Chrysler Pulls Plug on Hybrid Ram 1500
Chrysler has canceled plans to sell a gas-electric hybrid version of the Ram 1500, according to a press release issued this morning by the company.
"The decision to cancel the [Ram] Hybrid was made in the last few days," Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau said in a phone call with PickupTrucks.com.
General Motors was set to supply Chrysler with the advanced Two Mode transmissions that would be used in the Ram. The Two Mode hybrid powertrain was co-developed with GM, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. It’s the same setup found in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Two-Mode gas-electric hybrid pickups.
Hybrid Ram production was scheduled to start later this year, but there were challenges down the road for continued manufacturing. GM announced earlier this year that its next-generation hybrid powertrain, expected in 2013, would be used solely by GM, leaving Chrysler to find or develop an alternative system.
Earlier this month at the NTEA Work Truck Show in St. Louis, Joe Veltri, Chrysler's vice president of product planning, told PickupTrucks.com that Chrysler wasn't sure the Ram Hybrid could be successful in the market based on slow sales of GM's Two Mode hybrid pickups.
"We’re concerned. The marketplace acceptance for the Silverado Hybrid has been a complete flop," Veltri said. "How could we not be? They're selling only a 100 a month."
Chrysler will still use the Two Mode hybrid transmission to develop a test group of plug-in hybrid electric Rams as part of a $48 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The vehicles (paired with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and 12KwHr lithium ion battery) are capable of up to 20 miles of zero-emission, all-electric range without the need for gasoline. An overall fuel economy improvement of more than 65 percent is expected for average drive cycles.
What might Chrysler offer in place of the Two Mode Ram for civilians? We're hopeful that Chrysler's ongoing discussions with Cummins will lead to diesel-powered Ram 1500.
Comments
Guess they are taking that money and putting towards the "long travel" KORE Ram 1500? LMAO
I still wonder why GM is still making their two mode Silverados with sales numberslike that. This is one of thos e products that is more novelty than actual functionality. 100 units a month? Kind of explains why I never seen a Silverdo Hybrid in my travels.
This is a good thing Chrysler can now put there efforts into something that the public actually wants like a Cummins Ram 1500!!!!!!
This also gives some teeth to the Cummins 5.0L on the way as predicted. They will market the 5.0L Cummins a fuel saver. I think we can expect some type of announcements soon. With a failing economy, Chrysler will need to come out with a new concept to the Ram. They should announce the 5.0L Cummins and a 6-speed transmission behind the Cummins and beefed up 5.7 Hemi. They could push the 5.7 into the 400 hp range and offset the mpg drop with a 6-speed to hold the current mpg's. Either that or give us the 6.4 in a half ton.
The paltry sales figures shouldn't be a mystery at all. Have you priced a hybrid truck or Tahoe? They're frickin $50 thousand dollars (or close to it). These trucks only purpose is to serve as a halo (OOH look at me! ) vehicle to inflate the snooty ego quotient (a new metric= S.E.Q.) If they were truly interested in selling hybrids, they would be positioned at a price point that was attractive to the majority of people who use trucks; namely middle class, fleet, and corporate customers.
till the technology catches up hybrid trucks are not a good investment.
With dimished payload and towing capabilities to that of a compact pickup, it is not a sound investment.
Good glad its gone now well see if RAM is the first to have a 1/2 deisel.
I really hope Chyrsler produces the 5.0 Cummins, If they bring this engine to market and its succesful, GM and Ford are going to have to follow... GM already has their small diesel V8 (4.5 Duramax) So they could counter fast...Hopefully ;)
Current hybrids are not cost efficient. I agree with the comments about people buying them as a statement or "feel good" item.
Hybrids increase CAFE numbers, lets corporations who make them pat themselves on the back for being "green", and with all the money governments are throwing around for "green" technology, it lets government say - hey, look we doing something great.
Bring in something useful like a 30 mpg diesel 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton diesel.
Just because Chrysler canceled the hybrid Ram doesn't mean they'll go through with the Cummins, though they will be complete idiots not to follow through with a 1000-lb payload diesel option...Hybrids are for cars...diesels are for trucks. Now GM, convert your hybrids into diesels LOL. Not everyone wants a 1500-lb or 2000-lb-capacity truck to get a diesel.
Hybrids make sense for idling in traffic, but they shouldn't be diminishing performance. I think eventually we will see the price of this come down.
This is probably a good thing.
Next article: Fiat pulls the plug on Dodge Ram
I just cant wait....in 5 years or so,parts for those hybrid pickups will dry up (as GM wont keep carrying parts for 1200 trucks per year) and when one peters out,it will go straight to the junkpile.
You wont be swapping 454s in them like the snot nosed kids and hicks did with the sidesaddle gas tanked,pre-OBDII 73-87 trucks....they will go straight to the heap.
Like a Rock!
"Next article: Fiat pulls the plug on Dodge Ram"
they already did that, they're just going to be Ram soon. Dodge is going to be just cars. Ram is trucks.
Someone, anyone, please do the merciful thing and put Dodge out of it's misery.
The Cummins 5.0L might make sense vs. a Hybrid if you consider the Hybrid as a $10k price up the Cummins will be right in that range to meet the 1/2-ton emissions requirements that are the same for gas and diesel.
I for one won't pay anywhere near $10k for a 1/2-ton diesel with 1/2-ton capability. For that amount I'll go 3/4-ton or 1-ton every day.
Figures, given that the hybrid technology for the RAM was co-developed by Chrysler, GM, and BMW...probably the same tech used by the Chevrolet Silverado and Gmc Sierra Hybrids.
OK it IS the same tech used with Gm's rigs. Check the "would be used solely by GM" link inside the article. Gm is developing new tech themselves for 2013, which leaves Chrysler to search for other means of development - hence this motor will be shut off and never recharged again...no RAM hybrid. Now let's talk Cummins.
They really should have looked at teaming up with Raser Technologies. http://www.rasertech.com
Oh well, anyway come on light duty diesel!
I think it's a great move. I always thought hybrid pickups and large SUVs were a bad idea, and now GM is realizing it after spending presumably a fortune in R&D and getting them on the market.
Like everyone else here says, Ram brand NEEDS to get the light duty diesel market first. It'd be a huge cash injection to a company struggling for money at this point.
The only change I would make to the 5.0L Cummins is a compressed carbon block (and possibly heads if aluminum is too costly). It is the future for diesels and saves a significant amount of weight.
Sorry, I meant compressed graphite block.
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