New Breed of EV Promises 700 Miles per Charge (Just Add Gas)
In a world increasingly focused on electric vehicles (EVs), a new contender is emerging: the extended-range electric vehicle, or EREV. These cars offer a compelling blend of electric efficiency and gasoline-powered flexibility, potentially easing the transition for drivers hesitant about range anxiety.
Consider Yuan, a 31-year-old resident of Shanghai. Shopping for his first family car, he test-drove pure EVs from popular Chinese brands like Nio and Xpeng. However, concerns about limited range and the practical challenges of charging in a city like Shanghai led him to explore a different option. His search led him to the EREV.
What sets an EREV apart is its dual-power system. The vehicle runs primarily on battery power, offering the smooth, quiet ride of a typical EV. But when the battery gets low, a small internal combustion engine kicks in, acting as a generator to recharge the battery. This eliminates the range limitations of pure EVs. Some current models can travel over 600 miles on a full charge and tank of gasoline, compared to a typical range of 300 miles for a fully electric vehicle.
For Yuan, an EREV presented the perfect solution. In May of this year, he purchased a Li Auto L6, a five-seat SUV. The L6, priced at approximately $34,000, has become one of the best-selling models in China. “I had not thought about buying an EREV before,” Yuan said, requesting to be identified only by his first name due to the nature of his government job. “But we won’t have to worry about driving range in case of occasional longer drives or the long queue for the charging ports.”
