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“Zero Emission Vehicles” in the form of pure electric vehicles are quite feasible and useful for limited cruising ranges. However, market success depends on customer acceptance. Studies show, that customers expect electric vehicles with driving performance similar to conventional vehicles while comparable cruising ranges should be available at low additional cost. With currently available batteries using lithium ion technology a gravimetric energy density of only one percent of the energy density of gasoline or diesel can be reached. With respect to acceptable additional costs this effect leads to significant reduction of the cruising range. For various reasons such as battery aging, demand for heating, traffic jams, etc., this already decreased cruising range is further reduced. In such cases electrical energy can be generated with a demand oriented (down-) sized combustion engine, a so called “Range Extender”.

Today, electric powered vehicles are in the focus of politics and the economy. They are very practicable and useful for limited ranges (about 100km) but for various reasons, such as battery aging, demand for heating, traffic jams etc., this already decreased driving range is not always attainable. In such cases, electrical energy can be generated with a more or less large combustion engine, a so called range extender. Such parallel and serial range extender systems are being tested at the moment. In the following paper, the advantages and disadvantages from small range extender systems (“coming home”-systems) and also concepts without restrictions (two electric motors; e.g. Toyota Prius, VW twin drive etc.) will be discussed and the CEA concept for a Mega City Electric Vehicle, developed by IVD, will be presented. This concept is based on a vehicle from the A-C segment with pure electric propulsion, which is supported by an internal combustion engine at higher speeds.