Harvester Towing

[mbeadnell]

To the best of everyone’s ability do not minimize towing for the gas extender versions to 5k. That will cause you all to lose a drastic amount of reservations just by that alone. People want trucks for truck things. Especially for that price. It’s evident in the forums. Towing is a huge component in that especially since you are advertising a full size truck. If
You were talking midsize (Rivian) the conversation may be different. The sweet spot is 7500. If you can get it there. I can almost guarantee you will make a great amount of people happy as that also is a good number to tow a vast amount of things.

 

[THil08]

To the best of everyone’s ability do not minimize towing for the gas extender versions to 5k. That will cause you all to lose a drastic amount of reservations just by that alone. People want trucks for truck things. Especially for that price. It’s evident in the forums. Towing is a huge component in that especially since you are advertising a full size truck. If
You were talking midsize (Rivian) the conversation may be different. The sweet spot is 7500. If you can get it there. I can almost guarantee you will make a great amount of people happy as that also is a good number to tow a vast amount of things.

Nothing is official yet, as stated in a few other threads. We have been told by Jamie if I'm recalling correctly that they are trying to make the Harvester and EV towing pretty even. It's lowballed capacity probably is due to weight distribution, but they seem to have figured it out by swapping the fuel tank to the rear, and the battery to the front. Which was originally shown as the Fuel tank up front and the battery at the rear.

 

[cperoutka]

If the towing capacity of the Traveler-Harvester is reduced significantly, I will have to cancel my reservation.

 

[cyure]

If the towing capacity of the Traveler-Harvester is reduced significantly, I will have to cancel my reservation.

Welcome to the community!

That’s a very hot topic and we just don’t know what it will actually be yet. Lots of speculation but no facts yet.

A great follow that keeps us updated as things are announced is @Jamie@ScoutMotors.

Welcome again!

 

[mastertroll]

To the best of everyone’s ability do not minimize towing for the gas extender versions to 5k. That will cause you all to lose a drastic amount of reservations just by that alone. People want trucks for truck things. Especially for that price. It’s evident in the forums. Towing is a huge component in that especially since you are advertising a full size truck. If
You were talking midsize (Rivian) the conversation may be different. The sweet spot is 7500. If you can get it there. I can almost guarantee you will make a great amount of people happy as that also is a good number to tow a vast amount of things.

This is why I am pushing for the ability to add our own generators in the bed.

Interesting fact I learned today for what Everdrive is doing on the Lightning.

 

[R1TVT]

This is why I am pushing for the ability to add our own generators in the bed. You don't have to worry about a different drive train.

Please explain. You are worrying about a "different drive train"?

 

[mastertroll]

Please explain. You are worrying about a "different drive train"?

per Grok (not sure if it's correct) but I think it might perform the same as the Ford Powerboost.

The Harvester version (the EREV / range-extender model) does not use the exact same drivetrain as the standard fully-electric Scout Terra.

Here's the key difference:

• The standard EV Terra uses two electric drive units (one on the front axle, one on the rear axle)
• The Harvester version uses a smaller LFP battery (60–70 kWh instead of the much larger pack in the EV) and has a gasoline engine acting as a generator. The engine is mounted in the very rear of the vehicle (behind the rear axle). While the vehicle is still driven purely by electric motors (the gas engine only generates electricity), the smaller battery, different battery chemistry, and the added rear-mounted engine/generator result in a meaningfully different overall powertrain setup.
  
  It also has lower towing capacity than the pure EV version.
  
  So in short: Yes, the Harvester uses a different drivetrain configuration.

and

According to Scout Motors' own official support page,

• Full EV models (Terra/Traveler): 120–130 kWh battery using NMC chemistry.
• Harvester models: 60–70 kWh battery using LFP chemistry.

The Harvester also has a smaller battery pack, a rear-mounted gasoline generator (range extender), and reduced towing capacity and performance compared to the pure EV version.

Main source:

• Scout Motors Official Support: What battery size will Scout vehicles use?

This has also been confirmed by Scout CEO Scott Keogh in interviews.

Also found this:
The main reasons the Harvester has significantly lower towing capacity (reportedly ~5,000 lbs vs 10,000 lbs on the pure EV Terra) are:

1. The Harvester uses a much smaller battery (~60-70 kWh LFP vs 120-130 kWh NMC in the EV).​

LFP batteries are not as good at delivering very high power output for extended periods. Towing a heavy trailer at highway speeds requires sustained high power. The smaller LFP pack simply can’t supply as much continuous power as the big NMC pack in the EV version.

2. Even though the gas generator makes electricity, it has a limited maximum output. It can’t match the massive instantaneous and sustained power that a large EV battery can deliver. When towing, the vehicle needs a lot of power — the generator + small battery combo just can’t keep up as well as the big battery EV.​

3. Adding the gasoline engine and generator in the rear changes how weight is distributed, which can affect stability, traction, and how the vehicle is rated for towing.​

The Harvester would have needed several major changes to keep the same ~10,000 lb towing capacity as the full EV Terra. Here's what it would have taken:

To match the EV's towing capability, the Harvester would likely need:​

1. Much larger battery — Probably close to the same size as the EV’s 120–130 kWh pack (instead of the ~65 kWh it’s getting).
2. Much more powerful generator — The gas engine would need to be significantly larger and more powerful to keep up with the high sustained power demand of towing.
3. Better cooling system — Both the battery and the generator would need serious cooling upgrades to handle sustained high-load towing without overheating.
4. Stronger electric motors or dual motor setup — Possibly larger or higher-output motors to handle the torque demands.

Doing all of that would make the Harvester:

• More expensive
• Heavier
• Less efficient as a range extender
• More complex

That’s why Scout went with the smaller battery approach — it keeps the price and complexity down, but it comes at the cost of towing capacity.

Bottom line: To keep the same 10,000 lb towing rating, the Harvester would basically need to become a much more expensive and heavier vehicle — which defeats the purpose of making a more affordable range-extender model.

That's not to say the Harvester model is a bad choice. All the engineering is already done and it's supposed to hit 500 miles (EPA only?). It might be possible for them to hit 7500.

 

[R1TVT]

per Grok (not sure if it's correct) but I think it might perform the same as the Ford Powerboost.

The Harvester version (the EREV / range-extender model) does not use the exact same drivetrain as the standard fully-electric Scout Terra.

Grok?

Powerboost?

What is happening!

My lord. The Harvester is NOT sending ANY power directly to the drivetrain - it goes to the battery.

 

[mastertroll]

View attachment 15620

Grok?

Powerboost?

What is happening!

My lord. The Harvester is NOT sending ANY power to the drivetrain.

Powertrain, drivetrain. Call it what you want. I am not entirely sure that the Harvester model won't be supplying power directly to axle similar to powerboost. Until they show us a diagram or straight-up confirm it, I’m keeping an open mind.

 

[speedrye]

View attachment 15620

Grok?

Powerboost?

What is happening!

My lord. The Harvester is NOT sending ANY power directly to the drivetrain - it goes to the battery.

It'd actually be nice if there was a failsafe mode where the drivetrain could accept the juice from the Harvester directly in the event there is a battery issue. Sure, you'd be in turtle mode, but you could at least move the vehicle to safety should something happen.

 

[strider]

I don't trust GenAI as far as I can throw it. AFAIK the motors are the same on both models so that right there is BS.

We do know that Scout is working as hard as they can to maximize the towing capability of the Harvester models. As I've heard said, there are no solutions, only trade-offs. Scout's engineers will need to balance weight and performance with cost.

That being said, RAM is definitely going after the heavy towing market if they ever build the Ramcharger. Scout cannot compete in every market at the same time. If you truly need an EREV with a massive towing capacity, the RAM is likely a better fit than a Terra Harvester.

 

[strider]

My lord. The Harvester is NOT sending ANY power directly to the drivetrain - it goes to the battery.

I don't think we know that. We know that it is a series hybrid but that's all we know. Wouldn't they be able to increase efficiency if the Harvester provided power directly to the motors thereby avoiding extra AC/DC conversions?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I don't think we know that. We know that it is a series hybrid but that's all we know. Wouldn't they be able to increase efficiency if the Harvester provided power directly to the motors thereby avoiding extra AC/DC conversions?

There’s a cost, weight, and complexity trade-off. If you want the Harvester to be able to directly energize the motors, then you have to give up its ability to charge the battery. If you want the Harvester to charge the battery, then you have to give up the ability to directly energize the motors.

To both energize the motors and charge the battery would require a complex hardware and software configuration and would add significant cost to the vehicle’s R&D and to the build cost.

If SM chooses to only be able to energize the motors, then the Harvester would not be able to charge the battery while stationary.
If SM chooses to be able to charge the battery, then there’s some efficiency loss.

The trade-off that is likely Scout’s choice is to use the Harvester genset to charge the battery, and to eat the slight efficiency loss, not add the extra costs to develop switching hardware and software to allow both options.

How will the Harvester™ range extender work? | Scout Support

support.scoutmotors.com

 

[speedrye]

There’s a cost, weight, and complexity trade-off. If you want the Harvester to be able to directly energize the motors, then you have to give up its ability to charge the battery. If you want the Harvester to charge the battery, then you have to give up the ability to directly energize the motors.

To both energize the motors and charge the battery would require a complex hardware and software configuration and would add significant cost to the vehicle’s R&D and to the build cost.

If SM chooses to only be able to energize the motors, then the Harvester would not be able to charge the battery while stationary.
If SM chooses to be able to charge the battery, then there’s some efficiency loss.

The trade-off that is likely Scout’s choice is to use the Harvester genset to charge the battery, and to eat the slight efficiency loss, not add the extra costs to develop switching hardware and software to allow both options.

How will the Harvester™ range extender work? | Scout Support

support.scoutmotors.com

View attachment 15626

In case of emergency, throw switch.

 

[J Alynn]

If the towing capacity of the Traveler-Harvester is reduced significantly, I will have to cancel my reservation.

OK. Thanks and welcome

 

[mastertroll]

OK. Thanks and welcome

Are you an associate with Scout?

 

[J Alynn]

Are you an associate with Scout?

Nope. Just a 37 year fan of Scouts and committed to navigating the course as they develop these awesome new vehicles. Lots of ups and downs but committed early on to joining the forum, being active and generally championing the cause. Always dreamed of another scout and hate to offend the original owners but if I’m gonna have to spend $70K whether a restored original or a new, safe, current non rusting box on wheels I’d prefer to gamble on a new one

 

[mastertroll]

Nope. Just a 37 year fan of Scouts and committed to navigating the course as they develop these awesome new vehicles. Lots of ups and downs but committed early on to joining the forum, being active and generally championing the cause. Always dreamed of another scout and hate to offend the original owners but if I’m gonna have to spend $70K whether a restored original or a new, safe, current non rusting box on wheels I’d prefer to gamble on a new one

right on. I think Scout is going to pull it off.