BMW reconsiders range extender technology for future X5 and 7 Series electric vehicles

German luxury giant BMW thinks it might have a clever solution for “range anxiety” for the drivers of its largest and most expensive models. The company is currently evaluating a plan to bring back the Range Extender (REX) for future EVs like the flagship 7 Series sedan and the popular X5 large crossover.

Sources familiar with the company’s thinking confirm that no program has been officially approved yet, but the simple fact that BMW is seriously looking at this technology shows just how much the electric car market has changed since the company last used a range-extender in the small i3 hatchback.

The primary force pushing BMW toward this decision comes from its biggest sales region: China. The country is the single largest market for the BMW Group, which includes MINI and Rolls-Royce, accounting for 29.2% of all deliveries last year - a figure that is higher than sales in the United States and Germany combined.

In China, drivers have fallen in love with EREVs. Data shows EREV sales in China jumped by nearly 50% in the first five months of 2025. Local automotive heavyweights like the Li Auto L9, the Aito M9, and BYD’s mighty Yangwang U8 have turned the EREV layout into a highly successful compromise - a middle ground between pure electric cars and traditional gas-powered SUVs.

The idea is quite simple: the driver can use the vehicle as a normal EV, and when the battery runs low, a small, highly efficient engine can turn on automatically to charge the battery. The engine never drives the wheels directly. Instead, it acts only as a generator, running at one smooth, constant speed to stabilize power and charge the battery. This is the same philosophy BMW used in the old i3 REx.

The large size of the BMW X5 and 7 Series makes them perfect candidates for this technology. These cars have enough room to easily fit the compact generator engine without compromising cabin space or cargo capacity. And because the engine runs at a fixed, optimal rate, it can be extremely efficient. BMW already builds compact gasoline engines and the components needed for such a generator setup in-house, which means the company can develop the system faster if it gives the project the green light.

China may be the key driver, but interest in the Range Extender concept is growing in other important markets as well. American buyers looking at big SUVs and trucks want the best of both worlds: electric driving around town and unlimited range for hauling trailers or taking long road trips. Evidence of this growing demand can be seen in upcoming projects like the Scout and the Ramcharger pickup, which are designed with similar generator-backed electric drivetrains.

In Europe, a potential added benefit involves future regulations. Depending on how rules evolve, classifying these vehicles as EREVs could possibly shield them from the European Union’s planned 2035 ban on new combustion engine sales, providing yet another powerful reason for BMW to explore the REX option.

For now, the future of REX versions of the BMW X5 and i7 is uncertain. A spokesperson for the company offered a non-committal stance, stating that BMW is “continuously analyzing usage patterns, customer needs, and market developments and reviewing the market potential of various technologies.”

The company is clearly paying close attention to the success of EREVs worldwide, especially in China, but the final step - approving the production program - is still pending. If it happens, it would be a major shift, allowing BMW to offer pure electric driving with a crucial safety net for range, a concept that could boost its global EV sales.

Via