AN IDEA SO CRAZY IT JUST MIGHT WORK: Carmakers Have A New Idea to Boost EV Range: Add a Gas Engine.

EV sales remain depressed since the Trump administration removed a $7,500 incentive last year and rolled back regulations driving a more electric market.

Two primary concerns have kept Americans from buying EVs en masse: the higher cost of battery-powered cars, and concerns over range—specifically, the availability of charging. In theory, EREVs solve the range and charging problem, while offering other advantages for bigger vehicles like three-row SUVs. Those require large batteries that can struggle with long recharge times. The setup is popular in China’s high-tech auto market, where even Ford and General Motors offer EREV vehicles not sold in the U.S.

Most plug-in hybrids on the road today are essentially gasoline vehicles with a battery shoehorned in to provide a small amount of all-electric range. EREVs flip the concept. They are designed first as electric vehicles, and the engine solely acts as a generator for the battery, with no mechanical connection to the wheels.

The setup saves some battery costs compared with full EVs and eliminates the need for gas-car parts like a transmission. EREVs also drive like EVs, including instant acceleration even when the battery is drawing from the generator.

EVs need to offer the range independence of gas cars.