Influence of the dimensioned electric range on the practicality of extended range electric vehicles in metropolitan areas based on a field test

The low range is one main reason for the low sales volume of fully electric vehicles. With extended range electric vehicles it is possible to generate electrical energy with a setup of combustion engine and generator when the state of charge of the traction battery is low. As a result, the overall range can be extended to familiar values. The dimensioning of the purely electric range, i.e. the possible cruising range without use of the combustion engine, has much influence on the selling price and on the possible amortisation with respect to a comparable conventional car. In this paper, measured driven distances with extended range electric vehicles during a field test are presented and discussed to identify the necessary electric range. In the field test, the vehicles were used by private persons and by companies. These results can serve as a reference point for future dimensioning of the main energy storage, i.e. usually of the batteries.