Ram plans to introduce a 5500 heavy-duty vehicle that runs on hydrogen in North America. According to the report, in an interview with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, the leader of Stellantis' fuel-cell program disclosed ambitions to produce a Ram commercial truck run on hydrogen fuel cells.

A Heavy-Duty Pickup Powered by Hydrogen for North America

Compared to V8 and turbodiesel engines, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) offer purchasers an environmentally friendly option, claims CarBuzz. Under Stellantis' ownership, Ram plans to introduce a 5500 heavy-duty vehicle that runs on hydrogen in North America.

Billig stated that later this year, the first cars will be produced in Poland, and further development will occur in North America. He highlighted the role that hydrogen plays in reaching carbon-neutral transportation and stated that the company's objective is to have a completely decarbonized product lineup available in Europe by 2030.

Furthermore, CarBuzz has also states that there was a previous announcement by Ram regarding a hydrogen-powered pickup, possibly referring to the 5500 model, which might have limited initial interest. Similar to the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, the fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) version of the Ram 5500 could initially be available exclusively in California.

Given that California is one of the largest markets for alternative fuel vehicles in the U.S., it would be logical for Ram to target customers in this state.

Hydrogen As Substitute for Fossil Fuel

According to The Drive, Hydrogen has long been hailed as a possible replacement for fossil fuels, but mainstream acceptance has been sluggish. The infeasibility of employing hydrogen as an energy storage medium from an economic standpoint is one of the main causes of this.

An enormous amount of electricity is needed for the electrolysis process, which may be the most economical way to produce hydrogen by removing hydrogen from water molecules. This approach is counterproductive if fossil fuels remain the predominant energy source. Essentially, the practicality of hydrogen as a fuel hinge on the availability of surplus renewable energy to compensate for its conversion inefficiencies.

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According to Green Reports, the Ram 5500 stands out as the most robust iteration among the Ram HD pickups and is typically marketed in the U.S. as a chassis cab, distinguishing it as larger than earlier attempts at hydrogen-powered pickups. For instance, Toyota has showcased a hydrogen fuel-cell pickup internationally, although it remains in the prototype stage without any confirmed production details.

According to the article, the hydrogen-focused company's intention to sell the Nikola Badger fuel-cell pickup was subject to a substantial collaboration with General Motors. GM, which was previously at the forefront of fuel cell research, is now focusing on fuel cell technology for semi trucks rather than light-duty vehicles. Similarly, Hyundai and Toyota have also transitioned from fuel-cell passenger vehicles to larger commercial vehicles.

On another front, Ram is preparing to introduce an innovative concept-a series hybrid featuring a 92-kWh plug-in battery pack. Known as the Ramcharger and projected to debut as a 2025 model, this version of the Ram 1500 can travel 145 miles solely on electric power from the battery before utilizing its gasoline V-6 engine as a generator for an additional 545 miles, serving as a range extender.

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