Concern about the complexity and cost of repairs/maintenance for EREV

[maynard]

This looks like a wash to me. You will have all of these factors for any ICE vehicle you buy.

Fair enough...

 

[THil08]

For now. Trump is trying to eliminate CARB regulations that are stricter than Federal regulations.

NJ is a hugely democratic state.

And so far all he has done, is has stopped them from adding more emission restrictions. Which is good. Because Californias Regulations are crazy. Being someone that technically works for BMW, I’ve read all the emissions regulations from both California and Federal. California is the worst. They take the Motorsport out of BMW Motorsports Division.

 

[MountainDad]

NJ is a hugely democratic state.

And so far all he has done, is has stopped them from adding more emission restrictions. Which is good. Because Californias Regulations are crazy. Being someone that technically works for BMW, I’ve read all the emissions regulations from both California and Federal. California is the worst. They take the Motorsport out of BMW Motorsports Division.

They are one of two reasons why we won't have a diesel range extender option. CARB literally wants all diesels off the road. And, off farms as well. Talk to any farmer and ask him what he would use if he couldn't buy a diesel tractor.

They are completely off the rails.

 

[THil08]

They are one of two reasons why we won't have a diesel range extender option. CARB literally wants all diesels off the road. And, off farms as well. Talk to any farmer and ask him what he would use if he couldn't buy a diesel tractor.

They are completely off the rails.

I would say a big reason scout won't see a Diesel generator has nothing to do with CARB regulations for the most part. It has more to do with VW Diesel Gate.

 

[Mousehunter]

Have a whole house propane generator at a rent house. I guess it has about 200hrs on it - 3 service calls, with one main circuit board failure (2 other failures cost a lot less to fix). So it has failed 3 times in the equivalent of a little more than 10k miles.

Now in all fairness, the engine in the Scout will be designed to run a lot more than a residential backup generator. Commercial (diesel) backup generators are designed for a much longer service life as well. Residential generators are designed to have a shorter service life than many motorcycles - honestly they are practically disposable.

 

[MountainDad]

I would say a big reason scout won't see a Diesel generator has nothing to do with CARB regulations for the most part. It has more to do with VW Diesel Gate.

Yes, that is one of the two reasons.

It's just frankly nigh on impossible to license a small diesel engine for a light passenger vehicle in a CARB state, however.

 

[Schubie]

What’s wrong with German engineers?

They've rationalized dropping the engine to replace a water pump (and other maintenance items) on the previous (v10) diesel in my Touareg.

 

[Schubie]

I think the only thing that could make it “complex” is how access is given for servicing.

I may be wrong, but I think an under bed/floor position is going to be a little bit lower to the ground than a traditional engine mount under the hood. So to achieve any decent water fording depth, there's going to have to be a lot of cowling and venting to higher spots (above the bed/floor) to protect the engine's bits that don't like water.

That said, I don't think the engine is likely to be easily dropped like an old VW boxer. As it will be integrated as part of a genset (not to mention any cowling/venting). So access through an inspection/maintenance port in the vehicle bed/floor seems like a logical choice.

 

[MClayton]

I may be wrong, but I think an under bed/floor position is going to be a little bit lower to the ground than a traditional engine mount under the hood. So to achieve any decent water fording depth, there's going to have to be a lot of cowling and venting to higher spots (above the bed/floor) to protect the engine's bits that don't like water.

That said, I don't think the engine is likely to be easily dropped like an old VW boxer. As it will be integrated as part of a genset (not to mention any cowling/venting). So access through an inspection/maintenance port in the vehicle bed/floor seems like a logical choice.

Production is a ways away still. I wonder if it's a 100% certainty that the engine goes in the rear versus moving it to the front and losing the frunk in the process.

 

[cyure]

Production is a ways away still. I wonder if it's a 100% certainty that the engine goes in the rear versus moving it to the front and losing the frunk in the process.

You mean like a regular engine under the hood and no frunk? I don’t think it’s likely for that to happen. That would be a huge change. When I was in Chicago I heard an SM team member state that the concepts are 85% of what the production vehicles will look like. An engine under the hood instead of a frunk would seem to me like bigger than a 15% change.

We just have to wait and see I suppose.

 

[J Alynn]

Production is a ways away still. I wonder if it's a 100% certainty that the engine goes in the rear versus moving it to the front and losing the frunk in the process.

Not gonna happen. Scott Keogh has already noted the advantage of the frunk still being available despite the generator. That’s a selling feature

 

[cyure]

Not gonna happen. Scott Keogh has already noted the advantage of the frunk still being available despite the generator. That’s a selling feature

I already have started planning all
The stuff that’s going in there.

 

[J Alynn]

I already have started planning all
The stuff that’s going in there.

I still think if there was a way to have an add-.on battery extender that you can have set up in the frunk for another 85-100 miles would be a cool option for those wanting it but would surely cost a good chunk to do that

 

[J Alynn]

I still think if there was a way to have an add-.on battery extender that you can have set up in the frunk for another 85-100 miles would be a cool option for those wanting it but would surely cost a good chunk to do that

And battery pack in the front crumple zone seems like a bad idea

 

[cyure]

I still think if there was a way to have an add-.on battery extender that you can have set up in the frunk for another 85-100 miles would be a cool option for those wanting it but would surely cost a good chunk to do that

Someone will figure out something I’m sure.

 

[J Alynn]

Someone will figure out something I’m sure.

Perhaps but front impact battery fires are not desirable

 

[Mousehunter]

Scout's design is a small generator and frunk. Dodge and now Ford are planning on a large generator and no frunk. There is room for both designs in the world - hell at some point there will probably be room for both designs from Scout. If enough buyers say they want to tow more and the market demands it - they might make a Travelall with an engine up front. But I don't see it as a targeted first market.

Hell someday we might even see an EV line of commercial vehicles from Scout - but I don't think this plant is really being designed to turn those out. Scout was the consumer brand.
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Honestly, I guess it all depends on how it is done, but owned a bug, pulled the engine for most repairs-it was just easier. That said, needing to pull the bed of my truck to get to the gas filter was just crazy designing. Not that pulling the bed too all that much effort - but it was for a fuel filter. Bigger problem is the fuel filter was part of the fuel pump - ultimately ended selling the truck because of that filter. Left me stranded on the side of the road too many times. Loved the truck, hated the 1/2 dozen times it left me stranded with a $500 repair bill.

 

[MountainDad]

They've rationalized dropping the engine to replace a water pump (and other maintenance items) on the previous (v10) diesel in my Touareg.

That's nothing - Japanese engineers rationalized dropping the 2.5L 4cyl turbo engine on my 2005 Outback 2.5XT to change the spark plugs, simply because they wanted to advertise the "Boxer engine" and its lower center of gravity. So that cost $450 in labor to change four $10 spark plugs.

I'll take the risk of a failed water pump once in a blue moon over the mandatory regular maintenance of spark plug replacement, which should be able to be done in your garage without a lift.

 

[cyure]

That's nothing - Japanese engineers rationalized dropping the 2.5L 4cyl turbo engine on my 2005 Outback 2.5XT to change the spark plugs, simply because they wanted to advertise the "Boxer engine" and its lower center of gravity. So that cost $450 in labor to change four $10 spark plugs.

I'll take the risk of a failed water pump once in a blue moon over the mandatory regular maintenance of spark plug replacement, which should be able to be done in your garage without a lift.

That's nothing - Japanese engineers rationalized dropping the 2.5L 4cyl turbo engine on my 2005 Outback 2.5XT to change the spark plugs, simply because they wanted to advertise the "Boxer engine" and its lower center of gravity. So that cost $450 in labor to change four $10 spark plugs.

I'll take the risk of a failed water pump once in a blue moon over the mandatory regular maintenance of spark plug replacement, which should be able to be done in your garage without a lift.

Every car has something wonky. My brothers Ram truck had some sort of leaking valve issue, if I’m remembering correctly, and he sent me pictures from his mechanic with the cab of his truck completely removed.

 

[J Alynn]

That's nothing - Japanese engineers rationalized dropping the 2.5L 4cyl turbo engine on my 2005 Outback 2.5XT to change the spark plugs, simply because they wanted to advertise the "Boxer engine" and its lower center of gravity. So that cost $450 in labor to change four $10 spark plugs.

I'll take the risk of a failed water pump once in a blue moon over the mandatory regular maintenance of spark plug replacement, which should be able to be done in your garage without a lift.

Broncos cam phasers went 6 months after purchase. Pulled engine (which would be expected) and was in shop nearly 2 weeks. Repairs suck. At least less parts on the BEV model