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China’s EV Shift: Extended Range Hybrids Surge in Popularity Amid Range Anxiety Concerns
Chinese Electric Vehicles: Long-range hybrids are gaining popularity among car purchasers in China
Previously dismissed by EV producers, extended range innovations are now thriving as buyers seek to alleviate 'range stress'
Extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), a specific type of plug-in hybrid cars, come with a compact internal combustion engine. This engine provides extra energy to recharge the battery when necessary, aside from the capability of being charged using a power cord.
These vehicles have the ability to cover a distance up to 1,000km with just one battery charge and they are roughly 10% less expensive than their fully electric counterparts, says Davis Zhang, a high-ranking official at Suzhou Hazardtex, a company that provides unique batteries. This could translate to an average saving of 30,000 yuan (US$4,220) per purchase, he further explained.
Every significant electric vehicle manufacturer in China, barring Shanghai's Nio, has either produced Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) or has declared their intentions to do so, in response to increasing customer demand.
"This signifies a major shift in China's electric vehicle industry, as extended range technology was previously dismissed by all prominent automobile manufacturers ten years ago due to its bleak market prospects," stated Gao Shen, an independent analyst based in Shanghai. "Currently, most firms are opting for a balanced approach in developing Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs), on account of their increasing appeal to Chinese customers."
He further emphasized that fully electric vehicles are expected to be the dominant trend in the automotive industry.
According to information from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, automobile companies sold 623,000 Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) in mainland China last year. This shows a significant increase of 173% compared to the previous year.
They made up 2.9 per cent of all electric cars purchased last year. In the previous month, the 114,000 Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) sold in China constituted 10.2 per cent of the electric vehicle market.
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