News that some motor manufacturers are working on new range extender (REx) models could be a step towards potentially solving fleet electrification issues, according to one industry observer.
Currently the Mazda MX-30 (pictured above) is one of very few REx models on the UK market – such vehicles have small petrol engines, in the Mazda’s case an 830cc rotary unit, that are not connected to the wheels and present only to generate energy for the battery pack, increasing the car’s electric driving range.
Ford and Stellantis are among those reported to be developing REx versions of their larger SUVs and pick-ups, having found full electric versions of the vehicles expensive to bring to market, while also suffering from potential range limitations.
Currently the acknowledged ‘stepping stone’ between combustion-engined (ICE) vehicles and full EVs are plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), but Peter Golding, managing director of fleet management software specialist Fleetcheck, believes that in some respects, such vehicles have not been the best solution.
“The problem with PHEVs, as many fleet managers will attest, is that it’s easy for drivers to never bother to charge them unless they are closely monitored, effectively using them as an ICE vehicle – leasing companies sometimes receive them back with the charging cable still in its wrapper,” Golding said.
“For some employees, they’ve been a route to access lower benefit-in-kind taxation while often actually polluting and using more fuel than a petrol or diesel equivalent because the weight of a little-used electric drivetrain is being carried around.”
Golding points out that in contrast, REx vehicles are electric first and make sense where their ICE capacity is designed to offer enough reassurance to offset issues surrounding range; “For fleet applications where electrification is proving tough – such as pick-ups, proper off-road 4x4s and larger vans – they could offer a genuine bridge until a time when charging infrastructure, and battery technology and pricing, improves to the point that an electric vehicle becomes practical.”
Golding believes, however, that for there to be a move towards RExs in these categories however, some form of government recognition and support will be needed.
“The new Ford and Stellantis vehicles being engineered appear largely aimed at the US market but no doubt the technology could be adapted for use in Europe if there was sufficient demand. It could potentially make an impact if applied to larger panel vans, which remains probably the most prominent, difficult-to-solve area of electrification.
“We know from measures in the latest Budget that the government is moving against PHEVs in both benefit-in-kind and vehicle excise duty terms, and our understanding is that RExs are classified for taxation purposes in the same way, so there would probably have to be some changes to create a situation where manufacturers are encouraged to introduce them.”
