Gasoline ‘Extended Range Electric Vehicles’ Are Huge In China And These Amazing Cars Explain Why

When Western media talk about “China’s EV market,” they’re actually talking about the “NEV market.” NEV, or New Energy Vehicles, is a Chinese vehicle class for passenger cars. Within NEV, there are three categories: Electric Vehicles (EV), Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PHEV), and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV). We’re going to look at PHEVs in China, specifically Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVS) like the BMW i3.

Here are a few notes about NEVs to get us started:

• The NEV distinction is important because only NEVs qualify for state- and local green-energy subsidies.
• The PHEV category includes Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREV).
• Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) are not NEVs. They are classified as ICE vehicles.
• There is no mass production of FCEV (hydrogen) passenger cars, but some brands make small series for specific demonstration projects, like airport taxi vehicles and the like.
• In May, Chinese consumers bought 955.000 NEVs, divided by 583,000 EVs (+12.5% YoY) and 371.000 PHEVs, including EREVs (+87.7% Y0Y). The remaining 1000 cars were likely FCEVs.

With that out of the way, let’s get into range-extended EVs, which are technically plug-in hybrids, but probably not the type that you Americans are used to.

EREV Explained

The Thing With Chinese EREVs

The popularity of EREVs in China is going through the roof. The main reason is EV-range anxiety, but there is more: New Chinese EREVs are ultra-advanced machines — more advanced than EVs in many ways, and consumers in China like to have the latest technology with their wheels. What’s new:

• Extremely long range: up to 1517 kilometers (943 miles)
• Large batteries: the batteries of Chinese EREVs are huge: up to 65 kWh.  
• Large fuel tanks: up to 84 liters.
• DC fast charging, just like an EV.
• Hyper-efficient ICE, like Miller cycle engines.
• The Chinese expression for EREV is 增程式 (zēng chéngshì).
• Most EREVs are aimed at families with an outdoorsy lifestyle, going glamping in the mountains on the weekend. 

More EREV & Less EV

With rising popularity, more Chinese NEV makers are adding EREVs to the lineup. A brand like Avatr for example always was EV-only, but their new 07 SUV will be available as EREV and EV from the start, and Avatr is developing EREV variants for the rest of their lineup as well. Another example is Deepal, a brand under Changan. Initially, Deepal offered EV and EREV, but its latest model is EREV only.

Soon, if not already, EV-only makers will be in the minority. A few well-known holdouts are brands like NIO, IM, and Xpeng. Other combinations exist; Voyah sells some models with EREV powertrains only, and others with EV and PHEV powertrains. BYD’s main brand sells EVs and PHEVs, but the company’s high-end brands sell EVs and EREVs. Even a new brand like Xiaomi, which has just launched its first EV sedan with much fanfare, has changed its strategy from EV-only ti EV & EREV.

High-Speed Innovation

Chinese NEV makers innovate with incredibly high speed, in software and hardware. In China, nobody waits two years to introduce the next update, that is way too long. Updates are launched whenever ready. It may so happen that car makers introduced an updated model three months after launch and another update three months later. These updates may include anything: design changes, a new operating system, a larger screen, an improved engine, a bigger battery, and more.

To be sure: this is not just about OTA updates — that’s happening a lot too — but really about introducing improved vehicles. Usually, these upgraded variants get a new sub-name. For example, a car may be called the W. The upgraded variant will be called W Extra Long Range or W Smart Driving. After a while, the original W will quietly disappear from the lineup. And on it goes.

Examples of Modern Chinese EREV cars

Dozens of Chinese brands sell EREVs — way too many to include them all in this article. I have selected some of the best and some of the newest for this overview.

Li L9 (Combined Range: 877 miles. EV range: 174 miles) 

The best-known EREV maker is Li, a brand under Li Auto. Li is one of the largest of the “new” Chinese brands. In May the brand sold 35,020 cars for the 16th place in the brand-sales ranking. Until very recently, Li Auto only made EREVs. At this moment, Li sells four EREV SUVs and one fully mad full-electric MPV.

The SUVs are marketed as luxury long-distance travel cars, and that does indeed go perfectly with an EREV power train. The biggest Li SUV is the L9, with a length of 205 inches and a curb weight of almost 5,700 pounds. It is an impressive machine with a daring design. The L9 costs 409.800 yuan or $56.5K.

The technology is equally impressive. At the front, it has a generator and one electric motor.  Between the axles: battery and fuel tank. Rear: the second electric motor. The numbers:

With all that power, fuel, and electricity, the Li L9 has a combined range of 877 miles and an EV-only range of 174 miles. Zero to 62 MPH takes 5.3 seconds, and top speed is 112 mph.

Like complexity? Li has you covered. With all these new brands and technologies, it is hard for Chinse NEV companies to find enough staff for maintenance centers. Even in China, there is a limit to the number of people who can fix something, let alone an EREV with multiple motors and fuel types.

Most new NEV makers outsource basic maintenance functions to third-party companies. The more complicated work is done at large centralized maintenance shops that cover a wider geographic area. However, this takes more time, and consumers already complain about long waiting times when their cars need a repair. Fortunately, everything software-related can be updated OTA.

Aito M7 Ultra AWD (Combined Range: 777 miles. EV Range: 131 miles)

Aito is a brand under Huawei. This company is most famous for 5G networks, smartphones, and U.S. sanctions. But in China, Huawei has become a very large player in the automotive world, both as a supplier and a car maker.

Huawei controls three car brands: Aito, Luxeed, and Stelato. The Aito brand is the largest of the lot. In May, Aito sold 37,247 cars, good for the 14th place in the brand-sales ranking. Aito sells a range of  SUVs with EV and EREV powertrains. The EREV with the longest range is the new Aito M7 Ultra RWD, shown above. It has a length of 200 inches and weighs about 5,200 pounds. The design is more smooth than pretty, with a bit of sportiness. The Aito M7 Ultra RWD costs 289.800 yuan or $40K.

The Ultra is available in two configurations: AWD: range extender + two electric motors. RWD: range extender + one electric motor. The latter has the more horsepower, so that’s the one I am covering here because horsepower is life.

The Ait0 M7 has the range extender quite far ahead of the front axle. Compare that to the Li L9, which has the extender almost between the wheels. The front electric motor is located behind the range extender, then comes the battery pack, the fuel tank, and the second electric motor at the rear. Let’s check the specs:

This is enough power, fuel, and electricity for a combined range of 777 miles and an EV range of 131 miles. The top speed is limited to 118 mph and 0-100 takes only 4.8 seconds.

Typically, these large SUVs are marketed as family/extended-family cars. PR photos always show vast interiors with kids playing around with their pads, pets, or granddad.   

Neta L 310 Flash Charge Red (Combined range: 808 miles. EV range: 193 miles)

Neta is a Chinese NEV brand under Hozon Auto. Neta makes a fast-expanding lineup of cool yet affordable NEVs. The smaller cars are EVs and the larger ones EV/EREV. Neta’s best car is without a doubt the Neta GT, an electric sportscar that looks like an Aston Martin mixed with a 1995 Toyota Celica. But that’s an EV.

Neta’s most impressive EREV is the new L, a compact SUV. The Neta L with the longest range is the 310 Flash Charge Red model. It has a length of 188 inches and weighs just over 4,100 pounds. The Neta L is an affordable car; even the 310 Flash Charge Red costs only 152.900 yuan or $21K.

The Neta L is only available as an RWD. The EREV platform is called Shanhai, with the range extender at the front, the batteries and fuel tank between the axles, and the electric motor at the back. Time to have a look at the spec book:

The L has a naturally aspirated range extender. Charging and refueling speed is hugely impressive. If all is empty, you need 19.8 minutes to charge the battery and 3 minutes to refuel.  And on you go another 808 miles! What China needs is a gas station with a supercharger and a gasoline pump standing next to each other, or opposite each other, so a driver can recharge and refuel at the same moment, saving precious time. I am surprised China hasn’t thought of this already. I guess that’ll change when more EREVs hit the road.

The Neta L 310 Flash Charge Red has a combined range of 808 miles, an EV range of 193 miles, a 112 mph top speed, and 0-100 takes 8.2 seconds.  

Shown above is the Neta GT at a Neta dealer in Beijing. Brilliant-looking machine. This one is painted in Flash Red. RWD or AWD. The top-spec AWD version has 340 kW and 457 ft-lb, it costs 226.800 yuan or $31.2K. 

Leapmotor C16 (Combined range: 680 miles. EV range: 124 miles)

Leapmotor is a Chinese car brand founded in 2015. Its English name is Leapmotor, one word, not Leap Motor. Leapmotor’s first car was the coolest: the C01 coupe, China’s first full-electric sportscar. Sadly it didn’t sell well, but Leapmotor had more success with a series of EV/EREV SUVs and an EV minicar.

Leapmotor’s latest is the C16, a super smooth six-seat SUV. Darkened headlights are a new design trend in China, almost every new car has it, and Leap does it very well on the C16. It is 193 inches long with a curb weight  of almost 4,600 pounds (EREV). The C16 is available as an EV and as an EREV. The latter costs 155.800 yuan or $21.5K. 

The C16 EREV combines a range extender with a single electric motor at the rear, with the battery pack and fuel tank in the middle. To clear the mist, here is the spec list:

The C16 uses a naturally aspirated range extender as well. It is super efficient, with both fuel and electricity consumption. The C16 turns that into an impressive combined range of 680 miles combined and 124 miles in EV mode. The top speed is 105 mph, and it does 0-100 in 8.46 seconds. Not 8.5 seconds; oh no, the correct number is 8.46, according to the manufacturer. Quite precise.

When you are done checking the range you can sing a song with the factory-standard 4-mic wireless karaoke system. 

Yangwang U8 (Combined range: 621 miles. EV range: 77 miles)

If Li is the king of EREV brands, we should establish which car is the king of EREV cars — it’s not a Li, it’s the Yangwang U8. Yangwang is a high-end NEV brand under BYD, set to compete with Mercedes-Maybach and Bentley, but those brands seem to be of yesteryear compared to Yangwan. The brand does everything it wants: four-motor cars, EVs, EREVs, supercars, tank-turns, crab-walks, drone bays, cars that wade in water,  you name it.

The Yangwang U8 is a massive body-on-frame SUV with five seats, a length of 210 inches. Hold on for the curb weight… …  … over 7,600 pounds! The price is steep too, the Yangwang U8 costs 1.098 million yuan or $151.6K.

The power train is called ‘易四方’ (Yì Sìfāng), the English name is easier: e⁴. The name refers to the number of electric motors; it has four of those — two at the front and two at the rear. Each electric motor drives one wheel. The gas generator is at the front, high up between the wheels. The front electric motors sit lower between the wheels, partially under the extender. The battery pack and the fuel tank (not shown in the image) are between the axles. The rear electric motors are quite high up in the chassis again. Let’s get back to some specs:

The combined range is 621 miles and the EV range is 77 miles. The range is rather limited for such an expensive car, due to the heavy weight and the small battery pack. Only 49.05 kWh! But the U8 charges ultra-fast thanks to its 800V architecture, which is nice, except when you are somewhere report like up on the mountain in the middle of a river. That’s what the range extender is for.

Fortunately, despite its heft, the U8 is fast, it has a top speed of 124 mph, and it does 0-100 in only 3.6 seconds.

The tent is a factory option. 

Shown is the Yangwang lineup. On the left is the U9 supercar and on the right is the U7 sedan. Both are four-motor EVs. BYD is a sponsor of the Euro2024 football (soccer) championship, hence the text and the stadium. 

M-Hero 917 EREV (Combined range: 637 miles. EV range: 124 miles)

M-Hero is a Dongfeng Motors (DFM) division, and probably China’s coolest unknown brand. M-Hero makes only one car; the 917, a massive body-on-frame off-road monster that can go everywhere. It is 193 inches long and weighs almost 7000 pounds (EREV). 

The 917 has AWD & all-wheel steering, and it can do tank turns and wade through water.  You can get it with a drone bay, and M-Hero is developing a long-wheelbase L version. M-Hero showed an even more extreme machine at the Beijing Auto Show in April. Everybody thought it was a concept but the company stated that it was for real.

Last month M-Hero launched the 917 Dragon Armor, a special edition with a new front. M-Hero also makes variants for the police and the armed forces. The 917 is available as an EV and as an EREV. The latter costs 637.700  yuan ($88K), slightly cheaper than the EV, which sells for 697.700 ($96K).

The platform is called M-Tech Super Platform. At the front, it has the range extender and one electric motor. In the middle are the battery pack and the fuel tank. At the back are two more electric motors. The specs:

M-Her0 917 has a combined range of 637 miles and an EV range of 124 miles. The top speed is 119 mph and 0-62 mph takes 6 seconds.

Quiz question: is 65.8 kWh a big battery? Yes, and no. It is the biggest battery in any EREV. But the 917 EV version has 142.7 kWh! The M-Hero 917 also has the biggest fuel tank of any EREV. Finally, the 917 is the only EREV with a 2-speed gearbox. Dongfeng has not released numbers on fuel and electricity consumption. 

The M-Hero has door handles designed to look like a pistol, with the words ‘Never Back Down’ on the barrel.

Having some fun the M-Hero way: going up a mountain to watch a war movie with your pal. The 917’s 6 kWh V2L connector powers the projector. The fire is powered by wood, or so it appears. The jet is a Shenyang J-11 air superiority fighter. 

Deepal G318 AWD (Combined range: 621 miles. EV range: 118 miles)

Deepal is an NEV brand under Changan Auto, the same company that makes the Hunter pick-up truck. Deepal makes a line of advanced EV/EREV sedans and SUVs. The G318 is Deepal’s newest car, a cool off-road-style SUV with searchlights integrated into the roof rack. The G318 is EREV-only for now, an EV version will launch later.

This, again, indicates the relative importance of EREVs over EVs. The G318 is 197 inches long, with a curb weight of 5202 pounds. The AWD version costs 199.900 yuan or $27.5K.

The EREV system is called Super Range Extender 2.0. It is billed as a system that is about “Hard-core energy consumption innovation.” The range extender is located a bit in front of the front axle, next to the front electric motor. The battery pack and the fuel tank are between the axles, with the second electric motor at the rear.

The battery is relatively small, which hurts the range: 621 combined and 218 EV. The drag coefficient of 0.35 Cd doesn’t help either. The top speed is 115 mph and the sprint from 0 to 62 mph takes 6.3 seconds.

The generator looks tiny from this angle. 

Changan Hunter AWD (Combined range: 641 miles. EV range: 81 miles)

Zillions EV and PHEV pickup trucks are available in China, but the new Changan Hunter is the first EREV pickup truck. It has an imposing design with a black grille, black wheel arches, roof rails, and, oddly, chromed door handles. The Hunter is large for a hunter, with a length of 5.3 meters, a wheelbase of 3.2 meters, and a curb weight of 2285 kilos. The Hunter is available with two one (RWD) or two electric motors (AWD). The Hunter AWD costs only $20.6K, making it the cheapest car in this story.  Changan also sells a campervan version of the Hunter. Spec sheet:

Efficiency is on the low side so range is not that impressive. It uses a 2.0 turbo as a range extender, which is a big motor for a car like this. The only other EREV with a 2.0 turbo in this overview is the massive Yangwang U8. The Hunter AWD has a combined range of 641 miles and an EV range of 81 miles. The Hunter is just out, so new indeed that Changan hasn’t released many photos yet. 

The Hunter is marketed as a work truck, and not as a lifestyle vehicle. 

Exeed Sterra ET EREV Pro+. Combined range: 943 miles. EV range: 124 miles.

Sterra is a high-end NEV line under Exeed, itself a brand under Chery Auto. Exeed Sterra sells two cars: the Sterra ES sedan (EV) and the Sterra ET SUV (EV & EREV). The ET SUV  launched on the Chinese car market in May. It is a large aerodynamic vehicle without too many exciting design details, except perhaps for the screens on each side of the front bumper. Exeed calls these screens the Lamp Factory. The screens can show animations and text messages, just like HiPhi had. The interior, however, is super pretty. The ET is nearly 198 inches long with about a 5000 pound curb weight. The most advanced model is the ET EREV Pro+, which costs 225.800 yuan ($31.K).  

The Sterra ET is only available with RWD. The range extender is at the front, the battery pack is in the middle, and the electric motor is at the back. The photo doesn’t show the location of the fuel tank, and there isn’t any space behind the batteries, so I guess it is normally located just behind the battery, next to the electric motor. The range extender is quite far back over the front axle. It seems a tight package for such a large car. 

The Sterra ET is hugely efficient, leading to a combined range of 943 miles. However, the battery is small, and that seriously limits the EV range, even with a 17.3 kWh electricity consumption. The ET’s top speed is 112 mph and 0-100 takes 7.6 seconds. 

With an interior like this, who cares about the outside? The color combination is called Roland Purple. 

Chinese yacht makers already sell electric and diesel-electric hybrid boats, but I haven’t heard of an EREV yet. But who knows? A Chinese NEV maker might just go into boating. Others are into flying cars, mobile phones, space, fashion, and whatnot more.

Rox 01: Combined range (831 miles. EV range: 181 miles)

Rox is a brand under Rox Motor. The Rox 01 is the company’s first and so far only car. It is a giant SUV with a somewhat elegant Land Rover-like design. The Rox, however, has lidar, and I don’t think anyone at Rover even knows what lidar is. The 01 can wade, just like the 918 and the U8. They should have a wading match, who gets across the Yangtze first? The Rox 01 is a big machine with a length of 5050 mm and a 3010 mm wheelbase. It is relatively light. The curb weight is ‘only’ 2580 kg. The Rox 01 costs $48K, which makes it a steal.

The platform with the range extender and one electric motor up front, batteries and fuel tank are in the middle, and the second electric motor is at the rear. 

The efficiency doesn’t seem very good, but it still manages a combined range is 1338 kilometers and a massive EV range of 292 kilometers. Has to be the low weight and the big fual tank. The top speed is 118 mph and it does 0-100 in 5.5 seconds. 

Family fun the Rox way: picnic on a neatly trimmed field, wearing outdoor clothes. The tent and the camping set are dealer options. Note the big-wheeled wagon/stroller on the right. These are a popular option in China right now, I have seen them at many dealers of many brands. Rox will also sell you a mobile kitchen, a hot water dispenser, and a made-to-fit air mattress, all branded ‘Rox’. Strangely, the V2L ‘s output is only 2.2 kW. The most common output is 3.3, and most other high-end EREV SUVs have 6.6 kWh. 

Voyah Free AWD Explorer (Combined range: 843 miles. EV range: 161 miles)

Voyah is another high-end NEV brand under Dongfeng Motors (DFM). I made so many jokes about the logo when the brand was announced back in 2019. I will not repeat ‘m here.

Voyah sells three cars: the Dreamer MPV, the Passion sedan, and the Free SUV. The power train situation is nice and messy: the Deamer and the Passion are PHEV or EV. The Free is EREV only, and the upcoming Zhiyin compact SUV is EV-only.  The Free is a great-looking car, especially in this Jade Greem color with a darkened grille and an illuminated Voyah logo. The most advanced Free is the recently launched AWD Explorer Model. The Free is 4.9 meters long with a 2960 wheelbase and a 2150 kg curb weight. It costs 247.900 yuan or $34K. 

This is a great pic of the platform, showing the complexity of a modern AWD EREV system. The charging port is on the right-rear side, and the fuel door is on the left-rear side. The fuel tank fuels the range extender, which charges the battery, which powers the electric motors at the front and the rear. 

The Voyah 318 AWD Explorer has the most powerful single electric motor at the rear of all the cars discussed here. It has a combined range of 843 miles and an EV range of 161 miles. The top speed is 124 mph and it does 0-100 in 4.5 seconds. 

See? Same stroller. 

Celebrity endorsement is still a big marketing thing in China. The Voyah Free 318 is endorsed by Bosco Wong (黄宗泽), a famous Hong Kong actor and singer. Wong starred in blockbusters such as Buddy Cops (2016), G Storm (2021), and a million television shows. He wears a military-style leather raincoat in the photo, it almost has the same color as the Voyah. 

What Is The Best EREV?

So many great cars, and I have only discussed a small portion of the total. Time now to pick a winner: What is the best EREV of the cars in this article? To answer this question we check which car has the biggest in these category:

That looks like a draw! The M-Hero 917 and the Sterra ET share first place. Regardless, there is an EREV for everyone in China. The future for EREV looks bright at the moment, with ever more cars coming to the market. And there seems nothing that can stop them. China already has 9.92 million chargers, and there are EVs out there that can do 620 miles on a single charge. With the next generation of semi-solid and solid batteries coming soon, EVs will go even further. But still, Chinese consumers want to have an EREV — 943 miles is better than 620, and it seems that many folks like the idea of the outdoor lifestyle, which suits an ICE more than an EV given infrastructure issues.

And with that, this story ends. Next, we’ll talk about the numerous long-wheelbase cars sold only in China.

Photo disclaimer: street and dealer photos by me, other photos by the manufacturers.