ZF Unveils Advanced Range Extender Systems For EVs

Leading OEM detailed its advanced new range extender systems for EVs this week, and they're called electric Range Extender (eRE) and electric Range Extender + (eRE+).

Leading German OEM ZF unveiled its new and advanced range extender systems for electric vehicles (EVs). Called electric Range Extender (eRE) and electric Range Extender (eRE+), both critically boast support for 400-volt and 800-volt architectures. 

This also means that both eRE and eRE+ systems can integrate with components like e-motors, inverters, and gearsets. Moreover, the eRE+ system featured an added clutch and differential, thus boasting the capability of doubling up as a secondary drive.

“The new interest and the increased demand for range extenders shows that the potential of this technology is far from exhausted – in particular for model platforms that are already designed for battery-electric drivelines," expresses ZF via a press release.

Not only scalable, both new eRE and eRE+ systems were built to be compatible with both 400-volt and 800-volt architectures.

For automakers, these new range extender systems by ZF boasts several major benefits. Key amongst which is how it enable automakers to streamline development efforts by allowing them use this tech to build on existing battery-electric vehicle (BEV) platforms.

Besides reducing costs and complexity, as well as development time and cycles, these systems also enable automakers to adopt smaller batteries, which in turn boosts both affordability and compliance with emissions legislations.

Effectively, both eRE and eRE+ systems developed by ZF helps tackle a host of EV adoption barriers, thus making electric driving more practical and appealing. These systems achieve so by reducing range anxiety by extending EV driving distances.

ZF says it will begin mass-producing these systems starting next year (2026).

“Although the all-electric range of passenger cars is around 500km on average, range anxiety still influences a wide range of buyers when choosing their next vehicle,” argues ZF regarding range anxieties stemming from the current crop of BEVs.

Moreover, both eRE and eRE+ systems are designed to be scalable to better support a diverse array of vehicle architectures. These also promise to be ideal solutions for areas where charging infrastructure is limited or scarce.

ZF says it will begin mass producing both eRE and eRE+ systems starting next year (2026). Concurrently, the firm also emphasised its commitment towards sustainable mobility through the introduction of these new range extender systems.