Role of the IC engine in future cars
 

It makes a lot of sense to use a small IC engine just to charge batteries, because battery charging can be 100% efficient (if the charging rate is not too high) and electric motors are 90% efficient. IC motors efficiency varies a lot with rpm, so keeping them at optimal rpm will make the overall system more energy efficient than using the IC motor for propulsion.

As much as I like IC engines, they are the mechanical watches of our time.

The configuration discussed in the article is just a transitional "stage."

Solid state motors are the future, IMO.