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The on-board generator might have problems keeping up if you were climbing up a mountain and the battery had triggered the generator on. The size of the generator is such that it can maintain the battery voltage in 'normal' driving, but hauling ass up a mountain pass may not qualify! But, in real, normal driving, it should be able to maintain, since there are ups and downs most of the time! The way they get the battery life out of the thing is by both conditioning it (heating and cooling) AND limiting how far you can discharge it. No battery likes to be deeply discharged, and the range extender is intended to prevent that while keeping you moving, but not in extended, extreme conditions. FWIW, this is my take on this, and I have no insight in the actual vehicle other than what I've read.
Considering that the thing is intended as a city car with lots of stop and go in the normal mix, and no long highway treks, I think this is a reasonable compromise.
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