What if the front was the back, and the back was the front? Imagine that render travelling in reverse.
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Help me decide BEV or EREV
- Thread starter Scoutons86
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Well, the people who think cars must be powered by at least some gas are missing out.I feel like that has yet to be proven !
It’s a bummer that electric cars have to overcome the wrongthought that a car is somehow less-than if it’s powered by gas and not electricity or that it’s potentially hobbled without a gas backup.
Infrastructure, battery range, and range anxiety are all legit concerns. I’m not convinced that gas is superior to a battery for everyone, but I am convinced gas/gas backup is a better option for me and where I live. I don’t look at it as being hobbled without a gas backup, I look at it as the best of both worlds. For day to day commutes to work, have the EV lifestyle. On rural trips or longer trips, the convenience of gas.
There was a thread a while back comparing road trips in a Scout with and without the Harvester. It’s not exact science, but it’s a fun tool. I put in the following trip I did, and a pure EV would have had to detour from the route. I’m not willing to make that compromise.
https://community.scoutmotors.com/t...traveler-bev-vs-erev-routing.7450/#post-67434
This is a high-altitude "Speed Run" through the Pioneer and Pintler ranges. In October, the thermal reality of Southwest Montana—where morning temperatures can dip to 25°F—will put your energy strategy to the test.
With 35" All-Terrain tires and a 15% Minimum Reserve, the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway presents a specific challenge: there is zero high-speed charging between Dillon and Anaconda.
I. The Mission Math (Comparison)
| Metric | Traveler BEV | Traveler Harvester |
| Total Range Strategy | 1 Mandatory Charging Stop | 0 Mid-Trip Stops |
| Est. Trip Duration | 7h 45m (Incl. Charging/Detour) | 6h 15m (Continuous) |
| Est. Energy Cost | $58.20 (Avg $0.16/mi) | $43.50 (Avg $0.12/mi) |
| Seasonal/Tire Status | Range -18% (Tires + Cold) | Efficiency -10% (Tires) |
| Route Integrity | Requires Detour to Dillon, MT | 100% of Plan |
II. Leg-by-Leg Tactical Breakdown
Leg 1: Missoula to Polaris via I-15 — 172 Miles- The Route: Paved high-speed Interstate (75-80 MPH) followed by MT-278.
- Capability Check:
October Status: Roads clear, but temps are 40°F. Your 35" tires are creating significant drag at 80 MPH.
- Harvester Strategy: Start with 100% charge from Missoula. Use EV-Only for the first 110 miles. The Generator will kick in seamlessly near Melrose, MT, to maintain battery levels for the climb to Polaris.
- BEV Strategy: You cannot bypass Dillon, MT. If you drive straight to Polaris, your 15% reserve will be depleted before you reach the top of the Scenic Byway.
- Stop: Tesla Supercharger (NACS) @ 570 N Montana St, Dillon.
- Action: Charge to 90% (45 mins) to ensure you have enough electrons to "climb" the Pioneers.
- Cost: $32.00 (@ $0.48/kWh incl. MT EV tax).
- The Route: This is the heart of the mission. A winding, paved ascent to 7,800 feet at the Crystal Park summit.
- Capability Check: 35" Tires: Overkill for the pavement, but essential for the slushy pull-offs near the Coolidge Ghost Town turn-off.
- Harvester Strategy: Use Hybrid/Sustain Mode. The generator provides the torque needed for the grade while keeping the cabin warm without draining the battery.
- BEV Strategy: Regenerative braking on the descent into Wise River will recover ~4-6% of your battery, but the initial climb from Polaris is an "electron hog" due to the weight of your 35s.
- The Route: MT-43 to the Pintler Scenic Highway (MT-1) and back onto I-90.
- Capability Check:
Thermal Alert: As the sun sets, temps drop. The BEV will prioritize battery heating.
- Harvester Strategy: No stops. You have ~200 miles of gas range remaining.
- BEV Strategy: Monitor your reserve. If the headwind on I-90 is strong, you may need a 10-minute "splash" charge in Anaconda (Discovery Family Center DCFC) to maintain your 15% reserve.
III. The "Fuel & Flux" Summary Table
| Stop Location | Type | BEV Action | Harvester Action |
| Missoula | Start | 100% Charge ($14) | 100% Charge ($14) |
| Dillon, MT | Charge | +55kWh Charge ($26) | Drive Through |
| Polaris/Pioneers | Nature | Peak Elevation | Peak Elevation |
| Anaconda, MT | Support | Safety Buffer Check | Drive Through |
| Missoula | Home | Arrive 15% | Arrive 10% Gas/5% Bat |
| TOTALS | -- | $58 / 7h 45m | $43 / 6h 15m |
Note: Harvester cost includes $29.50 in Premium Gas (~8.5 gallons) + $14 initial charge.
IV. Tactical Advice
- The Seasonal Verdict: Your 35" tires and the October cold are the "tax" on this trip. In the BEV, they turn a 360-mile loop into a logistical puzzle because the 800V charging infrastructure hasn't reached the Big Hole Valley yet. You are forced to detour 15 miles south to Dillon to "fuel up" for the mountain pass.
- The Financial & Temporal Verdict: For this specific Montana loop, the Harvester is the superior tactical choice. Not only is it $15 cheaper due to the high cost of DC Fast Charging vs. current MT gas prices, but it saves you nearly 90 minutes of detour and dwell time in Dillon.
It isn’t an EA288. It will be an engine modified and simplified for our use.
If the vehicle is going to be your only option the go EREV
If you have other ICE vehicles at your disposal then go BEV
Interesting that the results of the same poll question on the other forum are very different.
There’s only one Scout Forum as far as I’m concerned.
That's good news for people who want the Harvester.
Not that I have anything negative to say about the engine---we had a one in the last ICE Volkswagen we had and it was great.
But I think it's good to take a look at what's needed and what's not needed in the specialized application of an EREV.
Wouldn't you have to drive enough to use the motor every so often in the EREV to avoid the gas going bad in the tank if never used?
Welcome to the community.
There has been discussion about this and everyone agrees that yes you would need to. I don’t remember which video it was, either one from the 2025 CES or the Jay Leno video, but Scott said you will have options. You can either have it run on all electric, all gas or let the vehicle decide what is appropriate. So if you choose all electric all the time there would come a point where you have to run the generator.
The Wrangler 4xe makes you run the engine every 750 miles of EV only use.
Welcome again!
I’m sure that whatever it is, it will be considerably different from a regular vehicle engine. Its accessories package will be way different like the water pump you mentioned. Its accessories package will be optimized for static rpm. @SpaceEVDriver do you have a guess as to what the gallons per hour consumption will be? I would suggest that’s the best way to discuss the engine’s efficiency rather than miles per gallon. I would also imagine the intake manifold will be designed for low end torque rather than high end horsepower. Same goes for the head, valvetrain and exhaust. That will also contribute to lower NVH which will be very important. People will also need to get used to service intervals based on hours rather than miles.
Which honestly likely wouldn’t be that big of an issue if the computer on-board is keeping track of it. The computer’s onboard many ICE vehicles already keep track of the oil life.
I don't have a good idea, but we can make some educated guesses and build an estimate.
Let's assume someone gets 85% of the EPA range estimate at 60 mph.
0.85 * 500 = 425 miles total.
0.85 * 350 = ~300 miles on gas.
Assuming a 15 gallon tank, that's 300 miles / 15 gallons = 20 mpg. The BYD Shark sees something similar.
And---because we chose 60 mph = 1 mile / minute---it's also 300 minutes / 15 gallons = 20 minutes per gallon. Or 3 gallons per hour at highway speeds.
If the tank is a 10 gallon tank for the same range, it's 30 minutes per gallon, or 2 gallons per hour. A smaller number is better here.
If it's a 20 gallon tank for the same range, it's 15 minutes per gallon, 4 gallons per hour.
If the range is 350 instead of 300 at 60 mph, then things improve by about 16% or 1/6th.
For my normal daily commute, here’s my plan:
-Fill Gas Tank
-Charge battery to full
-Run on battery only until 15%
-Charge battery to full
-Run on Gas/Battery until tank is under 1/4 tank of gas
-Repeat
Quick question. They have stated they will have a setting that will allow the truck to determine what needs to be run, battery or generator both. Is there a reason you wouldn’t select that setting as opposed to you changing it based on this formula above? Just curious.
I’ve actually given this a lot of thought. The “auto” setting is probably the easier way to go, and maybe what I’d settle on eventually. But if I’m buying an EV, I thought running on pure EV when I can would allow me to get the best of both worlds. Most days I only drive 10 miles, so if I force EV mode, I’ll go a lot of days before having to charge or fuel.
I think anybody that goes with the Harvester will play with the settings a lot before landing on the setup they like. The EV thing is a whole new world to me, and I’m taking a much slower approach and just dipping my toes in. I’m not ready to give up the gas burner option just yet!
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