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Months after an electric ute disappeared from Ram’s new-model plans, the company has announced hydrogen fuel-cell power for one of its large pick-ups.
Ram has revealed plans to introduce a heavy-duty pick-up with hydrogen fuel-cell technology by the end of the year.
In a recent interview with German publication Welt Am Sonntag, Jean-Michel Billig, head of hydrogen for Stellantis – the parent company for 14 car brands, including Jeep, Dodge, and Ram – said there were plans to bring the hydrogen-powered pick-up to market, with production set to start in 2024.
However, so far the hydrogen fuel-cell technology – which converts hydrogen gas to electricity to run electric motors – will only be available on the Ram 5500, a heavy-duty truck focused on commercial use and sold in North American markets.
It’s unlikely the alternative fuel will be offered on Australian models for the foreseeable future, given Ram currently sells the 1500, 2500, and 3500 pick-ups locally.
Ram was the first ute brand to offer a mild-hybrid powertrain in Australia, providing slightly improved fuel economy and emissions on its large petrol V8. It’s believed the company’s ‘Hemi’ V8 will soon be retired, in favour of a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine.
North America’s Ram 5500 is typically offered with a choice of 6.4-litre petrol V8 or 6.7-litre turbo-diesel six-cylinder engines.
MORE: Ram’s electric Toyota HiLux rival vanishes from new-model plans
Stellantis initially announced it was working on a hydrogen pick-up back in October 2023 – alongside an electric ute – though details of the project weren’t provided at the time.
While the Ram 5500 isn’t sold in Europe, Stellantis has previously revealed several hydrogen fuel-cell commercial vans for the region.
“Hydrogen will be an essential part of CO2-free mobility in the future,” Billig told Welt.
“We want to offer a completely decarbonised product range in Europe from 2030. We also need this technology for this.”
In January 2024, Drive exclusively reported an electric mid-size Ram ute had disappeared from the company’s product plans, two years after it was first revealed.
The post Ram announces plans for hydrogen fuel-cell pick-up appeared first on Drive.
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