Report: 2024 Gladiator Reveal @ NAIAS in Sept | Production Begins November | Gladiator 4xe PHEV Replacing Diesel

[UM_Ftown]

What we read online is where our thinking comes into play. Here's a Motor Trend article on the Ford Lightning towing.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/ford-f150-lightning-electric-truck-towing-test/

"We had been warned to expect the range to be cut in half when towing, but the effect of towing these travel trailers proved even more significant. With the smallest and lightest trailer, we measured a range of just 115 miles. That figure fell to 100 miles with the middleweight camper and sank to a mere 90 miles with the 7,218-pound Grand Design trailer."

Many would like to tow a camper/boat/etc. I personally will be towing classic cars. Not every day, but enough where the 4xe doesn't make sense.

I get what you’re saying, I wouldn’t want a full electric truck if I did mostly truck things too, but that 4xe isn’t a fully electric vehicle.

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[Tom C]

I get what you’re saying, I wouldn’t want a full electric truck if I did mostly truck things too, but that 4xe isn’t a fully electric vehicle.

Yeah, no kidding. We all know that it isn't a full ev. With the full EV Lightning range dropping to 111 miles with a light trailer, the PHEV battery won't last long at all. I'm not going to depend on mainly a 4-cylinder turbo towing a roughly 3,500 lb classic car and 1,000 lb trailer.

 

[The Duck of Earl]

But... it does regen that energy... that's how hybrids work. Also... the new Toyota Tacoma is coming with a hybrid powertrain, so I'm assuming they've got a reliable system worked out as well.

Not under sustained cruising, sure under deceleration/regen braking - but how much actual benefit even that will provide for hard continual demand is debatable and likely not worth the squeeze of running the downsized motor. If it does any regen during cruising, you are just robbing Peter to pay Paul by making the gas motor run harder to keep some charge on the battery.

As for what you can expect from the hybrids, even the Tacoma - just look to the current full sized for comparison. For the Tundra and F-150 the Hybrids net less hi-way mileage than the gas only equivalents (just referencing for the sake of pointing out that the e-power is not continuing to provide benefit), and the added weight of the hybrids counters max payload and towing. The extra power can provide benefit for city and potentially some onramp pulls, but the better powertrains for doing work are the regular gas motors.

 

[staying_tuned]

For the Tundra and F-150 the Hybrids net less hi-way mileage than the gas only equivalents

This echos a report on the 4xe forum where a member had to bring his 4xe in for an electrical issue and was provided the standard 2.0 as a loaner. After driving the 2.0, he suspected better highway MPG on the 2.0 vs his 4xe. He sold it and now has a 392. A follow-up poster confirmed better MPG with the straight 2.0 over the 4xe.

All summed up "Good write-up and I do agree that it is a fantastic city vehicle, perfect for the first time and amateur off-roader".

Adding link although not sure it will last, the 4xe forum site is a great source of information and precisely how I learned it wouldn't be sensible for us. We don't live in a city and we aren't first time off-roaders.

https://www.4xeforums.com/threads/4xe-honest-review-who-its-made-for.3455/

 

[The Duck of Earl]

Why doesnt the 4xe make sense? Its not a pure electric its a gas car with an electric power adder. The gas engine is just as strong as the 3.6 (just pumps out more heat) and the 4xe keeps its batteries at 15% charge at all times for on demand acceleration/power so that it will tow the same at hour 1 as hour 5 as hour 15. The only place where a decrease in power would be possible would be on very long mountain climbs where the engine is screaming at max power already and you continue that until the juice runs out (much like a derate on the diesel when the temps tap out). Other than that, the batteries are charging off the engine or the brakes for the next time you need the extra power.

The article you linked is for an ALL electric truck. It has absolutely 0 bearing on how a hybrid works. Even comparing different hybrids dont work since the way they're tuned is different. Thats why comparing it to a wrangler 4xe (which people on the jl forum are routinely towing 3500+ pounds with) or a 4xe GC (6K pounds. towing) is the only valid comparison.

Here is an article on the GC towing:
https://www.cars.com/articles/jeep-grand-cherokee-4xe-how-well-can-this-plug-in-hybrid-tow-456193/

Here is the best assessment I have seen on the 4xE system towing. The main 'journalist' assessments of the 4xE that I have seen, whether for GC or Wrangler are basically puff pieces on small loops, like EPA test cycles to get the window sticker ratings:



To get the full picture you should scroll through the comment section and replies from the author, as while in the video they report that it worked, but the downsides led them to change vehicles because it was a bit onerous to accomplish the task (not that a Wrangler is the best vehicle for what they asked it to do, but in theory the Gladiator should be a better fit). In short, the mileage was abysmal (and b/c of the small fuel tank they were refilling like every 50 miles to be comfortable), the electric motor provided virtually no benefit for the hi-way portions of the trip, and all of the supposed 'attributes' of the 4xE don't realistically apply to how it functions when working it hard.

Comment from the author: "...The electric motor in the Jeep is supposed to help with fuel economy when you're doing mostly short trips in the city and are able to charge frequently. Other than that, it adds a significant amount of horsepower and torque to the already powerful 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that is available in the Jeep Wrangler JL. I was hoping it could do more of the work when towing, but it turns out the majority of it is done with the gas engine. Hence the horrible fuel economy while towing."

Point is, to get the full benefit, unless you are running short trips and regularly topping off the electric motor with a wall charger, don't expect a 4xE to realistically be operating close to the published top specs, particularly when pushing it and over a period of continual usage.

 

[bleda2002]

....

Point is, to get the full benefit, unless you are running short trips and regularly topping off the electric motor with a wall charger, don't expect a 4xE to realistically be operating close to the published top specs, particularly when pushing it and over a period of continual usage.

He got the full benefits of the hybrid power train, but there is this unrealistic expectation by folks that hybrid means Prius mpgs instead of what it really means which is more power and improved short range efficiency. If you check the comments he commented that acceleration was surprisingly fast, braking was excellent to the point he didn't even use a brake controller, and the power train performed excellent.

I wish more people would actually understand how a hybrid works instead of just assuming it means Prius. The benefits are more power, better braking, and better efficiency over short trips by scavenging energy and using the increased efficiency of electric motors. What it doesn't mean is magical mpgs over all trips.

As he said at the end, its the best tow jeep short of a 392 because its got tons of power and low CG. The 17 gallon tank does suck though, its the main drawback to our 4xe as well.

 

[Alec1987]

Bummer - I think the ecodiesel is the perfect powertrain for a JT. I love the power and confidence the diesel delivers. It's unique in the class and the range is incredible. Plus The new grill looks like it would help with cooling issues right??

Unfortunately, if Jeep decides to discontinue the diesel, I'll probably switch to a new truck in a year or two (and I've been a loyal jeep buyer for decades). I was planning on upgrading my '21 & getting the '24 refresh with the ecodiesel. Zr2???

 

[Phishs]

Will the 24 Gladiator have the big screen like the 24 Wrangler?

 

[Thumbszilla]

2024 Jeep Gladiator Spy Photos Glimpse Updated Interior From Wrangler

https://www.motor1.com/news/674309/2024-jeep-gladiator-spy-photos-updated-interior-wrangler/

 

[The Duck of Earl]

I really have no idea how anyone can arrive at that conclusion when the 4xe powertrain is years old at this point, and has MUCH more horesepower, torque, and efficiency than anything the Gladiator currently has. If people want to stick with the older ICE's, enjoy them For me personally, I'll go with the stronger / faster / more efficient offering as soon as it's available.

Bumping an old thread, not just to stir the pot, but to see if the above is still true?

(I look through the JL forum too from time to time, and see that you are currently selling back to Stellantis your lemon Wrangler 4xE).

 

[Thumbszilla]

Bumping an old thread, not just to stir the pot, but to see if the above is still true?

(I look through the JL forum too from time to time, and see that you are currently selling back to Stellantis your lemon Wrangler 4xE).

My electrical issues in my "lemon" were not a 4xe powertrain issue.

 

[Summitsearcher]

Bumping an old thread, not just to stir the pot, but to see if the above is still true?

(I look through the JL forum too from time to time, and see that you are currently selling back to Stellantis your lemon Wrangler 4xE).

Ooopsie! You weren’t supposed to see that. ?

 

[Thumbszilla]

Ooopsie! You weren’t supposed to see that. ?

Again, the 4xe powertrain and my buyback situation are not related.

 

[Summitsearcher]

Again, the 4xe powertrain and my buyback situation are not related.

I mean it’s great tech. Just not there yet IMO. I’d be afraid it would take a mondo termite mound (?) on me too. The only green thing about it is the Benjamin’s.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

We just picked up a Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk. Awesome, love it, it's perfect.

I don't think I would want that exact platform in the Gladiator. Needs more cowbell.

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