Volkswagen will make the gasoline engine part of the electric ID. cars. VW boss Oliver Blume sees it as a way to facilitate the switch to electric cars by 2035.
Volkswagen is investigating the possibility of adding gasoline engines to the otherwise all-electric ID. family.
This will take the form of a so-called range extender. The VW boss believes this could lower the barrier for car buyers who
The VW Group is already investing in the technology. This is happening in both the US and China. Now it looks like the solution is also on its way to European customers.
CEO Oliver Blume wants electric cars that are supplemented by a range extender to be exempt from the EU's upcoming ban. The ban on new cars with combustion engines will come into effect in 2035.
"If you have a range extender, you are still only (ed.) driving an electric car. But the long range can lower the barrier to switching to an electric car."
A range extender works like a small petrol-powered generator. It only produces power for the electric motor when the battery is running dry. The car therefore continues to run primarily on electricity.
VW ID.Era and future hybrid technology
At the Shanghai Motor Show, Volkswagen showed the ID.Era concept car. It is part of the ID. family but has a gasoline engine on board. The car was developed specifically for the Chinese market in the first instance.
According to Chinese driving standards, the ID.Era can drive approximately 300 kilometers on electric power alone. After that, the gasoline engine can extend the range by a further 700 kilometers. This gives a total range of around 1,000 kilometers.
The development of range extenders is happening alongside other hybrid solutions at VW. Earlier this year, it emerged that the brand is also working on a full hybrid system. This system is reminiscent of what is known from Toyota.
The goal is to meet different markets and customer needs.
The introduction of range extenders in Europe has not yet been determined, but according to German media, development is in full swing.
Range extender in ID.4 and ID.7?
It is unclear exactly which models will get the technology. However, according to information provided to the German media outlet Automobilwoche, it is a possibility for existing models. Cars such as the ID.4 and ID.7 are mentioned as potential candidates.
This will mean that popular electric cars could suddenly have a significantly longer overall range. This could appeal to customers with range anxiety. Or customers who often drive long trips.
Volkswagen sees the technology as a transitional solution. It could make the switch to pure electric driving easier for more drivers. It is a step towards the fully electric future that the group is still aiming for.
The timing of and whether a European launch is planned is unknown. It likely depends on market developments and the final shape of the 2035 ban.
Something else that seems even more set in stone is the EU's attitude towards inspection regulations. In Brussels, they want to force the vast majority of cars to be inspected even more often. Read more about it here .
