What Is eTorque?

Stellantis' hybrid system provides a torque boost.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Jul 18, 2024 | 2 min read

Ram

Traditionally, pickups have been only rarely offered with hybrid drivetrains. In the past, Chevrolet and GMC briefly offered battery-aided versions of the Silverado and Sierra, but it took almost a decade before other mainstream automakers — Ford, for example — caught up with hybrid editions of their own.

One of these modern battery-assisted trucks is the Ram 1500, which makes use of the eTorque system. This electrification feature is an efficiency-oriented upgrade to the company's beefy, task-focused motors.

Ram

The eTorque Name Is From Stellantis

The term eTorque is the branding given by Stellantis — which owns brands including Ram, Jeep, and Dodge — to engines that feature what the company calls a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The electrification feature is available on both Stellanis' 3.6-liter V6 engines as well as its 5.7-liter V8. The system first arrived in Ram pickups for the 2019 model year and eventually spread to various Jeep models.

Ram

How eTorque Works

Mild hybrid describes an electrified internal-combustion drivetrain that relies on a battery for a power assist but can't directly power the wheels using electricity alone.

In the case of eTorque, the engine's alternator is replaced with a small 48-volt electric motor that functions as a generator. When accelerating, the motor makes use of the energy stored in a 430-kWh battery that is separate from the traditional 12-volt battery that powers the vehicle's accessories.

It adds between 90 pound-feet (V6) and 130 lb-ft (V8) of torque on top of what the engine is producing. During deceleration, the generator spins to produce electricity that recharges the battery.

Ram

The Benefits of eTorque

There are two main benefits of the eTorque system. The first is the additional low-end torque that its electric motor has to offer. This can take some load off the gas engine and provide a small improvement in overall fuel economy.

For V8 models, the eTorque system has the further advantage of smoothing out performance both when the V8 engine is operating on four cylinders (in cylinder-deactivation mode) and when restarting the engine as part of the automatic stop-start system that engages when waiting at a red light, for example.

Ram

Vehicles That Offer eTorque

Currently, the eTorque system is available with the 2024 Ram 1500 pickup. Previously, it was offered on Jeep models that could be had with the 3.6-liter V6 engine, such as the 2019 Wrangler, and the 5.7-liter V8 engine, such as the 2023 Wagoneer full-size SUV.

Ram is switching to a new twin-turbo inline-six-cylinder engine for the 2025 model year, which will result in the 5.7-liter Hemi eTorque drivetrain being dropped from the lineup. The Pentasar 3.6-liter V6 will remain available, however, and the eTorque system will continue on in the pickup truck family.

Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting is a writer and podcast host who contributes to a number of newspapers, automotive magazines, and online publications. More than a decade into his career, he enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days and always has one too many classic vehicle projects partially disassembled in his garage at any given time. Remember, if it's not leaking, it's probably empty.