Is this just me, or does going entirely EV seem short-sighted? (coming from an EV owner) And I’m not talking about the usual ICE vs. EV debate here. I’d say “can’t we all just get along,” but with the complexity of internal combustion engines and everything that comes with that complexity, ICE just feels very last century to me.
But when you look at EVs, they don’t really deliver on either front: how far you can go on a charge or how quickly you can recharge. Sure, batteries will get better—the charge will last longer and you’ll be able to charge faster—but that’s putting a lot of demand on the grid. My Tesla uses a ton of electricity, and that’s only going to get worse, not better, as more EVs come online.
The Missing Middle Ground
Is anyone talking about a solution that involves some sort of onboard generator to extend range and recharge the vehicle? What seems like the perfect setup would be a fuel cell vehicle that can recharge the smallest battery possible to keep the car performing optimally.
Think about it: you’d have enough battery for around-town driving—no problem there, unless you’re making multiple trips to drop off and pick up kids all over the place, or it’s winter and brutally cold. For longer trips or when you need extra juice, the onboard generator kicks in.
Why Not Fuel Cells?
I think Honda and Toyota still have some fuel cell vehicles on the road, and this approach has always seemed to make the most sense over needing to store the entire charge you might need. Even a small ICE motor that drives a generator would probably make more sense than our current all-or-nothing approach.
There Has to Be a Better Way
But there has to be something even better than that, right? Some technology that bridges the gap between pure EV limitations and ICE complexity?
Can someone smarter than me please roll this out by the time we need a new car? I would hate to have to choose between another straight EV with its limitations or going back to last century’s technology.
What Are the Real Options?
I’m genuinely curious what the automotive industry is thinking here. Are they banking entirely on battery breakthroughs and grid infrastructure improvements? Or are there hybrid solutions in development that actually make sense for real-world driving?
Because right now, it feels like we’re being forced to choose between two imperfect solutions when the answer might be somewhere in the middle and not a hybrid ICE/EV.
UPDATE: IT HAPPENED!
I just saw a hybrid option that makes sense and it’s actually in a vehicle I am interested in.
VW/Scout released some specs for the new Scout vehicles and one option includes an onboard gas generator that increases the range to 500 miles.
This is exactly what I was talking about! It’s a great start—still severely lacking in some ways, but at least it’s a step forward. Maybe other companies are also doing this, but it’s the first time since the Volt that I’ve seen this approach proposed in a way that actually makes sense. I haven’t done a deep search yet to see if other manufacturers are adopting this strategy, but it’s fantastic news!
And bonus points: it also has real switches! Another win. And if the performance specs hold up—3.5 seconds to 60mph—yet another win. VW must read my blog.
Check it out: https://www.scoutmotors.com/
Even that's Odd 
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