Anyone else hope this platform is successful?

[strykeviper]

I'm hoping that the Ramcharger is as good as they claim. I look forward to being able to travel the country with a travel trailer and using the truck as the generator when boondocking.

 

[UnloosedChewtoy]

I am hoping so, in a sideways sort of way... they plan on putting a very similar idea into the Wagoneer 4xe models next year, or so they say. Wife is interested, as she wants something a little better at towing than her Grand Cherokee and loves the electric idea.

 

[oe542bob]

I would also like to see it work out. Don’t know if I’d would buy one at this point in my life, but the idea is sure enticing. Then again, the pricing will be a factor too. I recently saw a new Silverado electric truck with a $96,xxx MSRP. The Ramcharger has a smaller battery, so maybe that will help keep the truck price low. Of course, you need to add the generator + the V-6 engine into the mix. Scariest part to me is how the electronics will integrate into the vehicle. In theory, it sounds awesome. It’s the only electric truck I would consider. But I will not buy it until it’s on the market for a year at least.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I am hoping so, in a sideways sort of way... they plan on putting a very similar idea into the Wagoneer 4xe models next year, or so they say. Wife is interested, as she wants something a little better at towing than her Grand Cherokee and loves the electric idea.

Sounds like she needs a truck if she wants something better at towing.

 

[strykeviper]

I would also like to see it work out. Don’t know if I’d would buy one at this point in my life, but the idea is sure enticing. Then again, the pricing will be a factor too. I recently saw a new Silverado electric truck with a $96,xxx MSRP. The Ramcharger has a smaller battery, so maybe that will help keep the truck price low. Of course, you need to add the generator + the V-6 engine into the mix. Scariest part to me is how the electronics will integrate into the vehicle. In theory, it sounds awesome. It’s the only electric truck I would consider. But I will not buy it until it’s on the market for a year at least.

I'm leaning the same way for now. I want to give it time to see if it performs as well as they say it will. I also want to see what kind of range it gets before I ever decide to buy it

 

[UnloosedChewtoy]

Sounds like she needs a truck if she wants something better at towing.

That is an option. The Wagoneer can tow 10,000+ lbs when properly equipped though.

 

[Gren71]

That is an option. The Wagoneer can tow 10,000+ lbs when properly equipped though.

I’ve personally seen a wagoneer towing a 32ft 6,500lbs (dry weight) TT early in the season last year. The driver said it tows better than any truck hes had…i was blown away. They hooked up and left the day after I got in and it was wild to see how perfectly it sat and effortlessly it pulled.

 

[ocn]

I hope it performs well and is reasonable price wise. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the recently announced Scout Terra pickup with the Harvester option, which is what Scout is calling the generator option. With the Eco Diesel discontinued and the Hurrican far worse than the Eco Diesel for fuel economy, especially when towing, the Ramcharger is quite interesting to me.

 

[detractus]

It sounds like an amazing design! The question I have is - isn't that a lot of weight to have both batteries and v6 on-board. And how well does it really work in practice.

You still have the potential issue of the battery life. And can it run solely off the electricity generated by the v6, or are the batteries required as a buffer?

It would be a riot if you could use it has a home generator during a power failure

 

[stevj]

It would be a riot if you could use it has a home generator during a power failure

As long as there's gas in the tank and you run it through a transfer switch, that 130KW generator should have no problems acting as a whole-house generator.

Steve

 

[HSKR R/T]

It sounds like an amazing design! The question I have is - isn't that a lot of weight to have both batteries and v6 on-board. And how well does it really work in practice.

You still have the potential issue of the battery life. And can it run solely off the electricity generated by the v6, or are the batteries required as a buffer?

It would be a riot if you could use it has a home generator during a power failure

It can be used as a home generator during power outages. Will just need to have the proper connection on your house it's one of its features

 

[detractus]

It can be used as a home generator during power outages. Will just need to have the proper connection on your house it's one of its features

Cool, then it is just the weight and hence, suitability for light off road.

 

[nc_beagle]

For as long as I continue to tow our travel trailer, I'm hoping its successful because I worry about the long term support for my EcoDiesel. It seems like it would have the diesel's low end torque and easy towing, plus the convenience of being able to pull through a gas pump when towing--it seems most of the chargers are not designed for access when towing something.

 

[cpetku]

As long as there's gas in the tank and you run it through a transfer switch, that 130KW generator should have no problems acting as a whole-house generator.

Steve

I think a potentially wrong assumption is the generator is operating at 220/240 with a nuetral. I wouldn't bet on that as the engineers will need to determine the most cost effective way to charge the batteri or run the powertrain. A better solution (for RAM profits) is to sell a seperate inverter module that converts the battery voltage to what the house needs. It will probably be undersized compared to most generac whole house solutions and require higher installation costs. While I would like what you suggest, I doubt we will ever get it.

 

[theblet]

I think a potentially wrong assumption is the generator is operating at 220/240 with a nuetral. I wouldn't bet on that as the engineers will need to determine the most cost effective way to charge the batteri or run the powertrain. A better solution (for RAM profits) is to sell a seperate inverter module that converts the battery voltage to what the house needs. It will probably be undersized compared to most generac whole house solutions and require higher installation costs. While I would like what you suggest, I doubt we will ever get it.

7.2 kw from the bed using a 110v receptacle it seems. Definitely wouldn’t buy this truck banking on using it for a “whole home” solution. it could run some lights and keep your beer cold at least

 

[cpetku]

I already have a 15KW PTO based generator as a backup for my house with energy monitoring installed on the main panel. While I would prefer a 24KW natural gas autoatic backup, 15KW gets the job done. If we ignore luxury items (machinery in my workshop or hot tub), my peak houshold power draw during the winter could be handled by a 7.2KW since its mainly lighting, the well and TV. However 7.2KW just feels undersized for this truck and it's a pity. I get a laugh out of commercials that claim any EV can power a house for a week. What happens to the house when one goes to work? Typically, warm the house up, fill the expansion tank (well water for those at home) and go to work for a few hours then repeat. I know, because I don't let my tractor run for hours at a time unattended powering the house. The last time I did a hydraulic hose ruptured. I've lost 15-20 gallons of oil on my lawn that way over the past few years...

 

[theblet]

I already have a 15KW PTO based generator as a backup for my house with energy monitoring installed on the main panel. While I would prefer a 24KW natural gas autoatic backup, 15KW gets the job done. If we ignore luxury items (machinery in my workshop or hot tub), my peak houshold power draw during the winter could be handled by a 7.2KW since its mainly lighting, the well and TV. However 7.2KW just feels undersized for this truck and it's a pity. I get a laugh out of commercials that claim any EV can power a house for a week. What happens to the house when one goes to work? Typically, warm the house up, fill the expansion tank (well water for those at home) and go to work for a few hours then repeat. I know, because I don't let my tractor run for hours at a time unattended powering the house. The last time I did a hydraulic hose ruptured. I've lost 15-20 gallons of oil on my lawn that way over the past few years...

Nice setup. My pump tractor had auto shutoffs for loss of engine oil pressure, hydraulic oil pressure, overheating, etc. they way it could be unattended.

I’m also in the process of installing a 24/26 kw whole home Briggs generator to replace an 8kw portable. Just waiting for the gas company to install the NG meter.

Definitely wouldn’t use a truck to power my home

 

[cpetku]

The turn of the century New Hollands used 90 degree elbows made of Hydraulic hose at the oil cooler. When they fail, the pump just keeps on supplying oil till there is no more. Luckily all three times this happened, the pump survived. Only once was it in unattended and ran for a few hours, the other times I eventually saw the trail of oil before the sump ran out. Normally I wouldn't run it overnight, but as a family care-giver I had to keep a piece of life support equipment going during an overnight power outage. That's part of the reason I'm not upset (only disappointed) about production dates slipping. While my Jeep GC CRD is getting tired, my mom can't get into anything higher anymore.

I looked into the Generac whole house units, but installation costs as much as the generator.

EV's being used to power a house will cash in on the installation of a transfer panel as well as provide a challenge on where to install it. I wonder if permits will have requirements for where the truck is to be parked when connected to the house to mitigate the risk of exhaust entering through an open window. Running a feed across the width of the house to place the transfer switch near a meter and the power input near the garage will make no sense for most.

And, should nuetral be bonded to ground at the truck when using it a generator (intentionally ambiguous to highlight potential safety/code issues).

 

[theblet]

I went with Briggs since generac parts and service has deteriorated over the years. It is definitely a huge investment. I’ve done a lot of work myself to save some cash.

The standby generator exhaust has to be 6ft from any window or door. So the truck would probably be the same. Although it’s “portable” so who’s gonna check?

As far as neutral grounding, on portable generators, you only wire the ground into the plug/cord. Ive never actually bonded a portable to earth ground so shouldn’t be an issue. Would be nice to see a 220/240 plug on the truck tho. A 15 amp 110v receptacle won’t get you very far

 

[cliffsta]

I hope it works out. I'd be very interested. One hiccup IMO is not switching it to the Tesla / NACS charger from the CCS charger. A majority of manufacturers are adopting NACS now that Tesla is making it available.