{"id":63548,"date":"2025-05-15T22:18:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T02:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/volkswagens-ceo-questions-range-extender-evs-for-europe-amid-strong-hybrid-offerings\/"},"modified":"2025-05-15T22:18:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T02:18:07","slug":"volkswagens-ceo-questions-range-extender-evs-for-europe-amid-strong-hybrid-offerings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/volkswagens-ceo-questions-range-extender-evs-for-europe-amid-strong-hybrid-offerings\/","title":{"rendered":"Volkswagen’s CEO Questions Range-Extender EVs for Europe Amid Strong Hybrid Offerings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Volkswagen’s CEO, Thomas Sch\u00e4fer, recently stirred the pot regarding the future of range-extender (REx) electric vehicles in Europe. While the company is making waves with its ID Era concept, which boasts an impressive 621 miles of range, Sch\u00e4fer’s comments suggest that the European market may not be ready for this technology just yet. So, what\u2019s the deal with REx powertrains, and why might they not fit into Volkswagen’s European strategy?<\/p>\n

### What Are Range-Extender Powertrains?<\/p>\n

Range-extender powertrains are designed to alleviate range anxiety for electric vehicle (EV) drivers. Essentially, they combine a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) with an electric motor and battery. The ICE acts as a generator, recharging the battery when it runs low, which can be particularly useful in larger vehicles where space and weight are less of a concern. This setup has gained traction in markets like China, where larger cars dominate the landscape, but Sch\u00e4fer questions its relevance in Europe.<\/p>\n

### Why REx Might Not Make Sense in Europe<\/p>\n

Sch\u00e4fer points out that the European market is already well-served by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Volkswagen offers a range of PHEVs, including the Golf eHybrid, which provides up to 88 miles of electric range. With such options available, the need for a range-extender system seems less pressing. <\/p>\n

He elaborates on the cost implications of REx technology, noting that it requires a substantial investment in both a large battery and an ICE. This dual setup can complicate drivability and increase costs, making it less appealing when PHEVs already meet consumer needs effectively. “It’s an expensive technology,” he states, emphasizing that the combination of both systems may not be the best route for Volkswagen in Europe.<\/p>\n

### The Focus on Larger Vehicles<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Sch\u00e4fer acknowledges that REx technology could still have a place in larger vehicles, particularly in markets like the U.S. and China. He mentions the upcoming Scout model in the U.S. as an example where a range-extender might be beneficial. The rationale is straightforward: larger vehicles can accommodate the additional weight and complexity of an REx system, while smaller cars might not see the same advantages.<\/p>\n

### Volkswagen’s Strategic Direction<\/p>\n

Volkswagen is currently focused on refining its portfolio to better align with market demands. Sch\u00e4fer has made it clear that while the ID Era and other concepts like the ID Aura and ID Evo were designed with the Chinese market in mind, they could potentially be introduced globally if there’s sufficient demand. However, he remains cautious about expanding into the European market, where the appetite for large SUVs is limited and often premium-driven.<\/p>\n

The company is prioritizing its existing lineup, which spans from the entry-level ID 1 to the more luxurious ID Buzz. This strategic focus allows Volkswagen to allocate resources effectively, especially during a time when the automotive industry is undergoing significant transformation.<\/p>\n

### Looking Ahead: What\u2019s Next for Volkswagen?<\/p>\n

As Volkswagen navigates the complexities of the EV landscape, it\u2019s clear that the company is committed to making informed decisions based on market realities. While REx technology may not be on the immediate horizon for Europe, the ongoing evolution of electric mobility means that the conversation is far from over. <\/p>\n

The big takeaway? REx isn\u2019t about perfection\u2014it\u2019s about smarter adjustments. Start with one change this week, and you\u2019ll likely spot the difference by month\u2019s end. Whether it\u2019s embracing PHEVs or exploring new technologies, Volkswagen’s journey reflects the broader challenges and opportunities facing the automotive industry today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"vw<\/a><\/p>\n

\n ID Era concept’s range-extender powertrain is said to return 621 miles of combined range<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

REx powertrains make sense in large cars in China, says Thomas Sch\u00e4fer, but PHEVs work well in Europe<\/p>\n

\n

Volkswagen CEO Thomas Sch\u00e4fer has cast doubt on the prospect of the brand introducing range-extender (REx) powertrains in Europe, because it is already well served here by more conventional hybrid powertrains.<\/p>\n

Volkswagen<\/a> last month revealed the ID Era concept at the Shanghai motor show<\/a>\u00a0as a preview of a large, range-extender electric SUV<\/a>, aimed at the Chinese market, with a total range of 621 miles. The brand\u2019s sales and marketing chief said at the unveiling that REx technology could provide a \u201cvery good intermediate step for many consumers\u201d and the powertrains could even \u201chave relevance in Europe<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

But now Sch\u00e4fer has told Autocar that REx powertrains make most sense in larger models \u2013 like the ID Era SUV \u2013 and may not have an obvious role to play in Volkswagen\u2019s European strategy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The technology is not really new. It came up again and spiked in China specifically, but probably also in the US it’s applicable – in predominantly larger vehicles,\u201d he said. \u201cIt makes sense if you have any kind of CO2 regulation and you need to comply with it, but in the bigger cars.<\/p>\n

“The questionable area is in the smaller space. While you have PHEVs, do you really need range-extenders?\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, Volkswagen now offers almost every car above the Polo<\/a>\u00a0in Europe with a plug-in hybrid powertrain – providing as much as 88 miles of electric range in the Golf eHybrid, which could make it unnecessary to introduce another form of electrified powertrain.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s an expensive technology”, said Sch\u00e4fer of a REx set-up, referencing the need to combine a large electric battery with a conventional ICE powertrain, “and from a drivability and cost point of view, it makes no sense to have both range-extenders and plug-in hybrids.”<\/p>\n

He pointed to the long EV ranges and fast-charging capabilities of Volkswagen’s latest PHEVs\u00a0and said swapping this system out in the Golf, Passat, Tiguan and Tayron “is probably not the way to go”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“In bigger cars, yes. Scout, for example, in the US will have a range-extender,” he said. “But it remains to be seen if this is just a spike or it will actually be a bigger trend.”<\/p>\n

The ID Era is one of three new Volkswagen concept cars designed for the Chinese market<\/a>. It was joined at Shanghai by the Passat-sized ID Aura saloon and the ID Evo – a more rakish take on the SUV, but still larger than the Touareg.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sch\u00e4fer said that while these three cars have been conceived primarily for China, Volkswagen could consider selling them globally – but only if there is demonstrable market demand and a viable business case.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Asked if Volkswagen could bring the Evo or Era SUVs to Europe, he said: “We never said that we’re not going to do that. The question is: where do they fit in the portfolio, and where’s the market?\u00a0<\/p>\n

“When you look in Europe, for these kinds of big SUVs, the market is very small, and it’s premium-driven. So to invest in this in Europe is difficult. China, yes, US, yes – we have in the past done similar things like the Atlas in the US and Terramont in China, so there’s a way you could work on both sides.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“But for Europe, we have been working on: what is the portfolio? Where is the profit pool that we want to address? And in a time where you work with a tight budget, you have to make decisions: what do you want to address, first, second and third? And that’s not something that I would address first in the European context.”<\/p>\n

“We have a clear line-up now, from the ID 1 all the way up, that we’re very happy with – addressing right from the entry all the way to the upper end with the ID Buzz.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“That doesn’t mean that in the long run, once we get through this transformation a bit more, we couldn’t get halo cars added to this core portfolio.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":63549,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-featured","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63548\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}