Doubt anyone is going to be able to answer your question yet. No dealer /customer to my knowledge has gotten a 1500 diesel they are still being built and shipped. Maybe someone with a 2500 diesel can answer your question.

 

I was just wondering if someone would know if an electric heater is included.

on my jetta, the diesel engine take a good 20-30km to reach it's operating temperature. if I stop for coffee the temperature will drop while a the drive-thru.

 

Are you saying that even though the engine may be up to temperature the cabin heat is not always there or it drops when you idle? This is not unusual for a diesel, especially in cold climates. You want the heat to stay in the engine and minimal going to the cabin, this is probably why Jetta has the electric heater in the cabin.

Now this is based on my 1984 experiences when I owned a diesel Toyota P/U, but from my work on the highways the transport drivers did confirm that cabin heat is reduced a bit when idling in cold weather.

 

Welcome to the Z

The new Ram trucks now have a system called Thermal Management System, it heats up your engine & transmission quickly, of course when the engine heats up quickly, so does the water that passes through your heater

 

And with the 8 speed the grill shutters will be closed, like adding the cold weather blockoff on older diesel trucks. Although I wish they had an electric heater like the Powerstroke can add, I've gotten heat out of my dad's truck vents within 5 minutes.

 

I've owned 2 Mercedes ML's ('09 & '12) and both had electric elements in the heater system. Even when starting them at -22c, they would give heat in less than a minute. A diesel engine at that temperature would not start giving heat for a long time regardless of what coolant management features you employ.
I did order an ED and hope they have a similar system as the MLs.

 

Being a multi VW tdi owner, your experience is not normal. There are three additional glow plugs in the coolant system that are pretty effective at bringing the engine temp up quickly. It's not unusual for the harness that supplies these to fail.

However, it is a valid point about the new Ram. I would think anyone ordering one should have ticked off the heated seats option.

 

thank for all the answers guys,

@TJC.geotech: What I said is it take a long time for my engine to warm up but the cabin heat up quick because of the electric heater.