Recently, I watched a great news clip on YouTube about automakers racing to bring extended-range electric trucks to market, and it immediately got me thinking.
After years of EV road-tripping across Canada, Europe, and the United States, I’ve seen firsthand where full battery-electric vehicles shine and where they still create hesitation among mainstream buyers.
That’s why the rise of the EREV (extended-range electric vehicle) feels important.
In my opinion, this is the logical transition step the industry skipped. Automakers pushed aggressively toward full electrification, assuming the public was ready. But the mass market isn’t made up of early adopters. It’s made up of cautious, practical buyers who want reassurance before making a major shift.
An extended range EV might be the bridge that finally makes that shift feel comfortable, albeit, a little late.
What Is an EREV? Understanding the Extended Range EV Concept
An extended range EV, as explained in the news clip below, is powered by electric motors that always drive the wheels, but it also includes a gasoline engine that acts strictly as a generator. The engine does not mechanically power the vehicle.
Instead, it turns on only after the battery’s electric range is depleted, producing electricity to recharge the battery and extend total driving range.
Extended Range EV vs. a Hybrid
Ultimately, unlike traditional hybrids, in an Extended Range EV:
- The engine does not power the wheels.
- The vehicle always drives electrically.
- The engine only activates to recharge the battery when needed.
In simple terms, it’s an electric car with range extender capability built in.
You still get instant torque, regenerative braking, and smooth EV acceleration. The difference is psychological security. If charging infrastructure isn’t available, the onboard generator keeps you moving.
The news clip highlights trucks targeting roughly 145–150 miles of pure electric range and up to 690–700 miles total range. That’s dramatically more than typical plug-in hybrids and is why extended range electric vehicles are gaining attention so quickly.
Why Extended Range Electric Vehicles Make So Much Sense
If you’ve followed my journey, you know I don’t sugarcoat EV ownership.
I’ve written openly about range anxiety road trip fails and shared practical EV road trip tips to help others avoid the same mistakes.
I’ve pushed EV travel into remote territory, driving to the Arctic Ocean, and documented my return in my Dempster Highway southbound report.
I’ve proven long-distance EV travel works on routes to Yellowknife from Edmonton and even drove an electric vehicle to France from Canada.
That said, I am not the norm.
Most daily trips in North America are under 75 miles. A 145-mile electric range would cover nearly all routine driving without burning fuel. For longer trips, the gas generator removes the mental barrier: “What if I can’t find a charger?”
That reassurance matters.
Truck Reality: Towing, Cold, and Confidence
Pickup and SUV buyers are often dealing with towing, payload, and extreme temperatures—the exact scenarios that make EV range feel unpredictable.
I’ve lived the cold-weather side of this and shared detailed winter EV range tips. Even something as simple as switching to proper winter tires can slightly affect efficiency.
When you’re far from major charging hubs, preparation becomes everything. On remote drives—including my Arctic Ocean run—I carried my Starlink kit for safety for backup connectivity. And having the right CCS adapter expands your charging flexibility beyond one network.
I’ve even explored whether it’s possible to road trip without Superchargers. It’s doable—but it requires planning and confidence.
That’s why the growing extended range electric vehicle list makes sense for larger vehicles. Trucks and SUVs benefit the most from range redundancy.
This is the step the industry skipped
Lessons From My EV Experience and the EV Community
For real-world proof that EV road trips work, I’ve shared others’ experiences on this site, including a Chevy Bolt owner who drove to the Arctic Circle and Dempster Highway interview from someone who concurred it in a Hyundai.
And when media coverage gets EV road trips wrong, I’m not shy about responding—as I did in my CBC road trip response.
But again, not everyone is built this way. People want reassurance, convience, and reliability.
All of that reinforces why extended range electric vehicles may resonate with mainstream truck buyers: they reduce friction without abandoning electrification.
Extended Range EVs Available Now and Coming Soon
Right now, the biggest North American EREV to watch is the Ram 1500 Ramcharger (range-extended electric truck), which Ram says is targeting up to 690 miles (1,110 km) of total range using its onboard generator.
Scout is also going all-in on the idea with its upcoming models—both the Scout Traveler (range-extended option) and the Scout Terra (range-extended option) quote an estimated 500 miles (or more) with the built-in generator.
Outside North America, one of the clearest “available-now” examples is Mazda’s rotary range-extender crossover: the Mazda MX-30 e-SKYACTIV R-EV, which Mazda positions as primarily an EV for daily driving with an electric-only range of 85 km before the rotary generator extends trips.
And in China, Li Auto has popularized the segment at scale—its flagship Li Auto L9 (REV) lists a CLTC pure electric range of 280 km and a CLTC comprehensive range of 1,412 km.
Final Thoughts on the Rise of the EREV
After watching the news clip and reflecting on my own years of EV road-tripping, I’m convinced the EREV isn’t a retreat from progress—it’s a practical evolution.
The industry assumed the public was ready to go all-electric overnight, but adoption rarely works that way. People need reassurance before they change habits built over decades.
An extended range EV provides that reassurance. It lets buyers experience electric driving for the vast majority of daily trips while keeping gasoline available for edge cases. And once drivers realize how rarely they rely on that backup, the transition to fully electric becomes far less intimidating.
Sometimes progress doesn’t come from bold leaps. Sometimes it comes from logical, confidence-building steps. The EREV feels like exactly that—and it may be the bridge that finally brings mainstream drivers fully into the electric future.
If you’re still unsure about committing to an EV, a long test drive or cheap EV rental can be a smart way to test real-world range before buying.
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FAQ: EREV and Extended Range Electric Vehicles
What is an EREV?
An EREV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) is a vehicle that drives entirely on electric motors but includes a gasoline engine that acts only as a generator. The engine does not power the wheels directly. Instead, it produces electricity when the battery is depleted, allowing the vehicle to continue driving without relying immediately on a charging station.
How is an extended range EV different from a hybrid?
In a traditional hybrid, the gas engine can directly power the wheels alongside the electric motor. In an extended range EV, the wheels are always powered by electric motors. The gas engine’s only job is to generate electricity. This means the driving experience feels much closer to a full EV than a conventional hybrid.
Is an electric car with range extender still environmentally friendly?
Yes — but it depends on how it’s used. If you charge regularly and drive primarily within the electric range, fuel use can be minimal. Many drivers may find they use gasoline far less than expected. However, if the vehicle is rarely plugged in and the generator runs frequently, fuel consumption increases. Like any technology, usage patterns matter.
Who should consider extended range electric vehicles?
An extended range EV (EREV) is ideal for drivers who tow or haul, live in rural areas with limited charging, road trip long distances, or aren’t fully ready to go all-electric. They offer EV driving with built-in gas backup for added confidence.
How much electric range do extended range electric vehicles offer?
Current models and upcoming entries on the extended range electric vehicle list are targeting approximately 140–150 miles of electric-only driving, with total range reaching 500–700 miles depending on the model. That electric-only range covers the majority of daily driving for most North American households.
Will EREVs replace full EVs?
Probably not. Full battery-electric vehicles are still the long-term direction of the industry. However, EREVs may accelerate adoption by making electrification less intimidating for mainstream buyers. For many consumers, they represent a transitional technology rather than a permanent endpoint.
Do extended range EVs require more maintenance?
Yes, slightly. Because they still contain a gasoline engine, EREVs require some traditional maintenance (oil changes, engine servicing). They are mechanically more complex than pure BEVs but may require less engine use if driven mostly on electricity.
