什么是EREV？

Running out of gaswhile you’re driving is a major inconvenience. It can leave you stranded,sometimes miles away from the nearest service station. It can take hours of your day to reachyour destination. And depending on where your vehicle has stopped, it can put you in an unsafesituation.Yet more and more of today’s drivers face another potential inconvenience: running out ofbattery. This is what’s known as range anxiety; it encompasses the unease that can surface forthe driver because of an electric vehicle’s (EV) limited driving distance (at least, compared withan internal-combustion-engine[ICE]vehicle), a lack of convenient charging stations, and theneed to recharge frequently. Range anxiety, along with the price tag of the EV itself, is a majorconcern for consumers considering the purchase of an electric vehicle. For prospective ownerswho live in apartments or homes without access to overnight charging, as well as those whowould take long-distance trips, the potential lack of public charging stations can be a concern.And while most drivers have a daily commute of less than 50 miles, others drive much farther toget to and from work.EREVs—or extended-range electric vehicles—stand to quell range anxiety and may boost EVsales around the world. Read on for more on what EREV growth may mean for globalmomentum toward electrification.Learn more about McKinsey’s Automotive & Assembly Practice.What are the types of EVs, and how are EREVs different from others?There are five distinct types of electric vehicles:—Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)have both an internal-combustion engine and an electricmotor, which assists only at low speeds. The battery is charged either by the combustionengine or through recuperation when braking. Honda’s Accord line, for example, features anHEV model.—Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)are powered by an electric motor as well as asmallcombustion engine. They have an all-electric range of 20 to 60 miles and can be charged ata regular EV charging station. Toyota’s Prius line includes a plug-in hybrid.—Extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs)are sometimes included in the PHEV category,but there are key differences between the two. Whereas PHEVs use a parallel electric-motor and ICE powertrain configuration, EREVs typically include a small ICE-poweredgenerator that recharges the battery pack. Both EREVs and PHEVs can be charged at EVcharging stations, and their ICE engines can be refueled at traditional gas stations. But manyPHEVs can only slow charge using home chargers or public chargers, whereas EREVs canuse AC chargers and newer DC fast chargers. Finally, EREVs offer a longer driving rangeWhat is an EREV? than PHEVs: usually between 100 and 200 miles, compared with 20 to 60 miles for PHEVs.—Battery electric vehicles (BEVs)rely solely on their battery for power. They producenotailpipe emissions, have no combustion engine, and can typically drive between 200 and500 miles before needing to recharge. The Tesla Model 3 and the Chevy Bolt are examplesof BEVs.—Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)use only electric motors. Their electricity isgenerated infuel cellsand can be stored in a small buffer battery. Fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen (whichis compressed into tanks) as fuel. Toyota’s Mirai and Hyundai’s Nexo are examples of FCEVs.What is the current market presence of EREVs?China is the only market where EREVs are currently available at scale. The vehicle’sstrong salesmomentum therehas caught the attention of auto manufacturers in Europe and the UnitedStates as one potential way to boost EV sales growth. EREVs, such as the now-discontinuedChevy Volt, were part of the first wave of vehicle electrification in the 2010s. But they didn’t takeoff, because early EV adopters were interested mainly in pure BEVs. Today, though, a widerrange of Americans and Europeans are buying EVs—not only the early tech-savvy adopters butalso mainstream car buyers. For automakers that have developed BEV production lines but mayhave struggled to get sufficient sales volume, they can often develop EREVs on the same BEVplatform and achieve better economies of scale.At present, only a fewEREVs are commercially available. But in different geographies, a numberof new EREVs are scheduled to hit the market in 2025:—In the United States, soon-to-release EREVs in the SUV and truck segments include the2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which reports a 145-mile pure electric and 690-mile totaldriving range.—In Canada and the United States, the Volkswagen-backed Scout Motors has announcedseveral EREV models. According to the company, these models have received considerablymore deposits than they saw for their BEVs.—In China, Li Auto has introduced several EREVs, including its L9, which reports a 134-mileelectric range and an 817-mile total range. Aito’s M9 reports up to a 170-mile electric rangeand a total range of up to 871 miles.Learn more about McKinsey’sAutomotive & Assembly Practice.What are consumers’ perceptions of EREVs?M