Extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) combine a battery with an internal combustion engine that acts as a generator to recharge the batteries. They are distinct from plug-in hybrid vehicles, which have a smaller battery and only a 20- to 40-mile electric-only range. Analysis of the nascent EREV market reveals a potential sweet spot for vehicles offering a 100- to 200-mile electric-only range combined with a larger total range. Senior Partner Kevin Laczkowski and coauthors note that this range effectively addresses the needs of most commuters while avoiding the “range anxiety” some consumers have around battery-only EVs.
Image description:
A scatter plot displays the total driving range against the electric-only range for various electric and hybrid vehicles. The x-axis represents the electric-only range in miles, from 0 to 900 miles, while the y-axis shows the total driving range in miles, also from 0 to 900. Each point on the represents a different vehicle model, color-coded by vehicle type: hybrid, extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), battery electric vehicle (BEV), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
Several vehicles are plotted in the lower-left quadrant, indicating shorter ranges in both total and electric-only driving. For example, the Nissan Leaf and BYD Dolphin show relatively low values on both axes. Toward the upper ranges, vehicles such as the Rivian R1T, Mercedes EQS 580, and Ram 1500 REV show higher total ranges and electric-only ranges. In the mid-range, several PHEVs are clustered, indicating that their total range is significantly higher than their electric-only range. These include the Toyota RAV4 PHEV, Ford Escape PHEV, and Mazda CX-90 PHEV. A shaded area on the graph is labeled “Potential EREV market sweet spot,” highlighting a region where vehicles have a total driving range exceeding 300 miles and an electric-only range between ~100 and 200 miles. One vehicle, the Scout Motors EREV, is mentioned in a footnote but is not included in the exhibit itself because its electric-only range was not specified.
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To read the article, see “Could extended-range EVs nudge more car buyers toward full electric?,” February 10, 2025.