Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs)

Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs), also known as range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) or sometimes range-extender vehicles, are a type of electrified vehicle that combines the core characteristics of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) with a small onboard generator to dramatically increase total driving range.Key Characteristics of an EREV

• Primary propulsion — The vehicle is driven exclusively by one or more electric motors using electricity from the battery pack. There is no mechanical connection between the internal combustion engine (usually a small gasoline engine) and the wheels.
• Range extender — A small internal combustion engine (ICE) acts purely as a generator (auxiliary power unit or APU). When the main battery runs low (typically down to 5–20% state of charge), the engine automatically starts to generate electricity, which either charges the battery or directly powers the electric motor(s).
• Plug-in capability — Like a BEV or PHEV, it can be plugged in to charge the battery from the grid (home charger, public station, etc.), allowing regular electric-only driving for daily use.
• Driving experience — It feels and drives like a pure electric vehicle most of the time — smooth, quiet, instant torque, one-pedal driving, etc. — with the engine only running when needed to extend range (and often at an efficient constant speed).

How EREVs Compare to Other Vehicle Types

Type	Full Name	Drives wheels with electric motor?	Engine directly drives wheels?	Plug-in charging?	Typical electric-only range	Total range (with fuel)	Primary use case
BEV	Battery Electric Vehicle	Yes	No	Yes	200–400+ miles	Same as electric range	Full electric, no range anxiety solution needed
EREV	Extended Range Electric Vehicle	Yes	No	Yes	50–150+ miles (often larger battery)	400–800+ miles	Electric daily driving + long trips without fast-charging reliance
PHEV	Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle	Yes (often)	Yes (in most designs)	Yes	20–80 miles	300–600 miles	Short electric commutes, hybrid flexibility
HEV	(Regular) Hybrid Electric Vehicle	Sometimes	Yes	No	Very short (~1–3 miles)	400–600 miles	Fuel efficiency without plugging in

 

Li Auto L8 Pro EREV SUV 2025  ($45,560)

Advantages of EREVs

• Eliminates most "range anxiety" for people who occasionally drive long distances or lack reliable fast-charging access.
• Allows mostly/fully electric driving for daily commutes (cheaper, smoother, zero local emissions).
• The engine runs less often and more efficiently than in a traditional hybrid or PHEV.
• Many recent designs (especially in China and emerging U.S. models) achieve very high total ranges (500–900+ miles).

Disadvantages

• Added weight, complexity, and cost from the engine + fuel system (compared to pure BEV).
• Still requires gasoline (though much less than a conventional car).
• Slightly less efficient on long highway trips compared to some parallel hybrids (engine not optimized for direct wheel drive).

 Jeep Grand Wagoneer range-extender (REEV)  2026  ($100,000)

Notable / Upcoming Examples 

• Historical: Chevrolet Volt (early version), BMW i3 REx, Fisker Karma.
• Recent / emerging: Ram 1500 Ramcharger, Mazda MX-30 R-EV, various Chinese models (Li Auto, BYD, etc.), upcoming Scout Motors trucks/SUVs, Jeep/Grand Wagoneer variants, some Hyundai and Stellantis models.

In short: An EREV is basically a battery electric vehicle that happens to carry a small gasoline generator for peace of mind on longer journeys — it's one of the strongest "bridge" technologies between full hybrids and pure EVs, especially popular where charging infrastructure is still developing.