Range extender

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Fuel-based auxiliary power unit that extends the range of a battery electric vehicle

title: "Range extender" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["vehicle-technology", "electric-vehicles", "plug-in-hybrid-vehicles"] description: "Fuel-based auxiliary power unit that extends the range of a battery electric vehicle" topic_path: "general/vehicle-technology" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_extender" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Fuel-based auxiliary power unit that extends the range of a battery electric vehicle ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Acp_tzero_DSC00467.jpg" caption="A prototype [[AC Propulsion tzero]] [[electric car]] with an external range-extender or genset trailer, 1999"] ::

A range extender is a fuel-based auxiliary power unit (APU) that extends the range of a battery electric vehicle by driving an electric generator that charges the vehicle's battery. This arrangement is known as a series hybrid drivetrain. The most commonly used range extenders are internal combustion engines, but fuel-cells or other engine types can be used.

Range extender vehicles are also referred to as extended-range electric vehicles (EREV), range-extended electric vehicles (REEV), and range-extended battery-electric vehicle (BEVx) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Many range extender vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt and the BMW i3, both of which have been discontinued, are able to charge their batteries from the grid as well as from the range extender, and therefore are a type of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), mild hybrids (MHEV), and most PHEV are primarily powered by combustion (with bigger engines and fuel tanks and smaller batteries and electric motors), while range-extended electric vehicles are the opposite.

Motivation

The key function of the range extender is to increase the vehicle's range. Range autonomy is one of the main barriers for the commercial success of electric vehicles, and extending the vehicle's range when the battery is depleted helps alleviate range anxiety.

A range extender can also reduce the consumption of the range-extending fuel (such as gasoline) by using the primary fuel (such as battery power), while still maintaining the driving range of a single-fuel vehicle powered by a fuel such as gasoline. The range-extending fuel is generally considered to be less environmentally and economically friendly to use than the primary fuel source, so the vehicle control system gives preference to using the primary fuel if it's available. However, due to range limitations with the primary fuel source, the range extender allows the vehicle to get many of the cost and environmental benefits of the primary fuel, while maintaining the full driving range of the range extending fuel source. That said, the benefits (cost, carbon emissions) derived from using a vehicle with a range extender ultimately depend on how the vehicle is driven, and in particular how often the range extender is used.

As an example, cars such as the BMW i3 with optional range extender and the Chevrolet Volt are equipped with sufficiently large batteries to drive 50-100 mile, which is enough for many trips but not sufficient to drive long distances. As such, the driver may use battery power for commuting and daily driving, but still be able to drive from New York to Boston (about 200 miles) by using the auxiliary gasoline internal combustion engine, without stopping frequently to charge the battery (which can take hours). The vehicle owner therefore accrues the benefits of using cheaper and less carbon-intensive electric power for most driving, while maintaining the ability to embark on longer trips with the same vehicle.

When a range extender uses conventional fuels they can re-fuel at regular fuel stations, which provides them with a similar driving range to conventional automobiles.

As a range-extended electric vehicle is only propelled by the electric motor it can do away with the weight and cost associated with the gearbox transmission system typically used in internal combustion engine cars. Further, as the range extender does not need to increase or decrease output in line with the power needs of the vehicle (this task is handled by the electric motor) the range extender can be sized to satisfy the vehicle's average power requirement rather than its peak power requirement (such as when accelerating). The range extender can also operate much closer to its most efficient rotational speed. These design features allow range-extended electric vehicles to convert fossil fuel energy to electric power and vehicle motion relatively efficiently. The combustion engine may also have a longer lifespan, as it does not need to run at high rpm (which causes increased wear and tear).

Generations

CARB regulation

According to 2012 Amendments to the Zero Emission Vehicle Regulations adopted in March 2012 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), a range-extended battery-electric vehicle, designated as BEVx, should comply, among others, with the following criteria:

Applications

Range extenders are commonly used in marine (autonomous underwater vehicle), aircraft and Generator/Utility, automotive and hybrid electric vehicle applications.

Automotive

Chevrolet Volt

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/DCA_06_2012_Chevy_Volt_4035.JPG" caption="series]] [[plug-in hybrid]] referred by General Motors as "an electric car with extended range.""] ::

General Motors describes the Chevrolet Volt as an electric vehicle equipped with a 16 kWh battery plus a "range extending" gasoline powered internal combustion engine (ICE) as a genset and therefore dubbed the Volt an "Extended Range Electric Vehicle" or E-REV. In a January 2011 interview, the Chevy Volt's Global Chief Engineer, Pamela Fletcher, referred to the Volt as "an electric car with extended range." The Volt operates as a purely electric car for the first 25-50 mi in charge-depleting mode. When the battery capacity drops below a pre-established threshold from full charge, the vehicle enters charge-sustaining mode, and the Volt's control system will select the most optimally efficient drive mode to improve performance and boost high-speed efficiency.{{cite news | url = http://www.motortrend.com/features/editorial/1010_unbolting_the_chevy_volt_to_see_how_it_ticks/index.html| title = Unbolting the Chevy Volt to See How it Ticks| work = Motor Trend|author=Frank Markus| date = 2010-10-10| access-date = 2010-10-11}}

According to General Motors' real time tally of the distance driven by Volt owners in North America, by mid-June 2014 they had accumulated more than 500 mi. GM also reported that Volt owners driving is more than 63% in all-electric mode. Volt owners who charge regularly typically drive more than 970 mi between fill-ups and visit the gasoline station less than once a month. A similar report, issued by GM in August 2016, reported that Volt owners have accumulated almost 1.5 mi driven in EV mode, representing 60% of their total distance traveled.

BMW i3

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/BMW_i3_(19939421151).jpg" caption="range-extended battery-electric vehicle]] (BEVx) according to the [[California Air Resources Board]] regulations."] ::

The BMW i3 all-electric car with at least 22 kWh battery capacity offers an optional gasoline-powered range extender APU. The range extender is the same 647 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine used in the BMW C650 GT scooter with a 9 L fuel tank. The US model originally had its tank electronically limited to a smaller 7 L capacity. The range extender engages when the battery level drops to 6%. It generates electricity to extend the range from 80 - to 240 - Performance in range-extending mode may be more limited than when it is running on battery power, as BMW designed the range extender as a backup to enable reaching a recharging location.

According to BMW, at the beginning of the i3 release, the use of range-extender was much more than the carmaker expected, more than 60%. Over time it has decreased significantly, with some people almost never using it, and by 2016 it is being regularly used in fewer than 5% of i3s.

The range-extender option costs an additional in the United States, an additional (~ ) in France, and (~ ) in the Netherlands.

The range-extender option of the BMW i3 was designed to meet the CARB regulation for an auxiliary power unit (APU) called REx. According to rules CARB adopted in March 2012, the 2014 BMW i3 with a REx unit fitted will be the first car to qualify as a range-extended battery-electric vehicle or "BEVx." CARB describes this type of electric vehicle as "a relatively high-electric range battery-electric vehicle (BEV) to which an APU is added." The APU, which maintains battery charge at about 6% after the pack has been depleted in normal use, is strictly limited in the additional range it can provide.

Other examples

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Fisker_at_speed_in_the_fog_trimmed.jpg" caption="The discontinued [[Fisker Karma]] is an extended-range electric vehicle."] ::

Other range-extended electric vehicles include the discontinued Cadillac ELR and the discontinued Fisker Karma. In June 2016, Nissan announced it will introduce a compact range extender car in Japan before March 2017. The series plug-in hybrid will use a new hybrid system, dubbed e-Power, which debuted with the Nissan Gripz concept crossover showcased at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show. The technology, without the plug-in ability, had been deployed to the Nissan Note e-Power and Nissan Kicks e-Power.

The LEVC TX London taxi was launched in 2017 and features a 33 kWh battery that is charged by a 1.5-litre gasoline engine.

The Li Auto One is a large SUV which combines a 41-kWh battery with a small 1.2-litre gasoline engine.

This approach has also been used for heavy vehicles, such as Wrightbus's Gemini 2 and New Routemaster buses.

Hydrogen fuel cells have also been used as a range extender for battery electric buses, allowing them to have greater range. For example, the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro has a range of 280 km as a battery electric model, with the eCitaro fuel cell bus having a range of 400 km thanks to a 60kW Toyota fuel cell that recharges the battery.

Ford has patents for a bed mounted gasoline-powered generator for their fully electric pickups. Rivian has patents for bed mounted additional batteries for increased range. Rivian electric trucks can charge each other for extended range.

Heavy rail

Main article: Hybrid train

Ship

Main article: Ship#Propulsion_systems

Unmanned aerial vehicles

The 2010 Wolverine 3 program included an ICE range extender for its unmanned aerial vehicle.

Powertrain

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Schema-Antriebe.jpg" caption="Schematic classification of alternative powertrains"] ::

A range-extended electric vehicle uses a series hybrid drivetrain.

References

References

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