Start with an ordinary week
Ask where the vehicle will park, whether suitable charging is available there, and how often the customer travels beyond the local area. Separate predictable daily routes from occasional trips. A buyer with overnight charging may assess a pure-electric candidate differently from someone dependent on public charging. Neither can make a sound decision from a headline range alone.
For a dealer order, group customers by actual use. Apartment parking, private garages and commercial parking can create different replenishment arrangements. Record the route, parking access and available charging time. The charging compatibility guide explains the evidence needed before a charging solution becomes part of an offer.
Compare complete powertrain packages
A BEV runs on energy stored in its traction battery. An EREV adds an engine-based range-extending system to the electric-drive concept. That additional system does not remove the need to understand charging, battery condition and destination support. It also introduces engine-related maintenance and fuel requirements that are absent from a pure-electric comparison.
Keep the version name, production information and powertrain evidence together. If a seller quotes range, request the test cycle and whether the figure describes battery-only travel or combined operation. Do not compare a BEV battery-only figure directly with an EREV combined figure as though they measured the same thing.
Make the commercial comparison fair
Set out vehicle cost, preparation, charging equipment and delivery scope separately. Consider the local support available for the selected powertrain. An attractive purchase price loses meaning if the dealer has not planned how to diagnose faults or obtain appropriate service parts. Domestic campaigns and service packages should not be assumed to transfer with a China-market vehicle.
Used candidates need an additional comparison of condition and history. Clear records and a documented charging check have a different evidential value from an apparently cheaper offer with gaps. For new candidates, establish production and registration status, storage condition and the included pre-delivery checks. These are separate questions from BEV versus EREV.
Request useful alternatives
State your preferred powertrain or request two separately identified alternatives. Include destination, quantity, accepted years, essential equipment and the intended charging arrangement. If a requirement is flexible, say so explicitly. A dealer might accept either exterior colour while keeping powertrain and charging requirements fixed.
Compare alternatives against the same acceptance criteria. A switch from BEV to EREV should be an intentional decision, not a substitution hidden under a common name. Use the version checklist to keep configuration tied to the vehicle and the quotation guide to record exclusions. Confirm availability when an offer is prepared; model coverage is not evidence of current stock.
Example: compare two customer routines
One customer parks beside a suitable private charger every night; another parks on the street and makes irregular intercity journeys. Give each customer a separate operating brief before comparing candidates. For both, collect actual route needs and service arrangements. The second customer’s interest in EREV does not make charging irrelevant, while the first customer’s private charger still needs a compatibility check. Do not choose solely from a generic range ranking. Record which requirement changed the recommendation so a later substitution can be assessed against the same reasoning.
Model reference: GAC’s AION i60 presentation and AION’s manufacturer overview. Model information gives context; the offered vehicle needs its own specification and condition evidence.