In order for this be a sensible discussion, you must compare an identical truck w/ESS to one w/o. That is the only way you can measure the financial benefit of ESS.
Perhaps. But you are missing the point.
I prefer older vehicles without the nanny tech, which you ARE paying for in new vehicles. I want a vehicle that works well and long term. Not bloated nanny technology that costs more money and restricts my freedoms to drive as I, the driver, deem correct. What is the cost of the additional motor and battery?
A quick look around the interwebs shows the 3.6 Pentastar ETorque is an above average engine. Eh... Did Jeep drop the eTorque? According to this article yes, but I don't know.
The eTorque system on the 3.6 was reportably abandoned by Chrysler on the Jeep a couple years ago, citing that it's too expensive and unreliable.
https://offroadhack.com/jeep-3-6-etorque-problems/
"Why Did Jeep Discontinue Etorque?
In mid-2019, Jeep announced that it would discontinue its eTorque mild hybrid system on the 2020 Wrangler and Gladiator. The eTorque system consisted of a belt-driven motor/generator, a 48-volt battery pack, and a power control unit integrated into the transmission. It added up to 90 lb-ft of torque and improved fuel economy by about 8%.
So why did Jeep discontinue this seemingly promising technology? There are a few reasons. First, FCA (Jeep’s parent company) has invested heavily in electrification, with plans to launch 30 new electrified vehicles by 2022.
This includes fully electric vehicles as well as hybrids. With such a wide range of electrified vehicles in the pipeline, it makes sense to focus resources on developing those rather than continuing to produce a mild hybrid system for just one model.
Second, the eTorque system was expensive, and Jeep likely wasn’t seeing enough of a return on investment to justify its continued use. Third, there were reliability issues with the eTorque system, which likely also played a role in Jeep’s decision to discontinue it. While the eTorque system showed promise, several factors led to its eventual demise."