For one thing, it appears the Hemi will be force-paired with the "eTorque" system that was previously optional and which most Hemi buyers would probably pay extra to opt out of. The eTorque system is a variation of the so-called "mild-hybrid" systems you have probably noticed mysteriously proliferating. The modifier – mysterious – is used here because it's a mystery when a feature few (if any) want proliferates. It's akin to finding a side of cricket crackers placed in the bag with your Big Mac and fries – and being expected to pay extra for the cricket crackers you didn't order and do not want.

These mild-hybrid system are compliance systems. They use (typically) a 48 volt electrical system (feeding from a high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack, like an EV's but smaller) to power a high-torque starter that can re-start the engine almost instantaneously. This of course begs the question: Why is the engine off when you're driving? It's that compliance business. It's not for the sake of gas mileage. The difference in gas mileage between a Dodge/Ram/Jeep vehicle equipped with just the 5.7 liter Hemi and the same vehicle equipped with an "eTorque" Hemi is almost literally nothing. A '23 Ram 1500 equipped with the eTorque'd Hemi (last year the Hemi was offered) touts 18 city, 23 highway; the '22 equipped with just the Hemi touts 17 city, 23 highway. That's a 1 MPG difference – which amounts to no difference to the owner, at least in terms of "saving gas."

The eTorque and other "mild hybrid" systems have proliferated in order to reduce the "emissions" – to use the gas-lighting term – of the gas (C02) that does not pollute. This can only be done be reducing how much gas is burned, which can be done by reducing the amount of time the engine isn't running. That's what these "mild hybrid" systems (and the cruder version, automatic stop-start) do. Roll up to a red light and the engine cuts off. When it's time to move again, the system automatically restarts the engine. With ASS, this stopping and starting is abrupt and noticeable. It is less so with the "mild hybrid" system because instead of using the starter motor – which was designed to start the engine once, before you start driving – a belt/flywheel starter that has much more leverage and taps into much more power (48 volts rather than just 12) re-starts the engine almost instantaneously. You feel (and hear) these constant stop-start cycles less. The government is placated and the vehicle manufacturers hope you aren't noticing all of that stop-starting and so aren't complaining about it as much.