PHEVs & REEVs in Pakistan 2025: Why “Combined Range” Can Be Misleading
In 2025, we are seeing a sudden surge of Plug-in Hybrids and Range-Extended EVs arriving in both imported and locally assembled forms.
The appeal is easy to understand. These cars offer roughly 80 to 100 kilometers of electric driving for city use with a petrol engine ready to take over once the battery runs low. For most urban drivers, this means the daily commute can be almost entirely electric if charged externally, while the petrol engine serves as a reliable safety net for longer trips.
This setup fits perfectly with Pakistan’s current situation of high petrol prices and a developing charging network. You can plug in overnight to drive electric during the day and rely on petrol only when absolutely necessary.
But as these cars multiply and competition heats up, one phrase has suddenly taken over launch events, brochures, websites, and reels:
“Combined Range.”
And this is where things get complicated.
What Actually is the Combined Range in a PHEV or REEV?
Combined range in a PHEV or REEV is the distance the car can cover starting with a full battery and a full fuel tank, using whatever mix of electric motor and engine the control system or user chooses, e.g., motors first, then engine, or both motors and engine combined.
The Truth About “Combined Range”
Car companies love to brag about “combined range.” Walk into a showroom or visit the manufacturer’s website for a new PHEV or Range-Extended EV, and you’ll see huge numbers on the window sticker. They promise you can drive across the country without stopping. It sounds like amazing technology, but it can also be a trick.
But the combined range is simply:
EV Range + Distance Covered Using Petrol
That’s it.
A car with a huge combined range isn’t necessarily efficient — it may just have a “big fuel tank”.
To illustrate the absurdity: If you attach a 2,000-liter tank to any car, you could “market” a range of 8,000 km.
Does that make it efficient?
Of course not.
It just means the tank can hold more fuel.
This is why the combined range alone can be misleading when comparing models.
Why Big Numbers Can Be Misleading
Let’s break it down with strong examples:
Example 1: Changan Deepal S05 (REEV)
Deepal’s REEV claims a combined range of approximately 1,200 km under NEDC, which is impressive on paper.
But here’s the breakdown:
- EV-only range (NEDC): 170 km
- Fuel tank: 45 liters
- Engine-only range: approx. 1,030 km
That translates to roughly 22.8 km/l if you subtract the EV range and 26.6 km/l if you add it, but that is in NEDC. If we convert this range to WLTP standard, which is close to reality, it’s about 19 kmpl without EV range and about 22.4 kmpl with EV range.
Example 2: JAECOO J7 PHEV
J7 was launched in Pakistan in October this year:
- EV-only: approx. 90 km (WLTP)
- Combined range: approx. 1200 km (WLTP)
- Engine-only range claim: approx. 1,110 km
- Fuel tank: 60 liters
That translates to roughly 18.5 km/l, after subtracting EV range, and 20 kmpl after adding EV range.
If you look at the numbers on paper, the S05 actually has better kmpl figures than J7, but the combined range is higher in J7 due to the bigger fuel tank size, but kmpl is what really matters.
Extreme Example to Show the Flaw
If we attach a 2,000-liter fuel tank to any hybrid:
- EV range: 100 km
- Petrol range: 8,000 km
The marketing claim would be: “8,100 km combined range!”
Does this mean the car is efficient? Absolutely not. It only proves you added a giant tank.
Conclusion of these Examples
That’s the point we’re trying to make: you shouldn’t trust the combined range figures blindly, because they depend heavily on fuel tank size.
How to Calculate the Real Fuel Economy from the Combined Range?
To understand what the car actually delivers:
- Divide the combined range by the fuel tank capacity.
This shows the car’s average fuel consumption. - Subtract EV-only range from the combined range, then divide that petrol-only distance by the fuel tank capacity.
This shows the car’s average fuel consumption when the battery is depleted.
This is the only way to know whether the engine is genuinely efficient or just supported by a large fuel tank.
Beware of Unrealistic Test Standards
Most Pakistani carmakers quote ranges using NEDC or CLTC — lab-based, outdated tests that are famous for inflated numbers.
If a PHEV claims:
- 140 km EV range (CLTC)
- Expect 18% lower range in WLTP standard
For a realistic figure, look for:
- WLTP (European)
- EPA (American, very strict)
Bottom Line
A four-digit combined range doesn’t automatically mean breakthrough efficiency.
In many cases, it’s marketing, not engineering.
As more PHEVs and REEVs arrive in Pakistan, buyers need to look past the headline number. Focus instead on:
- EV-only range
- Tank size
- Realistic test standards such as WLTP and EPA. As a side note, if the manufacturer only provides NEDC or CLTC range figures, our team found an online range converter that you can use to estimate the equivalent WLTP or EPA range..
- Fuel economy
Big numbers sell cars — but smart numbers help you buy the right one.
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