The extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) can be imagined as a conventional electric vehicle equipped with a gasoline-powered generator for charging the battery and extending the driving range. Therefore, it is called the EREV.
Compared to the conventional hybrid vehicle, the gasoline engine in the EREV is responsible for charging the battery and powering the electric motor, rather than directly driving the wheels. The vehicle’s power source is entirely derived from the battery. When the battery capacity is low or depleted, the gasoline generator will work and burn gasoline to charge the battery, ensuring that the vehicle has sufficient power to drive. Thus, even with only gasoline, the vehicle can still be driven, making it much more convenient than pure electric vehicles.
The EREV vehicle is a series hybrid model, which can be understood as following this process: the gasoline engine generates electricity, the electricity is stored in the battery, and then the battery powers the electric motor to drive the vehicle. In essence, the EREV is a type of hybrid vehicle.
In terms of policy, the EREV can be registered as a new energy vehicle because it is driven by electricity. Representative models include the Ideal ONE and the Voyah FREE.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.