Chrysler Group has suspended its testing of 109 pickups with plug-in hybrid powertrains due to batteries overheating in three vehicles. The Ram 1500 vehicles have a liquid-cooled 12.9 KWh lithium ion battery pack, 6.6 KW on board charger, and 5.7 liter Hemi V-8 engine that can shut down fuel delivery to up to four cylinders.

A different battery chemistry will be used in the project's next phase before the vehicles are returned to service. No similar issues were reported with the 23 plug-in hybrid minivans, which will also receive a battery upgrade. Chrysler looks to be aiming at a different market than most of the other automobile manufacturers with its hybrid vehicles.