LIVONIA, Mich., Aug. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While not all consumers are ready for a battery electric vehicle (BEV), other electrified powertrains have emerged as a potential solution for many new-car buyers as they seek a middle ground between internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and BEVs. Extended range electric vehicles (EREVs), in particular, offer buyers many of the benefits of BEVs along with the option to run on either gas or electricity, yet more than 40% of new-car buyers have no idea what they are.
This is according to Escalent’s 2025 Non-BEV Alternative Powertrain DeepDive from EVForward®, the largest, most comprehensive study of the next generation of EV buyers. The report explores new-car buyers’ views on hybrids (HEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and EREVs to understand the role these powertrains play in the path to vehicle electrification.
“While EREVs are ideal for drivers looking for the cost-saving and environmental benefits of BEVs with the familiarity and ubiquity of the gas pump, there is a significant disconnect with how automakers define the powertrain and how consumers understand and perceive its benefits,” said Ben Lundin, an insights director in Escalent’s Automotive & Mobility practice. “Consumers are confused by the name itself and the industry’s lack of consistent terminology only makes it harder to understand the powertrain’s value proposition—preventing it from gaining traction in the market.”
When no definition is provided, new-car buyers are quite misinformed about what EREVs are and how they operate in comparison to other powertrain models. For example, only 6% think EREVs can run “only on gas,” whereas more than half …