Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s leading automaker, is developing an ‘Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV)’ to address the so-called electric vehicle chasm, a temporary slowdown in EV demand.
Unlike traditional EVs, the EREV uses an internal combustion engine solely to recharge the battery. Hyundai’s EREV, which can travel up to 900 kilometers at a full charge, is set to be tailored for markets with vast land areas, such as the U.S., Canada, and China.
Hyundai is ramping up the development of EREVs with plans to launch the new model in 2027, according to sources familiar with the matter on August 30. The company aims to begin mass production of EREVs in North America and China by late 2026.
Initial offerings are set to include D-class (mid-size) SUVs under the Hyundai and Genesis brands, with the Santa Fe and GV70 as prime candidates. Hyundai’s goal is to sell more than 80,000 EREV units annually. Hyundai and Kia also plan to incorporate EREV technology into the pickup trucks the automakers are currently developing, codenamed TE and TV, which are scheduled for release in 2028 and 2029, respectively.
An EREV features a battery, motor and engine, similar to a hybrid vehicle. But unlike hybrids, the EREV operates primarily as an EV, relying on a charged battery for propulsion like a traditional EV. When the battery runs low, the internal combustion engine kicks in to generate electricity to recharge the battery. The driving range of an EREV varies depending on the battery capacity and engine size.
Hyundai believes EREVs can address the limitations of traditional EVs: short driving ranges and limited access to charging stations. An EREV can travel up to roughly 1,000 kilometers on a single charge. Battery charging times are shorter because the battery capacity is about 30% of that used in traditional EVs. Since the battery capacity is smaller, the vehicle’s price is also expected to be lower than that of pure EVs.
Hyundai previously unveiled an EREV concept vehicle, the i-oniq, at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, but the company has yet to mass-produce an EREV model. General Motors (GM) introduced the first EREV in 2010 with the Chevrolet Volt, which could travel 414 kilometers on a single charge. However, the Chevrolet Volt was discontinued in 2015 when GM introduced the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt.
Hyundai plans to strengthen its EV and hybrid product lines, including EREVs, during the transition period to full EVs. Recently, Chinese automakers like Li Auto, Xiaomi and Nio have also launched EREVs.
