Hemi eTorque VS Hemi. What’s The Difference In Specs And Construction?

Hemi engines in RAM trucks are very reliable and pretty interesting in terms of specs. They are simple in construction and can be repaired without investing thousands of dollars. These engines are durable, they have now basically no problems, all major failures have already been solved by the company. The trucks go very well with Hemi engines. But what is Hemi eTorque?

Hemi eTorque is basically the same Hemi engine but you will have a mild-hybrid construction in it with a special electric motor-generator that generates additional power. The eTorque system is very reliable and long-lasting. But of course, like everything in this world, it has its own problems and downsides.

Today we'll be speaking about the following:

1. What is Hemi eTorque (in simple words)?
2. Is eTorque actually better than simple Hemi engines?
3. Longevity and reliability issues to consider.
4. How much is RAM eTorque and simple Hemi?
5. What would we choose?

Let's get started!

eTorque technology - what's interesting?

You should know that Hemi engines are very popular and they have been there for a while. They are naturally aspired units with big displacement and a lot of power. Their special head construction and unique intake manifold type form optimal power and torque to be used in trucks of all kinds including heavy-duty vehicles.

But Hemi engines are about to disappear from the market, Ecological standards are getting tougher each year and big-displacement engines aren't likely to be used widely. They produce a lot of exhaust and they burn a lot of fuel making their future very uncertain. But Dodge decided to experiment and they have built a mild-hybrid engine based on Hemi.

Here's what they did:

• the eTorque Hemi engine is actually a simple Hemi but with a motor-generator instead of a simple alternator;
• RAM 1500 was the first vehicle to use this technology, and now it shows wonderful efficiency along with optimal fuel consumption;
• the eTorque technology was applied to both V6 and V8 gasoline engines used in RAM 1500;
• the 48V battery pack ensure that the truck may add some torque and power when necessary;
• the motor-generator constantly charges the battery and helps it recharge in just an hour or two when you drive;
• the eTorque is actually more powerful and offers more overall torque than Hemi engines with no hybrid technology available;
• the start/stop system will help you save up some fuel when standing still on a traffic light or in a traffic jam;
• the energy regeneration when braking will charge the battery instead of just losing the energy of braking power.

The mild-hybrid is built the way it can boost torque and power for a short period of time. You will not drive your truck purely on electric power, but you will constantly apply the electric part of the hybrid to reduce the load to your Hemi engine.

Seeing a V8 hybrid engine is now a conventional thing in modern trucks, so eTorque Hemi is not a surprise at all. But we should say the technology also has its own disadvantages and we have to tell you about them. The first Hemi eTorque was presented in the 2019 RAM 1500, so now we know a lot about all the problems and mishaps.

What are the disadvantages of eTorque technology?

Now, you can buy a 3.6-liter V6 RAM 1500 with eTorque technology only. The 5.7-liter V8 may come with or without eTorque. The turbocharged 6.2-liter beast comes without eTorque cause its buyers don't care about MPG.

Well, the eTorque technology has mainly been used for saving gas and for improving the ecology standards of RAM trucks. And these are the main factors we'll talk about when considering if you should or shouldn't buy eTorque.

And here are some disadvantages you will have to cope with:

1. Fuel consumption is not that good. Actually, many drivers just don't see any difference whether you have this eTorque or not. Others say about 5-10% difference, but adequate measurements haven't yet been made. So this is a very arguable point.
2. Ecology is something we don't tend to think a lot about. And also, you can't check if the company provides adequate results of their measurements of the CO2 emissions and other things. So this point is also arguable.
3. You will need to pay at least $1700 for the opportunity to have eTorque in your RAM 1500. It's quite a lot, it's about 5% of the price of the whole truck. And for this money you are likely to want to get at least some perks, right?
4. In 100 000 miles, you will have to service the eTorque system, and in another 50 000 miles, you will probably need to replace the battery which is not that cheap. Is it worth it?
5. Overall reliability of the vehicle becomes worse. If your eTorque motor-generator fails, you will not be able to drive the truck because it doesn't have a traditional alternator. So a tow truck will be your savior.

As you see, you will need to pay more without getting a lot of advantages for your eTorque purchase. Hybrid technologies are now taking over the world of cars and trucks because they are thought to be eco-friendly, money-saving, up-to-date, etc. But we have to check the pros in every single case.

And in the case of Hemi eTorque, we now see that the advantages are very general. And if you dig more into the details about the technology, you will probably forget about the idea to buy eTorque. Though, if you want a 3.6-liter engine, you will have no choice. Now it only comes with eTorque.

Any pure advantages of Hemi eTorque?

Well, one of the advantages is that you have a hybrid car. Yes, it's a 5.7-liter truck with high fuel consumption and relatively bad ecology but still, it's a hybrid. So it's anyway more eco-friendly than a non-hybrid vehicle with the same engine.

Also, you will save up some money on fuel costs. It's not that much - only about 5% or 7% compared with pure Hemi trucks, but still. For example, V6 RAM 1500 offers 21 MPG in combined conditions (highway plus city) which is not bad for a big truck.

Your torque will be much higher when you press the acceleration pedal. In a simple Hemi engine, you will not have anything to help you much with the acceleration. But thanks to a motor-generator in Hemi eTorque, you can have higher torque when needed. So these trucks may tow more and experience fewer problems with their engines.

Finally, the eTorque technology is thought to be pretty reliable and long-lasting. But we predict that the maximum mileage of the trucks with the eTorque system will still be shorter than that of a pure Hemi engine. Repair costs may be surprisingly bigger for hybrid vehicles in long run.

What are the alternatives of Hemi and Hemi eTorque?

Although we believe Hemi engines are the best for RAM 1500, you will have some other options to choose from. They are not as popular and sometimes thought to be worse than Hemi, but they still have their own pros and are available in the new generation of RAM trucks. This proves that they sell in the US.

Here are the two alternatives:

1. RAM diesel truck. The 3-liter turbocharged diesel engine is not bad at all. This unit is not very powerful - just 260 horsepower which is the least powerful option among all four types of engines in RAM 1500. But it's cool in terms of torque, longevity, and also fuel consumption. You will get around 23 MPG (combined).
2. RAM TRX 6.2-liter turbocharged V8 engine. This engine offers 702 horsepower, an immense toque. It's good for sports, not only for towing trailers and moving loads. This engine is superb, but it has one problem. The price of the TRX trim starts at $74,000 or even more. Will you be able to pay that much for a RAM truck?

We still believe that 5.7-liter Hemi is the best option for your RAM truck. This is a very long-lasting engine with wonderful specs. And, in our opinion, it doesn't need any eTorque system. This engine is wonderful and it can tow huge trailers, move a lot of weight without getting broken or something. The only problem is the fuel consumption, but the eTorque technology doesn't solve this problem much.

Final words

If you are fond of hybrid technologies, you may be considering buying a RAM 1500 with an eTorque mild-hybrid powertrain. Think twice because this technology doesn't add a lot of advantages to your vehicle. It only makes your vehicle more expensive. Yes, you will get a little better gas mileage, but it's not a full hybrid technology. It's just a motor-generator that helps you get higher torque at times when needed.

Be careful and study more information before you pay money for some new technologies. RAM trucks are wonderful vehicles and you can buy them cheaper with 5.7-liter Hemi or with a 3-liter diesel engine. But if you want the eTorque option, you may buy it. You won't get anything bad.