BMW Plots Range Extender Power For Large Luxury EVs By 2030

BMW’s next chapter in electrification may not be purely battery powered after all. Fresh reports suggest the firm is seriously considering fitting compact petrol engines to some of its largest electric models, turning them into extended-range electric vehicles rather than straightforward EVs. The idea targets drivers who like the refinement and punch of an electric drivetrain but do not want to juggle multiple charging apps or plan stops on long motorway runs.

According to sources quoted in Germany, the all-electric i7 luxury saloon and the forthcoming iX5 SUV are prime candidates. Both are big enough to package a small combustion unit without major surgery to the structure, and BMW already has a bank of compact engines in production. In an extended-range layout, the car still drives its wheels using electric motors and a high-voltage battery, but a modest petrol engine works purely as a generator, feeding energy back into the pack when the state of charge drops and chargers are thin on the ground.

This approach is not new, but it is gathering momentum again. Scout Motors plans to launch its Traveller SUV and Terra pick-up with range extender layouts, pairing a small engine with a rear-mounted electric motor. Stellantis has also pivoted its Ram pick-up strategy away from a pure EV and towards an extended-range set-up using a V6 to boost range when the battery is running low. For BMW, the decision is heavily influenced by China, where domestic brands such as BYD have found strong demand for range extender models that combine electric running in the city with long-distance flexibility.

Winning a larger slice of that huge market is vital for Munich. Local rivals and other German brands, including Volkswagen and Audi, are already engineering China-specific models to match regional tastes, and BMW does not want to be left behind. Offering flagship Neue Klasse-based cars with the option of a petrol generator could give anxious buyers the reassurance they need to move away from conventional combustion power without feeling they are taking a step into the unknown.

Nothing is signed off yet, though. Officially, BMW says it is constantly analysing how customers actually use their cars, how markets are shifting and which technologies make the most sense in the real world. That leaves the door wide open for a new wave of extended-range BMWs based on the i7 and iX5, but it also means the brand can continue refining its pure electric strategy in parallel. For now, the message is clear: the future of BMW’s big luxury models might not be a simple choice between petrol or battery, but a more nuanced blend of both.