Volkswagen is also clear about it: it is going to bet on models with a range extender

A few years ago, it seemed like something anecdotal, a rather eccentric way to create more range in electric vehicles, but little by little it has become established as an alternative that is not only viable but is also becoming increasingly popular. I am talking about extended-range systems. That is, a combustion engine connected to the battery of the electric car that works as a generator.

With this system, the battery can be charged with the energy generated by this engine, so there is no need to plug it into a traditional charger. In this way, the electricity can be generated and then used to drive the vehicle’s electric motor. More and more brands are showing interest in this system. And Volkswagen has just announced that it will also focus on this type of mobility.

The Scout brand will use this system

In the United States, the Scout brand is being marketed, an old name that has been revived under the umbrella of Volkswagen. Faced with the difficulty of positioning itself in a market as competitive as the American one, Volkswagen has decided to invest a substantial sum of money to make this option one of its sales strategies in the United States.

Soon, two Scout models will be launched that will use this system, but Volkswagen’s plans go beyond implementation at Scout. Models from the ID family, which is the German electric vehicle manufacturer’s brand, could also use this technology in the near future.

Although a combustion engine is used, its operation is limited. That is, it is not running at all times, and this considerably reduces consumption and emissions. The engine only operates when it is necessary to charge the battery, so the car runs with zero emissions while the battery is charged. In addition, it can also be charged using a traditional charger, so it can go a long time without starting the engine.

The brand has stated that the investment will be 20,000 million euros, with which it wants to §h33§develop an efficient system§h34§ that helps increase the range of its models and solve the problem posed by the lack of charging station infrastructure around the world.