BEVx stands for Battery Electric Vehicle with Range Extender. It designates an electric vehicle that relies primarily on grid-charged battery power but includes a small internal combustion engine that acts solely as a generator to maintain battery charge. Unlike a traditional plug-in hybrid, the combustion engine in a BEVx has no mechanical connection to the drive wheels.
The i3 is classified as a BEVx, so you still have to perform an oil change on the generator engine.
Related terms
EV
An electric vehicle uses one or more electric motors for propulsion instead of an internal combustion engine.
PHEV
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle combines a combustion engine with a grid-chargeable battery pack.
Range extender
A small internal combustion engine installed in an electric vehicle solely to generate electricity for the battery.