Higher Range

[ejwl]

I saw the expected range is 350 miles and up 500 with the range extender. I would be nice to have a higher base range like 400 or 450. The rivian r1s range is 410 and the lucid gravity range is estimated at 450. In order to keep up with the competition the amount of range should be matched or exceeded. 400 base range and 500 with the extender is a good start.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

You make it hard to be whiny about being stuck in the boonies!

Just trying to help people understand the reality of BEV driving.

In the past week, due to a series of family emergencies, my vehicles have been driven on a 900 mile round-trip road trip (Mustang) and then seven (so far) 250 mile round trip trips down off and back up the mountain for non-fun reasons (seven counting both the Lightning and the Mustang combined). They’ve also been driven around Phoenix surface streets about 300 miles. It’s in the 100s in Phoenix, so we’re running the AC the entire time. They’ve been to a DCFC a total of four times between the two vehicles in those ~2500 miles. The rest of the time they’ve been on L1 or L2 charging, depending on if they’re at home or down in the Phoenix area.

Only twice has there been even a hint of inconvenience. The first time was due to extra stress making the charging time *feel* slower than it really was. And the second time was when I went to a DCFC charger to fill the Mustang before I headed back up the mountain in the Lightning. I had decided to take the charging time to get a shave and a haircut (two bits). The shave took way longer than it should have and I ended up paying an extra $11 in idle fees because the car got to 100% charge and sat idling on the plug for 22 minutes while I was in the barber’s chair and unable to unplug the car.

 

[ritterf]

I saw the expected range is 350 miles and up 500 with the range extender. I would be nice to have a higher base range like 400 or 450. The rivian r1s range is 410 and the lucid gravity range is estimated at 450. In order to keep up with the competition the amount of range should be matched or exceeded. 400 base range and 500 with the extender is a good start.

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Range by batteries alone is just weight. And weight is the enemy of everything this truck is supposed to do — tow, climb, wheel, last 30 years.

The Rivian R1S gets its 410 miles by hauling a 6,000+ lb curb weight. The Lucid Gravity is heavier still. You're not buying range — you're buying an expensive way to avoid a gas station while sacrificing the truck's soul in the process.

The smarter play is a smaller, lighter LTO buffer paired with a better generator. Not the naturally aspirated EA211 that's been rumored — the EA211-ERV. Same basic engine VW just put into production for the ID. Era 9X, but with VTG turbo and Miller cycle, designed explicitly for serial hybrid duty. Sustained 105kW output. It doesn't care about altitude, load, or headwind. The generator IS the range. The battery is just the buffer.

350 miles of base range is plenty when the generator never quits. The question isn't how big the battery is. It's whether the truck can sustain 85mph towing up a 7% grade without the driver watching the state of charge like a hawk.

This architecture does that. A bigger pack doesn't.

 

[Mousehunter]

It really depends on what the goals are. I think Scout is an EV company. The Harvester is a means to get around EV range anxiety - while allowing users to learn what driving an EV is about. You are proposing an ICE vehicle with an electric powertrain. While there could be some market for that - I think it would not be attractive to the EV community, and most of the ICE community would not want to embrace it either. It possibly would attract people who want the performance of an EV, but can not home charge. I am not sure, but I think there are also cities that have pollution issues and are attempting to ban ICE vehicles from downtown's - maybe 20 miles of range would make a difference in this situation.