Automakers are betting on a different kind of electric car. Meet the EREV.

The big new "it" engine is an EREV. Will it outperform the PHEV?

Scout Motors/Hyundai Motors/Business Insider

The next popular EV might come with a gas engine.Several car brands, including Hyundai, Genesis, Ram, Jeep, Ford, and Volkswagen-backed Scout Motors, have announced plans to build extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs, by the end of 2028.It's a growing industry bet. After years of lower-than-expected EV adoption, and as gas prices remain elevated, auto executives believe buyers want the experience of electric driving without having to depend on America's charging infrastructure for every long trip."EREVs are really the next generation of this stepping stone powertrain," Robby DeGraff, the manager of product and consumer insights at AutoPacific, told Business Insider. "These vehicles make a lot of sense for a lot of Americans."So… what the heck is an EREV?

A Scout Terra pickup truck.

Scout Motors