Electric vehicles have come a long way. But even as battery tech advances and infrastructure improves, one nagging issue keeps many would-be buyers on the fence: range anxiety.
That’s especially true in a place like the UAE, where drivers regularly travel long distances between emirates, where summer temperatures can punish battery performance, and where the nearest charger might still be a few desert exits away.
Smart Mobility International (SMI), the exclusive distributor of AVATR in the UAE, is betting on a new kind of solution: Range-Extended Electric Vehicles (REEVs). Later this year, it will introduce the AVATR 07, a sleek crossover that blends a fully electric drivetrain with something more old-school—a compact petrol generator.
The idea isn’t new – BMW’s now-discontinued i3 REx flirted with the concept years ago, and the upcoming Ramcharger pickup from Stellantis is going even further with it – but SMI says this is the first time such technology is being tailored for the UAE’s unique needs.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about the car,” says Moutaz Louis, CEO of Smart Mobility International. “It’s about how it fits into your life. With REEVs, you get all the benefits of electric driving – instant torque, silent operation, zero tailpipe emissions for your daily commute – but you also have a backup plan when charging isn’t convenient.”
That backup plan is called KUNLUN, AVATR’s onboard range-extending system. Here’s how it works: the AVATR 07 runs as a battery-electric vehicle most of the time. When the battery dips below a certain threshold, a small petrol engine activates – not to drive the wheels, but to recharge the battery on the move. The result? A claimed combined range of well over 1,000 kms that rivals conventional petrol SUVs, with most day-to-day driving still handled electrically.
It’s a pragmatic solution, and one that could resonate in a market where petrol is still cheap, public chargers are unevenly distributed, and weekend drives can easily stretch 300 kilometres or more.
Louis is quick to clarify that REEVs aren’t a retreat from electrification, they’re a stepping stone. “We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Our customers in Abu Dhabi don’t always have the same needs as someone in Ras Al Khaimah. What we’re doing is expanding the options for people who want to go electric, but don’t want to be limited.”
AVATR’s upcoming 07 joins its all-electric siblings – the AVATR 11 and 12 – already on UAE roads. With a multi-brand NEV showroom opening in 2026 and a dedicated NEV service centre launching in Al Quoz next year, SMI is clearly gearing up for an increasingly electrified future.
But they’re not rushing the transition. “The future is electric,” says Louis. “But getting there means offering real solutions for real lives. That’s what REEVs represent.”
And in a region where extremes are the norm, that kind of flexibility might just be the key to moving forward.