Help me decide BEV or EREV

[J Alynn]

We will go 6-9 hours depending on where but after that we fly. I’ve done some 10-12 hour drives but now a days it’s tougher than when I was in my 20’s and 30’s.

 

[cyure]

We will go 6-9 hours depending on where but after that we fly. I’ve done some 10-12 hour drives but now a days it’s tougher than when I was in my 20’s and 30’s.

My husband and I did a trip out to California a few years ago to visit my mom. 4400 miles in a week. We took the Supra. He drove freeway, I drove once we got into towns. We made it the whole way without one argument, talked about all kinds of stuff and listened to hours and hours of Dateline. Now every time I hear that intro music I think of our trip.

 

[J Alynn]

I was reminiscing yesterday about the road trips I did over the years with my mom. She used to read all the road signs/billboards. And down I-95 from mid Virginia to South of the Border she would read all the Pedro signs-IYKYK!

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

My husband and I did a trip out to California a few years ago to visit my mom. 4400 miles in a week. We took the Supra. He drove freeway, I drove once we got into towns. We made it the whole way without one argument, talked about all kinds of stuff and listened to hours and hours of Dateline. Now every time I hear that intro music I think of our trip.

This is what my partner and I prefer.

If it’s just me, I’ll do up to about 16 hours in two days of driving or 24 hours in three days. But if it’s me and my partner, we’ll do a week or more of road tripping. I’ll drive most of the day and then she’ll drive in the afternoon/evening—I have trouble once it gets dark.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Example of why I don’t fly unless I have to:

From where I live, flying anywhere is at least half a day and $500 or more.
There’s only one airline that flies to my city. And there are two one-stop destinations. Any farther and it requires at least an hour layover in the connecting city but usually two or more hours layover. If I want to fly to one of the two first stops, it’s a minimum of 2 hours and likely 3-4 hours for the farther destination. I could drive between my home and the airport in the closer connecting city in less time than it takes to fly there. But the parking there is outrageous.

That time, the time to get to the airport, the hassle, and the cost mean it’s just not worth it to fly unless I’m going across the country.

To fly from my home city to the LA area is a minimum of 6 hours (there’s a quicker flight, but it only has 20 minutes between landing and takeoff in the connecting city, which is impossible). After getting to LA, I have to wait for luggage and get a car, then drive to my destination. That’s at least an hour and usually two. So we’re talking 8 hours and $500-$1500 to fly round trip.

Or I can drive for 7.5 hours. Along the way, I get to listen to a good audiobook, take several stops for clean restrooms and to stretch my legs, a stop for a good lunch, another for a good dinner. And I have my own car when I’m there. That costs $70 one-way.

 

[Scout948]

I just posted this to a similar question on the other popular forum, so will give my two cents on this topic. Technically I have owned both BEV and EREVish tech; specifically a Mach‑E GT for three years and a 1st Gen Chevy Volt for eleven. With the Scout BEV offering nearly 100 miles more electric range than our current EV, the choice is pretty straightforward for us. We already rarely need public charging, only on longer vacation trips, and a 350‑mile range will easily cover all of our regular driving. Like a lot of families, most of our longer non-local trips are the classic 1.5–2 hour drives to see relatives, which fall well within that round‑trip range.

So people really need to ask themselves whether they truly need 500 miles. And when they do, is it worth giving up the extra EV performance and taking on the added maintenance that comes with an EREV platform? It's true that Hybrid tech gives you the pros of both ICE and EV, but they also bring the cons of both. You still have all the maintenance of a gas vehicle and the battery considerations of an EV. As someone who’s been through it, the battery concerns are overblown, but new EV buyers will have to experience that for themselves.

Personally, I’d rather deal with the “cons” of just one technology and enjoy the full benefits of an EV. After living with the instant torque of the Mach‑E GT, I’m not interested in Camry‑level 0–60 times paired with its ICE complexity and maintenance. But that’s just me.

So take it from someone that has already had both techs as I now look at hybrid cars as nothing but a stepping‑stone for people who still have range anxiety or aren’t ready to trust a full EV yet. Believe me, I don't blame new perspective owners as I was once one myself as it took me following this same path before I went full EV. But the tech has come a long way, and for most drivers, especially those who aren’t racking up huge daily mileage, skipping the hybrid stage altogether makes a lot more sense today.

 

[J Alynn]

I just posted this to a similar question on the other popular forum, so will give my two cents on this topic. Technically I have owned both BEV and EREVish tech; specifically a Mach‑E GT for three years and a 1st Gen Chevy Volt for eleven. With the Scout BEV offering nearly 100 miles more electric range than our current EV, the choice is pretty straightforward for us. We already rarely need public charging, only on longer vacation trips, and a 350‑mile range will easily cover all of our regular driving. Like a lot of families, most of our longer non-local trips are the classic 1.5–2 hour drives to see relatives, which fall well within that round‑trip range.

So people really need to ask themselves whether they truly need 500 miles. And when they do, is it worth giving up the extra EV performance and taking on the added maintenance that comes with an EREV platform? It's true that Hybrid tech gives you the pros of both ICE and EV, but they also bring the cons of both. You still have all the maintenance of a gas vehicle and the battery considerations of an EV. As someone who’s been through it, the battery concerns are overblown, but new EV buyers will have to experience that for themselves.

Personally, I’d rather deal with the “cons” of just one technology and enjoy the full benefits of an EV. After living with the instant torque of the Mach‑E GT, I’m not interested in Camry‑level 0–60 times paired with its ICE complexity and maintenance. But that’s just me.

So take it from someone that has already had both techs as I now look at hybrid cars as nothing but a stepping‑stone for people who still have range anxiety or aren’t ready to trust a full EV yet. Believe me, I don't blame new perspective owners as I was once one myself as it took me following this same path before I went full EV. But the tech has come a long way, and for most drivers, especially those who aren’t racking up huge daily mileage, skipping the hybrid stage altogether makes a lot more sense today.

I agree with your logic. For the couple times a year I need 350 miles I’ll live with the extra 25 minutes. I talked with a client today who knows I’m following Scout and he has a Mach-E. He spent last day driving from northwest of Philly to DC then back up. Today he stopped at a T supercharger and took 16 minutes to charge from 14% to 80%. So for a full day of reasonable driving you only add 30-35 minutes-give or take. Said he grabbed a bite and checked emails and car finished before he did. BEV just makes sense

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I just posted this to a similar question on the other popular forum, so will give my two cents on this topic. Technically I have owned both BEV and EREVish tech; specifically a Mach‑E GT for three years and a 1st Gen Chevy Volt for eleven. With the Scout BEV offering nearly 100 miles more electric range than our current EV, the choice is pretty straightforward for us. We already rarely need public charging, only on longer vacation trips, and a 350‑mile range will easily cover all of our regular driving. Like a lot of families, most of our longer non-local trips are the classic 1.5–2 hour drives to see relatives, which fall well within that round‑trip range.

So people really need to ask themselves whether they truly need 500 miles. And when they do, is it worth giving up the extra EV performance and taking on the added maintenance that comes with an EREV platform? It's true that Hybrid tech gives you the pros of both ICE and EV, but they also bring the cons of both. You still have all the maintenance of a gas vehicle and the battery considerations of an EV. As someone who’s been through it, the battery concerns are overblown, but new EV buyers will have to experience that for themselves.

Personally, I’d rather deal with the “cons” of just one technology and enjoy the full benefits of an EV. After living with the instant torque of the Mach‑E GT, I’m not interested in Camry‑level 0–60 times paired with its ICE complexity and maintenance. But that’s just me.

So take it from someone that has already had both techs as I now look at hybrid cars as nothing but a stepping‑stone for people who still have range anxiety or aren’t ready to trust a full EV yet. Believe me, I don't blame new perspective owners as I was once one myself as it took me following this same path before I went full EV. But the tech has come a long way, and for most drivers, especially those who aren’t racking up huge daily mileage, skipping the hybrid stage altogether makes a lot more sense today.

This is great.
One addendum: From someone who is about mid-range on miles per year (15k to 25k per year, depending on work and family obligations), and a higher-than-average road trip miles/year, my BEV experience is far superior to my hybrid experience.

 

[BartMan Terra Total EV]

I’m east coast biased. Our distances are just not the same as the west. That said, my threshold is 5 hours driving distance. More than that I’m flying 99% of the time.

Five hours that's just a coffee cup down the road . Flying takes 2 + hours to get on plane. Then layover, then rental car shuttle, then the flu , covid or measles. Then the Dui because you have three drinks on the plane to deal with knowing you will be sick for three weeks. Can you tell I fly to much?

 

[BartMan Terra Total EV]

My husband and I did a trip out to California a few years ago to visit my mom. 4400 miles in a week. We took the Supra. He drove freeway, I drove once we got into towns. We made it the whole way without one argument, talked about all kinds of stuff and listened to hours and hours of Dateline. Now every time I hear that intro music I think of our trip.

Wow you guys must like each other. That's crazy

 

[cyure]

Five hours that's just a coffee cup down the road . Flying takes 2 + hours to get on plane. Then layover, then rental car shuttle, then the flu , covid or measles. Then the Dui because you have three drinks on the plane to deal with knowing you will be sick for three weeks. Can you tell I fly to much?

I’m starting by saying this is not political!

I have a lung thing and I do not want to get sick. I wear my mask as soon as I walk down the jet way and don’t even have a drink of water on that plane. Take it off after I get off the jetway. Have been doing that for years now and don’t get sick anymore after a trip. I don’t want to share all those germs on the plane. No thanks!

 

[cyure]

Wow you guys must like each other. That's crazy

We do! This June will be 38 years since we met and our 36th wedding anniversary!

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I’m starting by saying this is not political!

I have a lung thing and I do not want to get sick. I wear my mask as soon as I walk down the jet way and don’t even have a drink of water on that plane. Take it off after I get off the jetway. Have been doing that for years now and don’t get sick anymore after a trip. I don’t want to share all those germs on the plane. No thanks!

I wear a mask whenever I fly. And throughout my conferences. I went until last year without catching COVID, and only caught it because I spent a week with an elderly family member in a hospital. I don't want the flu. I don't want a cold. I don't want any respiratory illness.

I've gone six years with only two respiratory infections since I started wearing a mask. I used to get one every time I flew.

Scientifically... I have a particle counter that I carry with me when I fly. It counts down to virus-sized particles. Airport air has more small particles than any place I've measured. But once the plane doors close and the recirculation starts, that's the cleanest air you'll be exposed to... Except when a person passes by you or hands you anything. Then the particle count spikes. I wear a mask the moment I enter an airport until I get in my rental car.

It's inane that wearing a mask is politicized.

 

[cyure]

I wear a mask whenever I fly. And throughout my conferences. I went until last year without catching COVID, and only caught it because I spent a week with an elderly family member in a hospital. I don't want the flu. I don't want a cold. I don't want any respiratory illness.

I've gone six years with only two respiratory infections since I started wearing a mask. I used to get one every time I flew.

Scientifically... I have a particle counter that I carry with me when I fly. It counts down to virus-sized particles. Airport air has more small particles than any place I've measured. But once the plane doors close and the recirculation starts, that's the cleanest air you'll be exposed to... Except when a person passes by you or hands you anything. Then the particle count spikes. I wear a mask the moment I enter an airport until I get in my rental car.

It's inane that wearing a mask is politicized.

Wow I thought it would have been the opposite!

 

[LastDayScout]

Five hours that's just a coffee cup down the road . Flying takes 2 + hours to get on plane. Then layover, then rental car shuttle, then the flu , covid or measles. Then the Dui because you have three drinks on the plane to deal with knowing you will be sick for three weeks. Can you tell I fly to much?

I should have added "your mileage may vary".

 

[LastDayScout]

Scientifically... I have a particle counter that I carry with me when I fly

Of course you do! You never cease to amaze me. I absolutely mean this in the best possible terms.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Of course you do! You never cease to amaze me. I absolutely mean this in the best possible terms.

If I could, I’d book a separate seat for all the gear I want to carry with me on the plane.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Wow I thought it would have been the opposite!

Many of us did, but they heavily filter that air.

It’s much easier to filter a small volume of air in an airplane than the massive volume of air in an airport. The lower-population density areas of the airport are cleaner, but it’s still not my favorite place to breathe.

It’s both for longer-term safety (illnesses), but also so that if any kind of issues arise (accidental or purposeful), the air is cleaned as quickly as realistically possible. You don’t want someone distributing a powder or something; you don’t want people breathing smoke; etc., etc., etc.

The problem is that if the person next to you isn’t masked and is ill, the air doesn’t move fast enough to be filtered before you breathe in (some of) what they’ve exhaled. So… I still wear my mask.

 

[Dacker]

I put in my reservation on 02/23/2025. I have been following every youtube video and article that has come out about these vehicles. My wife drives a Cadillac Lyriq. After owning a BEV, I will NEVER buy an ICE vehicle again. That being said...

My reservation is for the Terra BEV. I am not going to maintain a combustion engine and an electric system in the same vehicle. I am not going to get a harvester, only to have an inferior battery and half the towing capacity. The market has spoken? The market is a bunch of people who are hesitant to purchase an EV because of range anxiety. People are fearful of the unknown. Why buy a hybrid? If you want gas, oil changes, and sluggish acceleration, buy an ICE. If you want immediate power, no oil changes, low carbon footprint, but an EV. Hybrid = High Maintenance $$

We took a 4 hour road trip in the Lyriq. We only had to charge one time on the trip at a Buckee's using tesla superchargers. Typically I rent when I travel anyway, because I don't want the mileage on my vehicle, but we did it with the Lyriq for the experience. It was fine.

I am frustrated that Scout is flip-flopping out of the gate. I understand it's a business decision, but when 'The Market' understands that their EREV in the harvester reservation will have half the towing capacity of the BEV... we will see what 'The Market' does then. Being able to tow 10,000 lbs with the BEV is acceptable in a pickup. A max towing capacity of 5,000 lbs is not acceptable for me. These numbers are speculative as they are projected numbers, but one fact is clear; the harvester will not be able to tow the same amount as the BEV. Any boat longer than 22' is going to be at least 6,000 lbs. Pulling a car with trailer, over 6,000 lbs. Maybe 'The Market' isn't towing with a pickup???

 

[cyure]

I put in my reservation on 02/23/2025. I have been following every youtube video and article that has come out about these vehicles. My wife drives a Cadillac Lyriq. After owning a BEV, I will NEVER buy an ICE vehicle again. That being said...

My reservation is for the Terra BEV. I am not going to maintain a combustion engine and an electric system in the same vehicle. I am not going to get a harvester, only to have an inferior battery and half the towing capacity. The market has spoken? The market is a bunch of people who are hesitant to purchase an EV because of range anxiety. People are fearful of the unknown. Why buy a hybrid? If you want gas, oil changes, and sluggish acceleration, buy an ICE. If you want immediate power, no oil changes, low carbon footprint, but an EV. Hybrid = High Maintenance $$

We took a 4 hour road trip in the Lyriq. We only had to charge one time on the trip at a Buckee's using tesla superchargers. Typically I rent when I travel anyway, because I don't want the mileage on my vehicle, but we did it with the Lyriq for the experience. It was fine.

I am frustrated that Scout is flip-flopping out of the gate. I understand it's a business decision, but when 'The Market' understands that their EREV in the harvester reservation will have half the towing capacity of the BEV... we will see what 'The Market' does then. Being able to tow 10,000 lbs with the BEV is acceptable in a pickup. A max towing capacity of 5,000 lbs is not acceptable for me. These numbers are speculative as they are projected numbers, but one fact is clear; the harvester will not be able to tow the same amount as the BEV. Any boat longer than 22' is going to be at least 6,000 lbs. Pulling a car with trailer, over 6,000 lbs. Maybe 'The Market' isn't towing with a pickup???

Welcome to the community. I actually switched my Traveler reservation from an EREV to a BEV. She will be my first BEV!

The Terra BEV guys will be very excited there’s another one of them!

Welcome again.