eTorque Mild-Hybrid System Added to 2019 Ram 1500

For 2019, the Ram 1500 offers the eTorque mild-hybrid system on the second generation 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and the 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engines. This mild-hybrid system can’t move solely on electric power but does allow other fuel-savings such as allowing the V-6 or V-8 to shut off when waiting at traffic lights.

Drivers in stop-and-go traffic can save the most energy with eTorque. The Hemi V-8 at a 90-second stoplight runs on all eight cylinders and uses 1.7 ounces of fuel. The stop/start capability built into eTorque can allow the engine to be stopped for up to 10 minutes. The system makes stopping and starting smoother, and provides a significant push, quickening the launch for the first half wheel rotation and helping efficiency. In addition, the eTorque adds 90 pound-feet of torque to the 3.6-liter V-6 and up to 130 pound-feet to the V-8—a significant amount, but only at low revs.

Saving 2 mpg (0.85 km/litre) per truck might not sound as efficient as going all-electric, but on a fleet-wide basis it adds up to a lot of fuel saved. Ram sells more than a half a million pickups per year.