Extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs, are making a comeback, it seems. After Stellantis announced the rather beefy Ram 1500 Ramcharger for North America, Renault wants dibs on the tech on European soil.

The French company’s new powertrain spinoff, Horse, might actually have a winner on its hands, seeing how there’s currently no other viable competitor in the European Union after the discontinuation of the range-extended BMW i3 in 2022 (the range-extended Mazda MX-30 isn’t even a blip on sales charts). The toughening emissions laws should also be on Renault’s side. But will the tech be affordable and reliable enough for consumers to consider it against an all-electric car?

On paper, it all sounds great. Horse claims its system will be able to provide up to 124 miles (200 kilometers) of all-electric range on a full charge and up to 497 miles (800 km) with both the battery and the fuel tank full.

Thanks to a battery pack that can be up to 50% smaller in size compared to an all-out EV, the car should also be cheaper to build, at least in theory, leading to a lower purchase price for customers. A smaller battery also means fewer minerals need to be mined, and the ability to recharge the pack at home at potentially low energy rates faster than an EV should also be a bonus point.

There’s no word on how powerful the vehicles would be, with Horse only mentioning that passenger cars would get a 50-kilowatt generator to send juice to the battery, while commercial vehicles would be fitted with an 80-kW unit.

An EREV is similar to a plug-in hybrid, in the sense that there’s a combustion engine, an electric motor and a battery that can be recharged either via plugging it in a charger or through the gas engine. However, the big difference is that in the case of the EREV, the combustion engine doesn’t have a physical connection to the driven wheels. Instead, it only turns a generator that provides power to the battery and electric motor.

That’s how the upcoming Ram 1500 Ramcharger and the discontinued BMW i3 REV work, and it’s how Renault wants its upcoming plug-ins would work.

The engine Renault will use to power its range-extended models

As you may have noticed, there’s a gas engine-shaped elephant in the room that still burns fossil fuel and has harmful emissions, albeit less than a full-on ICE vehicle.

Horse says this solution is great for people needing to travel long distances and occasionally having to enter low-emissions zones. Renault’s EREV system has also been designed to “work across any existent vehicle architecture, whether designed for EVs or traditional combustion engines,” according to the powertrain spinoff. In other words, it would be fairly easy to adapt to existing vehicles, meaning customers wouldn’t have to wait years before seeing an EREV in a showroom.

Renault isn’t the only carmaker out there exploring hybridization as a stopgap toward full electrification. Even as all-electric car sales continue to grow, companies like Volkswagen, General Motors, Stellantis and Hyundai Motor Group said they’re looking at hybrids and plug-in hybrids as a temporary solution to spur sales as their initial expectations regarding EVs haven’t quite worked out.

Renault, a leading French automotive manufacturer, has announced plans to introduce a new spinoff brand aimed at bringing extended-range electric vehicles (EVs) to the European market. The new brand, which has been dubbed ‘Horse’, is set to launch its first lineup of EVs in the coming months, marking a significant milestone in Renault’s commitment to sustainable mobility.

The decision to create a separate brand for EVs is part of Renault’s broader strategy to position itself as a key player in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market. With the global shift towards electrification gaining momentum, Renault has recognized the need to invest in innovative solutions that cater to the needs of environmentally-conscious consumers.

The Horse brand will focus on developing EVs with extended-range capabilities, addressing one of the key concerns that potential buyers have regarding the limited driving range of traditional electric vehicles. By offering vehicles that can cover greater distances on a single charge, Renault aims to broaden the appeal of EVs and encourage more consumers to make the switch to electric mobility.

In addition to extending the driving range of their EVs, Renault’s Horse brand will also place a strong emphasis on performance, design, and overall user experience. By combining cutting-edge technology with sleek, modern aesthetics, the brand aims to offer a compelling alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.

Renault’s decision to introduce the Horse brand reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. By investing in extended-range EVs, Renault is not only aligning itself with global trends towards electrification but also setting a new benchmark for eco-friendly transportation in Europe.

As the automotive industry continues to evolve, Renault’s bold move to launch the Horse brand represents a significant step towards a greener, more sustainable future. By offering consumers a wider range of electric vehicle options, Renault is paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient transportation ecosystem in Europe and beyond. It will be exciting to see how the Horse brand unfolds and what impact it will have on the future of electric mobility.