Extended-range electric vehicle

An extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), also called a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV), is an electric vehicle fitted with a fuel-powered internal combustion engine, acting as a range extender that drives a generator to recharge the traction battery when it is depleted. Unlike a conventional plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), in which the combustion engine may drive the wheels directly, the engine in an extended-range electric vehicle has no mechanical connection to the drivetrain; the wheels are driven exclusively by the electric motor. Extended-range electric vehicles can usually be charged from the electrical grid as well as from the onboard generator, and are therefore classified as a subcategory of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by most regulators, though some markets, notably China, treat them as a distinct segment.

In the U.S., the California Air Resources Board (CARB) uses the designation BEVx for vehicles that comply with its specific criteria for extended-range battery-electric vehicles.

Outside China, the EREV architecture has found limited commercial traction; early examples including the Chevrolet Volt and BMW i3 REx were both discontinued by the early 2020s. In China, the segment achieved mass-market scale from around 2019, led by Li Auto, AITO (Seres Auto), and Leapmotor, with EREV sales reaching 1.18 million units in 2024 alone. From 2024, renewed interest emerged in Western markets as consumer resistance to battery electric vehicles led manufacturers to reconsider range-extension as a bridge technology, with Stellantis, Scout Motors, Hyundai, and Ford all announcing EREV models for introduction between 2026 and 2029.