Ramcharger the Better Fit for Australia, Says Ram Trucks Australia

The upcoming all-electric 2026 Ram 1500 REV seems to be losing popularity before it hits the market. According to Ram Trucks Australia General Manager Jeff Barber, the range-extending electric vehicle (REEV) 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger is better suited for the unique demands of the Australian market.

In an interview with CarExpert.au during the launch of the updated 2025 Ram 1500 lineup, Barber emphasized that no electrified Ram pickup has officially been confirmed for Australia—but if one makes the cut, the Ramcharger is the front-runner.

“Yes, definitely. I think Ramcharger is better suited to our geography here,” Barber said. “It’s too early to say whether we will bring it to market. It’s something we’re looking at right now… but I personally think the Ramcharger is a better solution than the BEV [battery-electric vehicle], because of range anxiety.”

The Ramcharger uses a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine not to drive the wheels, but to charge its 92 kWh battery, which in turn powers dual electric motors—one rated at 250 kW up front, and one at 238 kW in the rear. This setup delivers a total output of 487 kW and 834 Nm (652 horsepower and 615 lb-ft of torque), with a 0–60 mph time of around 4.0 seconds.

Compared to the fully-electric Ram 1500 REV—which features a larger battery and can fast-charge at up to 350 kW—the Ramcharger’s smaller battery caps out at 145 kW DC fast charging, but Barber believes the 1100+ km (690-mile) combined range is what really matters to rural buyers.

“People buy these vehicles to drive them long distances, to tow large boats, and a BEV may not be suited to that—particularly not in the rural sector,” he explained. “Ramcharger is very, very interesting… it overcomes that range anxiety, particularly for long-distance driving.”

The Ramcharger isn’t just about range. It also delivers full-size truck utility: up to 14,000 lbs (6,350 kg) of towing, 2,623 lbs (1,190 kg) of payload, and includes vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-vehicle charging, a 7.2 kW onboard power panel, and independent rear suspension with active air leveling.

Inside, it shares the 14.5-inch infotainment screen, 12.3-inch digital cluster, and segment-first 10.25-inch front passenger display with the 2025 Ram 1500.

While Ram’s former CEO Mike Koval, Jr. once hinted that the Ram 1500 REV would be confirmed for Australia during its reveal at the 2023 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), current sentiment seems more conservative under new leadership.

“We’ll make a decision sometime in the future,” said Barber. “It really depends on how it stacks up. The biggest thing we have to do is look at the demand… what it’s going to cost us to engineer the vehicle [in right-hand drive] and bring it to market.”

As of now, electrified full-size trucks in Australia are nonexistent, save for the rare Ford F-150 Lightning conversions imported by AusEV that start around $200,000 AUD. Meanwhile, mass-market plug-in hybrid (PHEV) “Utes” like the Ford Ranger PHEV, GWM Cannon Alpha, and BYD Shark 6 are only just entering the midsize scene.

With Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) coming into effect soon—aimed at reducing emissions—Ram may face pressure to offer electrified solutions. But according to Barber, it’s the market that will make the final call.

“The market will tell,” he said. “EVs will be part of the future of automotive, but who knows what the numbers will look like, and whether that’s a technology to suit a big truck. Time will tell.”

Source: CarExpert.au