Mercedes-Benz sees no point in range-extended electric cars
While Chinese carmakers are investing increasingly heavily in range-extended electric cars, Mercedes-Benz has no plans to adopt the technology. The German carmaker believes its current plug-in hybrids already meet most customers’ needs, and that developing an electric car with an additional generator would not offer enough of an advantage. Mercedes has tested the technology before, but abandoned it because of high costs.
Mercedes considers its current plug-in hybrids good enough
Mercedes-Benz vice-president of product strategy Christoph Starzynski told Motor1 that the company sees no significant demand among its customers for range-extended electric vehicles, or EREVs.
According to Starzynski, current plug-in hybrids can cover more than 100 km on electric power, which is enough for most everyday journeys. On longer trips, drivers can use the petrol engine, while several Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrids also support DC fast charging.
The Mercedes-Benz E 300 e, for example, offers a system output of 230 kW, a 25.4 kWh battery and a WLTP electric range of 97 to 116 km, depending on equipment. Battery charging power reaches 55 kW.
For Mercedes-Benz, the question is simple: why develop a new powertrain when the existing one already does the same job?
Starzynski doubts whether increasing the electric range from around 100 km to 320 km would make the car attractive enough to buyers. In his view, those who want to cover longer distances on electric power can choose a fully electric model.
A range extender is not particularly complex technically
A range-extended electric car differs from a conventional plug-in hybrid in the way its powertrain operates.
In an EREV, only electric motors drive the wheels. The combustion engine acts as a generator, producing electricity to charge the battery or supply the electric motors. The petrol engine has no mechanical connection to the wheels.
In a conventional plug-in hybrid, by contrast, the combustion engine can also drive the wheels directly.
The biggest advantage of a range extender is that it provides an electric-car driving experience with the ability to continue the journey on petrol even when the battery is running low. The driver is therefore not solely dependent on the charging network.
The drawbacks remain the additional components and energy conversion losses. The petrol engine must first drive a generator that produces electricity, after which the traction motor converts that electrical energy back into mechanical work. Particularly at motorway speeds, this arrangement can prove less efficient than transmitting power mechanically from the combustion engine directly to the wheels.
Mercedes has already tested a range extender in the EQS
The German manufacturer’s position is not based solely on theoretical considerations. Mercedes-Benz previously developed EQS-based test vehicles in which a 1.0-litre two-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine served as a generator.
It was essentially half of Mercedes’ 2.0-litre four-cylinder M254 engine. The small engine generated electricity, while a 200 kW electric motor drove the wheels.
According to a 2024 report by British publication Autocar, Mercedes ended the development programme because its engineers regarded the range extender as a relatively costly transitional technology whose commercial potential did not justify the investment.
Chinese competitors take a different view
Mercedes-Benz’s caution differs markedly from the strategy of Chinese carmakers. In China, range-extended electric cars have become a significant alternative to both conventional plug-in hybrids and fully electric models.
In Europe, the Leapmotor C10 REEV is one example of this approach. The SUV’s rear wheels are driven by a 158 kW electric motor, supplied by a 28.4 kWh battery and a 1.5-litre petrol engine acting as a generator.
Its WLTP electric range reaches 145 km, while the manufacturer claims a combined range of more than 950 km with the petrol tank.
This comparison also reveals the strength of Mercedes’ argument. The Leapmotor’s electric range exceeds the E 300 e’s best figure by just 29 km. The powertrains differ significantly in technical terms, but the difference in everyday use may not be particularly large.
On the other hand, the point of a range extender is not necessarily to maximise electric range. Its greatest value lies in combining an electric powertrain with independence from public charging stations.
The technology’s success in the European market therefore depends on usage patterns and price. For a buyer who can charge at home, a plug-in hybrid offering more than 100 km of electric range may be entirely sufficient. In areas with inadequate charging infrastructure, a range-extended electric car may prove more practical.
Mercedes-Benz has made its choice, preferring to improve its existing plug-in hybrids and develop fully electric models. Its Chinese competitors must now prove whether a range extender offers a large enough advantage to justify the additional technical complexity.
