According to the information provided by Bloomberg, the German group considers it important to bring EREV technology back to Europe and the United States, following the example of China, where this special solution has been very successful in recent years.
The timing is no coincidence. The slowdown in the electric car market in Europe, combined with the review of the strict framework that envisions a ban on internal combustion engines from 2035, creates a new environment.
At the same time, pressure from national governments has opened the way for alternatives and long-range hybrid aircraft are back on the agenda. It is no coincidence that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that such technologies should be allowed to be used after 2035; This view is gaining more and more support.
But nothing is guaranteed. The availability of such models in Europe and the USA will depend on demand, as well as on the development of public policies, regulations and incentives to be implemented in the coming years.
In this environment, Volkswagen has taken care to technologically “protect” the new SSP platform, which can accommodate systems in which the battery is supported by a small thermal engine that only produces electricity.
Interest in range extenders is not limited to Volkswagen. Sources say Stellantis and BMW are also considering similar analysis, especially for larger and more valuable segments where autonomy and flexibility play a decisive role in the purchasing decision.
In the case of Volkswagen, the first steps have already been taken. While the revival of the Scout brand in the United States is accompanied by models carrying this ideology, a similar offering is planned to be launched in China next year.
The first concrete sign is the ID, developed in collaboration with SAIC. He came from Shanghai, where the ERA concept was introduced. This is a large SUV that promises, at least in theory, a purely electric range of around 300 kilometers, with the thermal engine providing an additional range of more than 700 kilometres.
Thus, the total range exceeds the spiritual threshold of 1,000 kilometers, directly responding to the charging rush, which is one of the most important obstacles to the wider acceptance of fully electric vehicles.
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