The Dodge Ram Hybrid Truck is being built upon the heavy-duty 2500 / 3500 chassis powered by a Cummins 325 hp (242.5 kW), 5.9-liter turbo-diesel engine with 600 lb-ft (813.4 Nm) of torque. The diesel engine is assisted by an integrated starter-alternator hybrid system to provide supplemental power and thus is considered a mild hybrid. Full hybrids usually run off the power generated from the electrical motors, which are assisted by the internal combustion engine as needed and usually achieve much better fuel efficiency than mild hybrids. The Dodge Ram Hybrid Truck generates only a 15-percent increase in fuel efficiency over the non-hybrid model, but then again 15-percent is 15-percent. When we're talking green, every little bit helps.
The hybrid system provides stop-start capabilities, propulsion assistance upon acceleration and regenerative braking to recharge the battery pack. The Dodge Ram Hybrid Truck can also be used onsite as a diesel-powered electricity generator. Like the GM Silverado Hybrid, the Ram Truck Hybrid can provide 110 / 220-volt AC power. This feature will not only be useful on construction sites, but anywhere else where a little extra electricity may be needed.
The Dodge Ram Hybrid Truck is part of an over all picture of cleaner, greener vehicles for DaimlerChrysler for years to come.
There doesn’t seem to be any information available on the price tag we can expect to see on the Ram Hybrid. Hybrids, of course, tend to be more expensive then conventional vehicles, but some of them are more expensive then others. Chrysler partnered with BMW and GM to design the hybrid system, so hopefully the reduced design costs will be seen at a relatively low price.
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