Are EVs With Gas Engines The Future?

We discuss where extended-range EVs—or EREVs—fit into tomorrow’s transportation picture on this episode of the Plugged-In Podcast.

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45:26

Maddox Kay

By: Maddox Kay

Feb 14, 2025 at 1:03pm ET

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We all know this person: “I’d love to own an EV, but I need to road trip/tow/visit Grandma in the dead of winter.” While the public charging network is improving every day, it’s not a silver bullet. Charging anxiety is still very real. At the same time, automakers are shying away from giant, costly batteries—which make EVs heavier, less efficient and downright unprofitable. So, what’s the solution?

Enter extended-range EVs—or EREVs. Think of them as electric cars with an onboard gas-powered generator. Yes, they have small gasoline engines, but those don’t drive the wheels. They’re just there to top up the battery. The Chevy Volt and range-extended BMW i3 were early examples, but the idea is seeing a resurgence now as car companies try to address EV hesitancy, particularly for buyers of larger SUVs and trucks.

Ram delayed its fully-electric pickup to focus on launching its Ramcharger as the U.S.’ first EREV pickup truck later this year. And Scout, Volkswagen's new EV brand, reported overwhelming demand for its ‘Harvester’ range-extender option in early orders. EREVs are already popular in China, which isn't surprising given how far ahead that country is on electrifying transportation generally.

On this episode of the Plugged-In Podcast, Patrick George and Tim Levin dive deep into the pros and cons of EREVs. They also cover President Trump's freeze on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program—which set aside $5 billion for EV chargers—and what it means for EV owners across the country.

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What do you think of EREVs? Are they the future for larger vehicles? A dead end or temporary stepping stone? Let us know in the comments.

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