Tens of millions of existing pickup trucks could benefit from the conversion to plentiful natural gas or to more fuel-efficient diesel engines. Shuttered automobile dealerships could become conversion centers that reemploy displaced workers and stimulate the economy on Main Street. Existing technology can be bolted into place immediately, without waiting years for development.

Domestically manufactured clean diesel engines and natural gas vehicle (NGV) conversion kits will bring benefit in the near term, as battery-powered conversions come down the line and prices fall.

Cash for Clunkers was just a start. There is much more to do at a local level.

A Recovery Through Retrofit program for Pickup Trucks goes right to the heart of the matter, by providing economic sensibility with an approach that encompasses all technologies, rather than one.

The half-ton Dodge Ram 1500 is available with two engine choices, a 3.7 liter V6 and a 4.7 liter V8. Both are gasoline engines. (While a diesel is not currently available in the Ram 1500 series, one is in the works … see below.)

In 2WD trim, the Ram’s V6 delivers 16 city/21 highway miles per gallon, while the V8 achieves 14 city/19 highway. The 3.7 liter V6 provides 215 horsepower, with 235 foot pounds of torque at 4000 RPM. The V8 produces 235 horses and 300 foot pounds of torque at 3500 RPM.

The Dodge Ram 2500 is equipped with a 5.7 liter gasoline powered V8 that produces 330 horsepower, with 375 foot pounds of torque at 4200.

Want more power for your 2500 series truck? Dodge has that option covered with the Chrysler 5.7 liter Hemi V8. Crave pure torque and MPGs over the ponies? Cummins formidable 5.9 and 6.7 liter HO Turbo Diesels are an extremely popular option in the Ram 2500 pickups. The Dodge Ram 3500 can be equipped with either the 5.7 liter Hemi or the 6.7 liter Cummins Turbo Diesel as standard issue.

Although Dodge does not publish 2500 or 3500 gas mileage figures, owner reports of highway MPGs in the low twenties for 3/4 ton diesel-equipped Rams are not uncommon.

According to Cummins, their 610 Turbo Diesel engine is “the choice of over 80% of all Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 buyers.” With 325 horsepower and 610 foot pounds of torque at just 1600 RPM, it’s not hard to understand why. Couple all that torque with a long life, fuel efficiency, and 7-year/100,000-mile warranty and it’s clear why the Cummins diesels are so popular.

Bloomberg reports that Cummins is gearing up to supply fuel-efficient diesel engines for the Ram 1500 pickups, with a revitalized manufacturing plant. The Ram line is due for freshening in 2009. While it’s unclear whether the light-duty Cummins diesel will be a V6 or V8 (or both) at this point, the Bloomberg article suggests that the trucks will provide best-in-class mileage figures.

Autoblog cited the Automotive News over a year ago, reporting that the upcoming Cummins engines are a 4.2 liter V6 and a 5.6 liter V8, each with a substantial amount of torque. The post made no mention of fuel-efficiency, however.

Dodge Ram Gas Mileage: 1994 – 2009

Note: the EPA tweaked their testing procedure, starting with the 2008 model year, with the end result being that the 2008 MPG estimates are now lower than previous years. As always, YMMV.