The Weird Electric Powertrain That Does Away With Range Anxiety
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Mild hybrids, full hybrids and plug-in hybrids: these are all types of electrified cars[3] that use both electric and combustion power in some form or other. Now, though, there's a slightly different type of electrified vehicle - one that doesn't use the internal combustion engine to power the wheels at all. An extended range electric vehicle (or EREV) is likely something you've heard of, but didn't know about, and that's because this type of battery-electric tech has been seen before in the Chevrolet Volt[4] and BMW i3,[5] and will power a host of new cars in the future.
This is everything you need to know about EREVs, or extended range electric vehicles. They combine the efficiency and smoothness of an electric motor and the reliability and added range of an internal combustion engine, which seems like a win-win. But is that all there is to it?
Let's discuss EREVs in closer detail.
What Is An Extended Range Electric Vehicle?
2017 Chevrolet Volt powertrain diagramChevrolet
Put simply, an extended range electric vehicle uses an electric motor to drive the wheels, but an internal combustion engine (ICE) is used to charge the battery that supplies power to those motors. Unlike a 'normal' hybrid, an EREV is considered an electric vehicle as the combustion engine is used solely to charge the battery and not to power the wheels. This helps to lower the amount of gasoline used while increasing the range the motors can yield.
The first widely available, mass-produced EREV was the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid vehicle that used a battery for the first 30 miles of the journey before switching on an internal combustion engine to extend the battery's range. The all-electric range wasn't all that impressive compared to modern plug-in hybrids, but the engine would be connected to the wheels at highway speeds to increase efficiency -- much like the 2026 Honda Prelude's interesting hybrid tech. It wasn't a pure EREV (as the engine was still used to power the car in certain situations) but it showed the world what an EREV could do.[6][7][8]
How Does It Work?
Range Extender EV diagramLEVEL Network/YouTube
Luckily, you don't need an engineering degree to understand how it works.
It's what's known as a 'series' hybrid, as power to the wheels is passed through a series: from engine to battery to motor. Typically, an EREV will function like a normal electric car until the battery is depleted, which then triggers a small internal combustion engine to turn on and charge the battery. This functions differently to a typical 'parallel' hybrid system, which uses both electric motors and the gasoline engine to power the wheels.
Here, the engine has no direct connection to get the car moving. This means the engine and battery can be much smaller, as the engine does not have to deal with acceleration/load and the battery is constantly charged by the engine. You can charge the battery like a normal hybrid vehicle, and the engine will need gasoline top-ups, but the combination of both means running costs are usually much lower.
Many EREVs will also use regenerative braking to increase the range.
How Does An EV With Extended Range Differ From A Hybrid?
Front 3/4 profile view of the 2010 - 2015 Chevrolet Volt chargingChevrolet
The main way this type of powertrain differs from a typical hybrid is by changing the way the wheels are powered. In a typical hybrid (apart from a mild hybrid), both the electric motors and engine provide power to move the vehicle, whereas a range extender hybrid functions as an electric car mainly with an engine only there to provide extra range by charging the the battery. Cars like the 2025 Toyota RAV4 PHEV[9] are popular choices as they can run on electric power only for around 50 miles but then use the hybrid gasoline engine after the battery runs flat and needs to be charged.
PHEVs are a prime choice for most people as you can use the car like a typical gas-only car with the extra convenience of a battery pack. EREVs take this one step further as you can constantly use the smoothness and instant torque of the electric motor, while worrying less about range thanks to the engine.
Extended Range Electric Vehicles: Advantages And Disadvantages
Nissan e-Power Qashqai PrototypesNissan
Pros
- Less Range Anxiety: The main issue with electric vehicles is their short range compared to gasoline-powered cars. A range extender fixes that by charging the battery at a constant rate, increasing the true mileage figure.
- Smooth Power Delivery: An electric motor offers instantaneous torque and smooth power delivery uninterrupted by gear changes.
This means that they will be more enjoyable to drive around town. Switching from the electric motor to the engine (like in a typical hybrid) isn't present in an EREV, as the engine never touches the wheels.
- Fewer Emissions: Without the need for constant force changes, the engine can run at an optimized and more efficient speed to keep emissions low.
- Longer Engine Lifespan: There is less strain put on the engine, meaning its lifecycle could be longer. This also means there is less servicing required for items such as belts or fluids.
Cons
- Higher Purchase Price: Compared to a pure battery electric vehicle, an EREV can be more expensive to purchase due to the addition of an ICE.
- Potentially Less Passenger Volume: A battery, fuel tank, engine and a few other important components take up a lot of space in the vehicle, meaning there may be less space for occupants or cargo.
- Complex Maintenance: The tight packaging of an EREV can mean that routine services and repairs are more expensive.
Future Extended Range Electric Vehicles We Can't Wait For
All the EREVs we're waiting for on the US market look promising.
And with big brands - including such premium automakers as Genesis - looking toward this technology, there's something for everyone. More companies than ever are releasing or looking to release electric vehicles with range extenders in coming years as emission rules tighten and buyers look for more options. Here are a few of our favorite future EREVs worth waiting for.
2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger
|
Engine (Generator) |
3.6L V6 |
|
Battery Size |
92 kWh |
|
Power |
647 hp |
|
Torque |
610 lb-ft |
|
Towing Capacity |
14,000 lbs |
|
Range |
690 miles |
The big one here - literally and figuratively - is the 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger.[10] While most manufacturers would use a tiny engine for their generator, the Ram makes do with the 3.6L Pentastar V6 that's been used in cars since 2010.
The EREV powertrain doesn't diminish any of its performance and capability credentials, though, as it still has a towing capacity of 14,000 lbs and a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds. While it might not be the most efficient electric car ever[11], this pickup truck is important in getting people who would otherwise laugh at electric vehicles over to a low-emission option. A range-extender is the best of both worlds.
Also, there's DC fast charging at up to 145 kilowatts - enough to get an extra 50 miles of range in just ten minutes. We could see this powertrain being a very competitive option to the traditional V8 that's powered pickups forever.
2026 Nissan Rogue e-POWER
Now, we don't know much about Nissan's plans for its latest Rogue e-Power, but we have driven a Rogue Sport/Qashqai[12] with the newest generation of its EREV technology. We loved how quiet and smooth it was - thanks to that electric car feeling - but we're still waiting for Nissan to give us more information, including what the range is, and how efficient it is.
Could it take on the RAV4's supremacy?
"For most of my driving session, I used between 40% to 60% of the available power, in which case it behaves like a traditional EV. The torque is instant, and the entire car feels more like a tight unit rather than a collection of parts borrowed from other machines. To be frank, it feels like a Rogue Sport, which is a great car.
In this case, the rear wheels just happen to run on electricity. The regenerative braking doesn't interfere, it glides smoothly, which is pretty much what you want in a car like this." - Gerhard Horn, Senior Editor, CarBuzz
The Toyota RAV4 has gone all-hybrid in 2026[13], but it uses the more traditional parallel hybrid system to power the car.
The Rogue, while a great car, has always been the second option for most buyers - but could this new technology switch that? If it offers better mileage, better driving experiences and a lower price, could we see a new sales champion? It's a tough bet and all depends on the price.
Nissan needs this to succeed[14] and get itself out of its current rut.
2026 Genesis GV70
Here's another car we know will get a range extender option: the 2026 Genesis GV70[15]. The Hyundai luxury offshoot is planning to 'stay on course' with its electrification strategy, but do it slightly differently[16] to most brands and use an extended-range electric vehicle platform instead. Kia recently released[17] a 'high-efficiency power generation system' that utilizes a 2.5L gasoline motor generator, too. Genesis is known for smooth performance, soft rides, and pleasant driving dynamics, and a small generator could increase range while keeping the electric driving characteristics that suit luxury cars so well.
The company is built around a front-engine, rear-drive, layout that requires the engine to be longitudinal to send power rearwards, but that's not a requirement in an EREV that uses electric motors.
FAQs
Nissan e-Power Engine CoverNissan
What Is An Extended Range Electric Vehicle?
An extended range EV (or EREV) uses an onboard internal combustion engine to charge the electric vehicle's battery instead of power the wheels.
Is There An EV With A 400 Mile Range?
There are a few[18], but not many.
Some include the 2025 Lucid Air[19], 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV[20], and the 2025 Rivian R1S[21] - and the recently revealed 2027 BMW iX3[22] which is also one of the cheapest 400-mile EVs on sale at present.
What EV Has A 1000-Mile Range?
There are currently no EVs that have a 1000-mile range - not even the range-extended electric vehicle can manage that right now.
Sources: Nissan, Ram, Genesis
References
- ^ Extended Range Electric Vehicles: Advantages And Disadvantages (carbuzz.com)
- ^ Future Extended Range Electric Vehicles We Can't Wait For (carbuzz.com)
- ^ electrified cars (carbuzz.com)
- ^ Chevrolet Volt (carbuzz.com)
- ^ BMW i3, (carbuzz.com)
- ^ 2011 Chevrolet Volt (carbuzz.com)
- ^ 2026 Honda Prelude (carbuzz.com)
- ^ what an EREV could do. (carbuzz.com)
- ^ 2025 Toyota RAV4 PHEV (carbuzz.com)
- ^ 2026 Ram 1500 Ramcharger. (carbuzz.com)
- ^ most efficient electric car ever (carbuzz.com)
- ^ driven a Rogue Sport/Qashqai (carbuzz.com)
- ^ Toyota RAV4 has gone all-hybrid in 2026 (carbuzz.com)
- ^ needs this to succeed (carbuzz.com)
- ^ 2026 Genesis GV70 (carbuzz.com)
- ^ slightly differently (carbuzz.com)
- ^ Kia recently released (carbuzz.com)
- ^ a few (www.hotcars.com)
- ^ 2025 Lucid Air (carbuzz.com)
- ^ 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV (carbuzz.com)
- ^ 2025 Rivian R1S (carbuzz.com)
- ^ recently revealed 2027 BMW iX3 (carbuzz.com)