, and "on-demand" reliability make gas the more practical choice for a generator. In this application
The superior "on-demand" reliability of gas vs. diesel must be why most commercial engines are gas, right ? Weight is also more or less the same.

But there's optics (many people are just anti-diesel), diesel is also (generally speaking anyway) more expensive than gas, I do agree with emissions and the complexity around that, plus it'll be sort of a double standard when you have an EV (clean) with a Diesel (rolling coal) generator.
(not so much from a technical perspective since modern diesels are clean-ish, but again - optics)
 

reddog21

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The superior "on-demand" reliability of gas vs. diesel must be why most commercial engines are gas, right ? Weight is also more or less the same.
Commercial trucks use diesel because they need low-end torque to move 80,000 lbs from a standstill. The Ramcharger uses electric motors for torque. Since the engine's only job is to spin a magnet to make electricity, the 'torque advantage' of diesel is irrelevant, leaving you with only the weight, cost, and emissions issues. You mitigate your only true diesel advantage.

What's the diesel going to look like in those cold climates when you let it sit for days on end because you don't need to use the generator. You would have to build in some sort of heater or leave it plugged in all the time to keep the diesel warm.

Not to mention diesel engines are loud and obnoxious.
 

22legit2quit

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I’ll believe it when I see people driving them. Not when they show up at a show or the one offs that people get pictures of near the factory. I’d put money on the fact that they won’t come. If they do they’ll neuter them the same as with any rev that’s came out.

If that doesn’t work they’ll just short them into bankruptcy oblivion like with fisker.

There’s literally no incentive for the automakers to make them because it affects their bottom line. The investment to procure the parts, the r&d (not that they need to), then you have them sitting on a lot. The next problem is the lack of planned obsolescence. Dealers make their money off of silly buyers and service. Even with the high price tag, they’d lose customers for service and sales.

It’s cool to think about but the member on here doing the generator while driving is basically the same thing and it’s modular. If you need it take it with you and if you don’t leave it at home. Way better than a permanently mounted engine that only serves one purpose.
 

daczone

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Sadly... It's a Dodge, or should I say Stellantis.

Electrical issues, transmission issues, high recalls and low reliability in the past. Hope they can get this one right.
 

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PJnc284

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Sadly... It's a Dodge, or should I say Stellantis.

Electrical issues, transmission issues, high recalls and low reliability in the past. Hope they can get this one right.
Ford is the leader in that regard. In addition to the lightning, I have a Ram 1500 that sat at the dealership for the first 5 weeks of 2026 waiting on the stupid etorque generator because it's been on nationwide backorder for years now. Had just ticked over 5 yrs and 50k miles. Luckily it was covered under the 8yr/80k mile emissions warranty.
 

daczone

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Ford is the leader in that regard. In addition to the lightning, I have a Ram 1500 that sat at the dealership for the first 5 weeks of 2026 waiting on the stupid etorque generator because it's been on nationwide backorder for years now. Had just ticked over 5 yrs and 50k miles. Luckily it was covered under the 8yr/80k mile emissions warranty.
I'm not brand specific... but I do watch a lot of the news on this stuff. Stellantis feels like Nissan in their struggles right now. They also pissed off a large group of their owners with the whole, 'LAST CHANCE' as they killed off the HEMI to move to EV power, Only to find slow sales and now are going to bring back the HEMI in late 2026.

It may be different if these things were cheap.... but when spending your hard earned money you want something reliable and dependable.
 

Rip

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It is great it will come to market. Ford will also gain by not being the first, they can provide the "improved" version.
We would hope that, but I don't know that Ford gains any advantage; they would, if they would benchmark and then try to beat the competition, but they had a chance to produce a better overall system than Tesla, and didn't bother.
 

Nikos

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That price is a shocker.
Many ICE truck loving folks bitched about the pricing on the first Lightnings.
80K for a Lariat with all the options but in reality prices were very comparable to ICE trucks with similar options.
Then to find out almost 4 years later that we were getting for less than it was costing them, ( Ford that is).
A now this suggesting price of 110K.
My Lightning came at a bargain.
110K buys me a relative used RV with a descent towing capacity to tow a small used ICE vehicle. A compromise I am not willing to make.
I am sticking with my Lightning.
Also, back in 22, I was called, “first adaptor”, crazy and a fool to try something completely different and new. Who is laughing now.
As I have said before folks, I developed a facial disfigurement from constantly smiling driving my Mach E and my Lightning. Unfortunate side effect from driving EVs. Ford is partially responsible of my condition although I frowned at Ford when they discontinued the Lightnings. Anyways, let us see what Ford will come up with the “new EREV Lightning”. I will wait this time before I give them 100K for the first ones. I am more like the 65K kind of guy.
Otherwise I will keep my Lightning until it melts to the ground.
 

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Jon A

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Yes, same here -- this is what I've been saying about EREVs for a while now. By my math, it gets about 1.6 mi/kWh on electric power, and roughly 20 MPG on gasoline. So not only is this a re-branded hybrid, it is a hybrid that manages to be less-efficient than vehicles currently on the market.
No, the 145 mile range is based upon using less than 70 kWh of the battery. That rounds off to about 2.1 mi/kWh.
I noticed this too. Maybe it has a really large low end buffer to prevent you from completely draining the usable battery. Otherwise you’d be stuck waiting for the onboard engine to recharge the battery before you could go anywhere. And the gas truck people buying this would lose their minds if they realized they had to wait to charge.
You are correct sir. The bottom 17% of battery can never be accessed by the user on purpose (except purposely running out of gas). It's a much larger percent held back in Tow/Haul mode.

This ensures the user will never have "reduced power" experiences when on the road and should help the battery last longer.
 

22legit2quit

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I don’t know why anyone got caught up thinking this would happen. Like happen as it should, not the way it inevitably will.
 

Jon A

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As an EV owner - I’m not interested.
People that use trucks for trucking - likely not interested.
Middle of the road truck buyer - can get something for 1/2 the price.
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/57a0ae67-cda9-4911-8c77-efbda5da0ce1/
I won't argue the first. But with its towing and hauling capabilities far beyond that of any other 1/2 ton truck, I think a lot of buyers who use their trucks for truck things (but want a really nice daily driver as well and would like to avoid a HD truck) will be interested.

And no, buyers will not be able to get equivalent gas trucks for 1/2 the price. They'll be more expensive than the gas trucks of the same trim levels, but not double....
so who is the target audience for something like this?
I do however struggle to see the point of these vehicles from a technical and commercial perspective.
Yes, there is a lot of this sentiment here. That's not surprising given the BEV-only focus of this board (for now, we'll see what it's like in a couple of years). If you guys are right, the Ram Rev will never sell even close to the massive numbers ;) the Lightning did. It'll be cancelled in short order and Ford's version will be killed before it even gets to the crib.

In a couple of years we'll know for sure if any of that comes true.
 

22legit2quit

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I won't argue the first. But with its towing and hauling capabilities far beyond that of any other 1/2 ton truck, I think a lot of buyers who use their trucks for truck things (but want a really nice daily driver as well and would like to avoid a HD truck) will be interested.

And no, buyers will not be able to get equivalent gas trucks for 1/2 the price. They'll be more expensive than the gas trucks of the same trim levels, but not double....


Yes, there is a lot of this sentiment here. That's not surprising given the BEV-only focus of this board (for now, we'll see what it's like in a couple of years). If you guys are right, the Ram Rev will never sell even close to the massive numbers ;) the Lightning did. It'll be cancelled in short order and Ford's version will be killed before it even gets to the crib.

In a couple of years we'll know for sure if any of that comes true.
It’s just not going to make it. The oil companies and market makers will ensure this dies on the vine. Even if they can’t get rid of it entirely they’ll make it ridiculously expensive for no reason. Think the etorque when it came out.

again the member on here doing the range extender project looks way more promising. Even if this came out with all the good things it’s reported to I’d still put a range extender in the lighting everyday of the week.
 

Jon A

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RAM has actually already seized on the biggest benefit to this platform and it’s not range or efficiency. It’s towing maxed out weight loads. With all the range of a gas truck but huge low end torque and superior stability control, the RAM EREV will provide a superior towing experience as long as you don’t exceed the generator capacity for long periods at high speeds.
Agreed. All that capability (they weren't messing around!), but still an infinitely more pleasant (and much cheaper) daily driver than any HD truck. It'll be interesting to see how well it works at both of those things in real life once they hit the streets.
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