Will the V6 run all the time?

[HSKR R/T]

Right. And the details of exactly that are what I was asking about and speculating about.

Like, just for example, can it pull it when the battery is at minimum SOC at the start, with max load (14K #), and maintain the speed limit (up that whole grade they talk about)?

I don't think a Pentastar could do it. I don't think a Hemi could do it. I also don't think a Ramcharger could do it. But I would LOVE to be proven wrong!

Guess we will find out when it gets released for public testing.

 

[go-ram]

(StuartV): "...can it pull it when the battery is at minimum SOC at the start, with max load (14K #), and maintain the speed limit (up that whole grade they talk about)?"
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What is your definition of "speed limit"? Per J2807, it can't fall below 40 MPH at any time, so per J2807, 40 MPH would be "speed limit". But if you are talking posted speed limit, depending on what the posted speed limit is, I'd guess that a Ramcharger starting with empty battery and pulling 14,000 lbs on ICE-generator alone probably won't be going 60 MPH.
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[StuartV]

(StuartV): "...can it pull it when the battery is at minimum SOC at the start, with max load (14K #), and maintain the speed limit (up that whole grade they talk about)?"
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What is your definition of "speed limit"? Per J2807, it can't fall below 40 MPH at any time, so per J2807, 40 MPH would be "speed limit". But if you are talking posted speed limit, depending on what the posted speed limit is, I'd guess that a Ramcharger starting with empty battery and pulling 14,000 lbs on ICE-generator alone probably won't be going 60 MPH.
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Yes, I meant the speed limit of the road, not the minimum speed specified by the test.

And I agree with you.

 

[go-ram]

Yes, I meant the speed limit of the road, not the minimum speed specified by the test.

And I agree with you.

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I was able to find the "maxspeed" overlay in Open Street Browser, which indicates that the Davis Dam test course along route 68 from Laughlin, Nevada area to Union Pass in Arizona is 65 MPH. I've never been there so I can't vouch for the accuracy of that OpenStreetMaps overlay. I believe those "maxspeed" values are for passenger cars and light-duty vehicles, probably heavy trucks and possibly vehicles towing trailers have different speed limits.
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[djgiron]

Right. And the details of exactly that are what I was asking about and speculating about.

Like, just for example, can it pull it when the battery is at minimum SOC at the start, with max load (14K #), and maintain the speed limit (up that whole grade they talk about)?

I don't think a Pentastar could do it. I don't think a Hemi could do it. I also don't think a Ramcharger could do it. But I would LOVE to be proven wrong!

From the engineer interview floating around here, the V6 can provide power directly to the eMotors AND provide charge to the battery at the same time. And min SOC in tow mode? Because that is different. If that is the question, then, according to the engineer it should be able to do what you are asking. Min SOC is higher while towing in order to be able to meet the towing requirements. That being said, anyone expecting to do what you are asking may be asking too much as my Hemi towing my TT up the ike gauntlet cant maintain the posted speed limit and I am at ~7k lbs and it isnt as steep a grade. The real benefit is coming down the otherside where you can use the weight to recharge the battery for the next pass!

 

[go-ram]

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RE: djgiron: "The real benefit is coming down the other side where you can use the weight to recharge the battery for the next pass!"
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That's true, and having the ability to use "regenerative braking" (really, it's regenerative coasting) is nice in that it saves the brakes while recharging the EV/hybrid battery, which indeed is pretty cool.
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However, when it comes to towing with an EV, one needs to be cognizant of the fact that when the EV battery gets back up to maximum SOC, one's "engine braking" goes away. So if one is descending a long grade and the EV battery fills up before getting to the bottom, be prepared to have to start using the friction brakes - EV trucks aren't like diesels which have effectively unlimited engine braking. In most cases it probably won't be an issue with EVs towing, but it can happen, and the driver just needs to be prepared for it so they're not taken by surprise on long, steep downhills.
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[djgiron]

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RE: djgiron: "The real benefit is coming down the other side where you can use the weight to recharge the battery for the next pass!"
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That's true, and having the ability to use "regenerative braking" (really, it's regenerative coasting) is nice in that it saves the brakes while recharging the EV/hybrid battery, which indeed is pretty cool.
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However, when it comes to towing with an EV, one needs to be cognizant of the fact that when the EV battery gets back up to maximum SOC, one's "engine braking" goes away. So if one is descending a long grade and the EV battery fills up before getting to the bottom, be prepared to have to start using the friction brakes - EV trucks aren't like diesels which have effectively unlimited engine braking. In most cases it probably won't be an issue with EVs towing, but it can happen, and the driver just needs to be prepared for it so they're not taken by surprise on long, steep downhills.
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That is a valid point I have not thought of, may have to think ahead to have battery depleated as much as possible at the top of the "hill". My gut feeling is the recharge rate of brake regen isnt fast enough to max the battery as it takes hours to fully charge it from a commercial charger. Interesting point, wonder if there will be a warning or something letting the driver know battery is at max charge and they will need to use the brakes.

 

[go-ram]

That is a valid point I have not thought of, may have to think ahead to have battery depleated as much as possible at the top of the "hill". My gut feeling is the recharge rate of brake regen isnt fast enough to max the battery as it takes hours to fully charge it from a commercial charger. Interesting point, wonder if there will be a warning or something letting the driver know battery is at max charge and they will need to use the brakes.

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As I said ,probably not an issue for most EV towing situations, because of the large batteries, and as you point out, not all that much energy regained going downhill, but it can and does happen under certain situations, so EV drivers just need to be aware of it so they don't freak if/when it happens.
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For just one small point of reference, my ancient Prius, which weighs ~3,000 lbs and has a 1.6 kWh hybrid battery, easily refills half the battery (~0.8 kWh of energy) in about 2 miles on a 6% grade, then the car "freewheels" the rest of the way down the hill (so I have to use the friction brakes to keep it at 75 MPH or below).
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[StuartV]

I think y’all are overthinking it. Our cruise control will already apply the brakes as necessary to prevent overspeed on a downhill. If the battery is full, I reckon it will still do that.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I think y’all are overthinking it. Our cruise control will already apply the brakes as necessary to prevent overspeed on a downhill. If the battery is full, I reckon it will still do that.

My truck will downshift, but it doesn't apply brakes to maintain speed

 

[djgiron]

Definately doesnt apply the brakes on mine either, not a good idea on the passes here in CO to have the truck applying brakes on its own even when empty. I have seen too many people burn up their brakes riding them down all the way and have no idea what happened! I agree we are probably overthinking it, just passing time until they finally start rolling some of these out for real people to test out. Now with the delay again (for no real reason) I think they would be smart to get some of these into the hands of some youtubers to get some prelim reviews out into the wild and drive up some hype. I really think they would be a great seller if they put some marketing behind it, maybe they are going for MT Truck of the Year #4 by releasing it early next year, who knows

 

[go-ram]

I think y’all are overthinking it. Our cruise control will already apply the brakes as necessary to prevent overspeed on a downhill. If the battery is full, I reckon it will still do that.

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Not "overthinking it" at all. Just pointing out the existence of an artifact of vehicles with regenerative braking that no one else I know of had pointed out before.
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It IS worth knowing about and being prepared for by drivers who have counted on engine braking when descending grades for their entire driving lives. Not a big deal in a passenger car, more of a deal in a 7,000 lb pickup with 14,000 lbs hanging off the bumper heading down a steep grade.
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As others have pointed out here, not all vehicles will auto-brake to maintain speed downhill. Are you thinking of Adaptive Cruise Control/ forward-collision-warning/avoidance that will auto-brake in the presence of something it detects in front of the vehicle? My 2020 Ram will do that, but mine doesn't auto-brake just to maintain a set speed downhill on the open road.
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