Vietnam has officially introduced extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) into its vehicle classification system for the first time, with the Ministry of Construction adding the category to its list of electrified vehicles.

The new classification is outlined in Circular 45/2026, which amends Circular 53/2024 on the classification of road vehicles. The regulation came into effect on July 1st and was published by the ministry earlier this month.

An EREV, also referred to by some manufacturers as a REEV (range-extended electric vehicle), is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) equipped with a small internal combustion engine that functions solely as a generator. The engine supplies electricity to the electric motor or recharges the battery but does not drive the wheels directly.

To qualify as an EREV under the new regulation, the internal combustion engine must not be manually activated by the driver while the battery's state of charge remains above the threshold for pure electric driving, except in manufacturer-defined maintenance, safety or inspection modes.

The regulation also introduces two EREV classifications based on all-electric range (AER), measured under the NEDC test cycle:

- EREVeb (electric-based): All-electric range of 250 km or more.
- EREVep (electric-priority): All-electric range of 150 km to less than 250 km.

The quoted electric range refers to the distance the vehicle can travel on a fully charged battery before the engine-generator begins producing electricity. An EREV can extend driving range while reducing reliance on public charging infrastructure. At present, however, no EREV models are officially available for sale in Vietnam.

The Nissan Kicks previously utilised a similar series-hybrid configuration. However, its 2.06 kWh battery does not provide sufficient electric-only range to meet the new EREV definition established under Circular 45/2026.

Updated classification of electrified vehicles

In addition to EREVs, the circular defines several other categories of electrified vehicles based on the role of the electric motor within the drivetrain.

Mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV)

This is the entry-level hybrid system, in which the electric motor only assists the petrol engine during start-up and acceleration. The motor cannot propel the vehicle independently. Models such as the Suzuki XL7 and Swift fall within this category.

Full hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV)

This is a hybrid configuration currently available in Vietnam. The electric motor can propel the vehicle independently, while the battery is recharged exclusively through regenerative braking or by the engine. FHEVs can be configured as series, parallel or series-parallel hybrids. In a series hybrid, only the electric motor drives the wheels. In parallel and series-parallel hybrids, both the engine and electric motor can provide propulsion, depending on the manufacturer's system design.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)

PHEVs are equipped with larger batteries that can also be charged from an external power source. They generally offer a longer electric-only driving range than conventional hybrids. Most PHEVs utilise either series or series-parallel hybrid systems. Chinese brands such as BYD, Geely and Lynk & Co currently have a presence in Vietnam's PHEV market, with many models prioritising electric-motor propulsion.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV)

A fully electric vehicle powered exclusively by electric motors, with batteries charged entirely from external power sources. VinFast is currently a participant in this segment in Vietnam.

The key characteristics of each electrified vehicle category are as follows:

- MHEV: The electric motor assists the engine during starting and acceleration. The motor cannot propel the vehicle independently.
- FHEV: The electric motor can propel the vehicle independently. The battery is recharged internally through regenerative braking or the engine.
- PHEV: The electric motor can propel the vehicle independently. The battery can be recharged both internally and from an external power source.
- BEV: Fully electric propulsion with no internal combustion engine.
- EREV: The electric motor provides all propulsion, while the internal combustion engine operates solely as a generator to charge the battery or supply electricity to the motor.

The classification framework is expected to provide a legal basis for future regulations covering areas such as special consumption tax, registration fee incentives and other policies related to electrified vehicles. The Vietnamese government continues to promote the adoption of electrified vehicles through a range of tax and fee incentives related to the country's transition to cleaner transport.