22-07-2025
Bold new (Amp)era: inside the new generation of range-extender engines
Scharrer sees huge market potential in areas where charging infrastructure remains a barrier to EV sales success. 'I hear comments that this is a very short-term technology and that regulations aren't following,' he laments. 'But if you have a car capable of going 155 miles fully electric, then it has a range-extender for the countryside, why should you be banned from driving it in the city?
'We involve ourselves as much as we can in regulatory discussions. In China, to keep the status of a 'new-energy vehicle' [EVs and plug-in hybrids], you must not connect the internal combustion engine to the wheels.
The EU has not finally decided what to do with range-extenders, but I think they realise that this is an interesting opportunity to offer a product which is less dependent on rare materials and cell chemistry because you need a significantly smaller battery.
'They want to understand what the pros and cons are. The whole mobility community is ready for these discussions, because we need them. The past regulation of BEVs has shown that we cannot push things into the market against the customers' will.
The easier a solution is, the higher its chance of surviving a long time. And this is quite an easy solution. I personally expect that we will see it beyond the next five to 10 years. I think there will be plenty of applications which really excite people.'
