- Hyundai will introduce a version of its popular Santa Fe SUV that works like an electric vehicle but has a gasoline-powered generator and a range of more than 600 miles, the company announced.
- Its Genesis luxury marque will produce its own EREV SUV on a similar schedule.
Hyundai will introduce an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) version of its popular Santa Fe midsize SUV early next year, the company announced Wednesday.
Not sure what an EREV is? We’ll explain.
Like an EV With Unlimited Range
There are gasoline-powered cars, electric vehicles (EVs), and at least three steps in between. The EREV may be the final form of the ‘tweener.
Like hybrids, EREVs have both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Like plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), they have larger batteries than conventional hybrids and can be recharged from a wall outlet. But unlike both, they essentially function as EVs all the time.
Their gasoline engines aren’t connected to the wheels in any way. They serve only as generators to recharge the battery when the car nears the end of its all-electric range.
They often boast all-electric range well over 100 miles. So their owners can use them like EVs day-to-day and enjoy the savings of driving on electricity. But they’re not tied to the charging network.
They’re particularly useful in towing. Towing cuts the range of nearly any vehicle roughly in half. That’s more of a problem with EVs than with gas-powered cars, as refilling your gas tank takes minutes, but refilling your battery can take an hour or longer. An EREV solves that problem, letting you use electricity for your daily errands and gasoline for long-range towing.
Several automakers have committed to the technology as the future of the full-size trucks and SUVs Americans use most often as tow vehicles. Planned EREVs include a next-generation Ford F-150 Lightning, a Ram pickup, and an upcoming Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and models from the resurrected Scout Motors.
Hyundai says the Santa Fe EREV will “deliver more than 600 miles of total range,” and will be built in Alabama.
Hyundai Santa Fe, Mystery Genesis
Hyundai has made clear that its EREV will be a future Santa Fe. The boxy midsize SUV has been a big seller for the brand, with its Range Rover-like styling and class-leading warranty.
The Genesis EREV is a bit of a mystery. The company has said only that it “will add an EREV SUV targeting over 640 miles of range in early 2027.” Its current midsize SUV, the GV80 and GV80 Coupe, do not share a platform with the Santa Fe, so the promised EREV may be an all-new entry.
