Is there anything SM could offer to get you to switch from EREV to BEV?

[maynard]

Of course! Why not?

Is that not a thing where you live?

I know all my neighbours. We have an annual block party every June. My neighbour across the street - Will - snowblows my driveway when the plow comes. My kid walks our next door neighbour's dog every day. In the summer a bunch of the neighbours come over for backyard BBQs or to hang out around the fire pit (that is for cooking of course because I live in a city ). We're always hanging out on the front lawns when the weather is nice.

Is this not a normal thing where you are?

We *have* to be social with the neighbors! We're only 25 feet away on either side - that's what happens on the river... To be honest we were always neighborly where ever we have lived...

 

[Firemedic2714]

I'm in MA too. Further west, closer to the NY border. My house and the area I drive regularly to do site visits for customers is at least as big as the area you have circled, and also in an area without many chargers. I drive a full BEV Lightning. Do I worry about range or fast chargers along my route? Never, because I have a charger at my house so I always have at least 80% battery SOC when I leave each day. At 80% SOC in the winter I have around 215-220 miles of range, plenty to get me anywhere I want to go around rural Western MA. If I'm going on a road trip, I'll charge to 100% giving me about 320 or so miles of range.

The thing that I think has many of us puzzled, and some have already asked is wouldn't you plan to install a charger at your house? If so, there's really no concern driving all over that area by the Quabbin without any fast chargers because you just wouldn't need them. If you live in an apartment without the ability to install a charger, that is a different story and I could see the concern about fast chargers in that ca

I'm in MA too. Further west, closer to the NY border. My house and the area I drive regularly to do site visits for customers is at least as big as the area you have circled, and also in an area without many chargers. I drive a full BEV Lightning. Do I worry about range or fast chargers along my route? Never, because I have a charger at my house so I always have at least 80% battery SOC when I leave each day. At 80% SOC in the winter I have around 215-220 miles of range, plenty to get me anywhere I want to go around rural Western MA. If I'm going on a road trip, I'll charge to 100% giving me about 320 or so miles of range.

The thing that I think has many of us puzzled, and some have already asked is wouldn't you plan to install a charger at your house? If so, there's really no concern driving all over that area by the Quabbin without any fast chargers because you just wouldn't need them. If you live in an apartment without the ability to install a charger, that is a different story and I could see the concern about fast chargers in that case

The point of the thread was to see what would make me switch. Sharing what works for you and trying to talk me into it isn’t going to change my mind. Yes, home charging helps, but it doesn’t solve my use case. I work 24-hour shifts without charging access, spend a lot of time at hockey rinks and tournaments with no chargers, and deal with New England winters and unpredictable schedules. I plan for worst-case scenarios, not ideal ones.
I’m not anti-EV. If charging existed where I actually spend time rinks, tournaments, during my 24s it would be a different conversation. Until then, the Harvester fits how I live and drive.

 

[Firemedic2714]

Wait wait wait… you live in Massachusetts and don’t think you’d ever be within range of a charger? For real?

I can assure you that this is not the case. I present our very own forum user @R1TVT as a compelling use case of someone who could probably tell you where the charging happens in relation to where you’re going to find yourself. From what I recall, he mostly ends up charging his truck at home.

My mom also thinks a Harvester is going to be better than a regular electric, but after hearing practical use stories, I don’t think that’s the case. Not for Massachusetts. If we lived in the boonies, maybe. We live in a densely-populated area in a small state where you can drive across it in a couple of hours. If you live in a place where you absolutely cannot have a home charger installed at all now or at any point in the future, sure, the Harvester could make sense. Otherwise, I think it’s just gonna cost you more in the long run than it’s going to save you money and time.

@Scoutsie
I never said there are no chargers in Massachusetts. I said they’re not where I actually spend time day-to-day. Home charging helps, but it doesn’t solve 24-hour shifts, winter driving, or hours at hockey rinks and tournaments without charging access. My schedule isn’t a straight line across the state it’s work, school, rinks, errands, and unpredictable days.
Right now, some of these replies feel like they’re debating maps, and I’m describing life.

There’s also been a bit of condescension in the tone, like my use case couldn’t exist, which wasn’t my experience on the Bronco forum. Different people just have different realities.
I’m not anti-EV. I’m saying pure electric doesn’t fit my lifestyle yet. If infrastructure improves where I actually spend time, I’ll revisit it. Until then, the Harvester makes more sense for me.
And hey — if you didn’t get Evacuation Day off growing up, I’m not sure you’re really from Boston

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

I think you have to ask yourself will you actually do the traveling you’re mentioning. That is often exactly how people buy the thought not the reality. That’s sounds accusatory and it’s not meant to be.

You are absolutely correct of course. But then a BHAG is what keeps us going!

 

[Firemedic2714]

You don't need fast chargers close to where you live because 95% of your charging there will be at home. Where you need fast chargers is 2-3 hours away from where you live.

EVs aren't like gas cars. You don't need to go to a special place once or twice a week to recharge. You can get a "full tank" every night if you want to at home. EV chargers use about as much energy as a hot water tank. I know this because I have the data. I track both the energy use of my hot water tank and my EV, they're surprisingly similar. What that means is that pretty much anyone can have an EVSE (EV charger) at their house (unless they rent of course).

If your current vehicle could magically refill its gas tank every night that you were at home, how often would you honestly need to stop during the day to fill up?

Also, Massachusetts has a tonne of chargers...based on what I calculated you're never more than 50km away from a fast charger anywhere in the state. Again, you don't use fast chargers like you currently use gas stations. The overwhelming majority of all your charging will be done at home.

View attachment 13810

@Cranky Canuck
I get what you’re saying, and I know most EV owners charge at home that works great for a lot of people. My situation just isn’t that simple. I don’t reliably come home every night because of 24-hour shifts, and I spend a lot of time parked at hockey rinks and tournaments with no chargers, often in the middle of winter. Being within 50 km of a charger on a map doesn’t really help when it’s not where my day actually happens. My schedule isn’t a straight line it’s work, school, rinks, errands, and unpredictable days.
And not every house can just throw in a charger. Panel capacity, older wiring, parking setups, cost — it’s not universal. Honestly, you’re describing what works for commuters with predictable routines. I’m describing shift work, winter, and hockey-parent life. Different lanes. I’m not anti-EV. If the infrastructure catches up to where I actually spend time, I’d reconsider. For now, the Harvester just fits how I live.

 

[Firemedic2714]

You are absolutely correct of course. But then a BHAG is what keeps us going!

This isn’t hypothetical travel for me. I put about 88,000 miles on my current vehicle in 4 years, roughly 22K a year. I drive a lot, and most of that time I’m on the road or parked at hockey rinks. Home for a couple hours, then back at it. Nightly home charging works great if your vehicle sits at home every night. Mine often doesn’t.

 

[cyure]

This isn’t hypothetical travel for me. I put about 88,000 miles on my current vehicle in 4 years, roughly 22K a year. I drive a lot, and most of that time I’m on the road or parked at hockey rinks. Home for a couple hours, then back at it. Nightly home charging works great if your vehicle sits at home every night. Mine often doesn’t.

And this is exactly why they have both. I hope everyone gets what works for them. Regardless of how they are powered, they are a Scout, and I think we can all agree thats why we are here.

 

[N Wilson]

This isn’t hypothetical travel for me. I put about 88,000 miles on my current vehicle in 4 years, roughly 22K a year. I drive a lot, and most of that time I’m on the road or parked at hockey rinks. Home for a couple hours, then back at it. Nightly home charging works great if your vehicle sits at home every night. Mine often doesn’t.

Genuinely curious. When and where do you sleep?

It may well be that the Harvester is the right choice for you, and since Scout is making both powertrain options, you will be covered either way.

What I, and others are trying to understand is that from the perspective of someone who owns and has experience with a BEV living and driving in a rural area, it seems like your situation would actually work well with a BEV as long as you are able to install a home L2 charger. But again, luckily Scout is making both options so if the Harvester really is the right option for you, you will have that available. I just wonder if you were to rent an EV with similar range to what Scout has said their BEV variant will have (350 miles) and try it out for a few days or a week or so and see if it matches your expectation. You might be surprised.

 

[Cranky Canuck]

@Cranky Canuck
I get what you’re saying, and I know most EV owners charge at home that works great for a lot of people. My situation just isn’t that simple. I don’t reliably come home every night because of 24-hour shifts, and I spend a lot of time parked at hockey rinks and tournaments with no chargers, often in the middle of winter. Being within 50 km of a charger on a map doesn’t really help when it’s not where my day actually happens. My schedule isn’t a straight line it’s work, school, rinks, errands, and unpredictable days.
And not every house can just throw in a charger. Panel capacity, older wiring, parking setups, cost — it’s not universal. Honestly, you’re describing what works for commuters with predictable routines. I’m describing shift work, winter, and hockey-parent life. Different lanes. I’m not anti-EV. If the infrastructure catches up to where I actually spend time, I’d reconsider. For now, the Harvester just fits how I live.

How much do you drive in a typical day?

I'm very familiar with EVs in the winter. It almost sounds like you believe EVs lose range just sitting somewhere? How do you know with such certainty that an EV wouldn't work in your use case if you've never owned or experienced an EV?

I'd suggest that keeping an open mind and being open to learning from those of us with long-time experience with EVs in cold climates might be helpful.

 

[Scoutsie]

@Scoutsie
I never said there are no chargers in Massachusetts. I said they’re not where I actually spend time day-to-day. Home charging helps, but it doesn’t solve 24-hour shifts, winter driving, or hours at hockey rinks and tournaments without charging access. My schedule isn’t a straight line across the state it’s work, school, rinks, errands, and unpredictable days.
Right now, some of these replies feel like they’re debating maps, and I’m describing life.

There’s also been a bit of condescension in the tone, like my use case couldn’t exist, which wasn’t my experience on the Bronco forum. Different people just have different realities.
I’m not anti-EV. I’m saying pure electric doesn’t fit my lifestyle yet. If infrastructure improves where I actually spend time, I’ll revisit it. Until then, the Harvester makes more sense for me.
And hey — if you didn’t get Evacuation Day off growing up, I’m not sure you’re really from Boston

Well, I’d imagine that I would read as condescending: I’m from Boston and I grew up getting Evacuation Day off and getting told that my parents were communist spies because they were Ukrainians and I was a little kid in the eighties. I’m sorry that I came off that way: it’s kind of normal for me. I genuinely meant to come at it from a place of helpfulness, not a place of douchebaggery. I apologize.

What surprised me, I suppose, was that there couldn’t be any sort of charging infrastructure whatsoever anywhere remotely near where you spend time. Even in spite of the obstacles you mentioned, I guess. Perhaps I’m wrong. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. I thought that you were being inflexible in your thinking and if I was incorrect, then I apologize. I am being insensitive and callous to reality. If it can’t be done, it can’t be done. The closest public charging station to my house isn’t really someplace where I would feel fantastic about leaving my car for a few hours. That was the thinking behind what I wrote.

 

[RodorW]

Depending on where you spend time proximity to a building and friendliness with the owners or managers have said building can sometimes allow you to charge via L1 or 2 depending on outlets and your portable, but that does heavily depend on more factors. Though it’s not impossible as it’s something I’ve managed to do at a Best Buy. Late one evening

 

[THil08]

Of course! Why not?

Is that not a thing where you live?

I know all my neighbours. We have an annual block party every June. My neighbour across the street - Will - snowblows my driveway when the plow comes. My kid walks our next door neighbour's dog every day. In the summer a bunch of the neighbours come over for backyard BBQs or to hang out around the fire pit (that is for cooking of course because I live in a city ). We're always hanging out on the front lawns when the weather is nice.

Is this not a normal thing where you are?

Depends. I mainly socialize with friends at their houses. My house people around it are a bit nasty. But they are warming up slowly. They don't like the sound of a big V8 waking up in the morning. But thats there problem from being light sleepers.

 

[Cranky Canuck]

Well, I’d imagine that I would read as condescending: I’m from Boston and I grew up getting Evacuation Day off and getting told that my parents were communist spies because they were Ukrainians and I was a little kid in the eighties. I’m sorry that I came off that way: it’s kind of normal for me. I genuinely meant to come at it from a place of helpfulness, not a place of douchebaggery. I apologize.

What surprised me, I suppose, was that there couldn’t be any sort of charging infrastructure whatsoever anywhere remotely near where you spend time. Even in spite of the obstacles you mentioned, I guess. Perhaps I’m wrong. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. I thought that you were being inflexible in your thinking and if I was incorrect, then I apologize. I am being insensitive and callous to reality. If it can’t be done, it can’t be done. The closest public charging station to my house isn’t really someplace where I would feel fantastic about leaving my car for a few hours. That was the thinking behind what I wrote.

Slava Ukraine!

 

[speedrye]

imagine wanting to be social with neighbors.

Anti-social people unite! Oh wait...

 

[BartMan Terra Total EV]

Of course! Why not?

Is that not a thing where you live?

I know all my neighbours. We have an annual block party every June. My neighbour across the street - Will - snowblows my driveway when the plow comes. My kid walks our next door neighbour's dog every day. In the summer a bunch of the neighbours come over for backyard BBQs or to hang out around the fire pit (that is for cooking of course because I live in a city ). We're always hanging out on the front lawns when the weather is nice.

Is this not a normal thing where you are?

You must be one of those lovely kind Canadians i love and respect. I grew up in New England were " bigger fences make better neighbors " I have lived in my house for 22 years I don't even know the names of some of my neighbors.

 

[Cranky Canuck]

You must be one of those lovely kind Canadians i love and respect. I grew up in New England were " bigger fences make better neighbors " I have lived in my house for 22 years I done even know the names of some of my neighbors.

Probably goes a long way towards explaining why your country is so divided.

I grew up in this city but have lived all over the world. My current experience is similar to that of when I was a kid, neighbours knew and helped each other. We'd literally borrow milk or sugar from our neighbours all the time! (And they from us as well of course.) The adults of the neighbourhood and especially the street were all at least familiar with all the kids and it's the same now here with my kids and neighbours.

We're stronger together than apart. Communities are important and I'm glad I live in a country where strangers are friendly to each other and neighbours know each other. I can't imagine living somewhere where I don't know the people who live around me. And I'm not from a small town, I'm from a large city.

 

[BartMan Terra Total EV]

Probably goes a long way towards explaining why your country is so divided.

I grew up in this city but have lived all over the world. My current experience is similar to that of when I was a kid, neighbours knew and helped each other. We'd literally borrow milk or sugar from our neighbours all the time! (And they from us as well of course.) The adults of the neighbourhood and especially the street were all at least familiar with all the kids and it's the same now here with my kids and neighbours.

We're stronger together than apart. Communities are important and I'm glad I live in a country where strangers are friendly to each other and neighbours know each other. I can't imagine living somewhere where I don't know the people who live around me. And I'm not from a small town, I'm from a large city.

Well oh jeeze I was just kidding. We are very close to our immediate neighbors but some folks are private and do not feel obligated to be best friends just because you happen to live in the same neighborhood. They can still be good people just not social. Hey by the way your lovely country was pretty devided as well before our current leadership took over wasn't the conservative party gaining power? That said i hope things get back to normal in a year or two.

 

[Firemedic2714]

Well, I’d imagine that I would read as condescending: I’m from Boston and I grew up getting Evacuation Day off and getting told that my parents were communist spies because they were Ukrainians and I was a little kid in the eighties. I’m sorry that I came off that way: it’s kind of normal for me. I genuinely meant to come at it from a place of helpfulness, not a place of douchebaggery. I apologize.

What surprised me, I suppose, was that there couldn’t be any sort of charging infrastructure whatsoever anywhere remotely near where you spend time. Even in spite of the obstacles you mentioned, I guess. Perhaps I’m wrong. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. I thought that you were being inflexible in your thinking and if I was incorrect, then I apologize. I am being insensitive and callous to reality. If it can’t be done, it can’t be done. The closest public charging station to my house isn’t really someplace where I would feel fantastic about leaving my car for a few hours. That was the thinking behind what I wrote.

@Scoutsie Appreciate that, tone definitely gets lost online. Different realities, same truck. What part of Boston? I grew up in Eastie around the same time and lived in the North End for a bit when I got older.

 

[J Alynn]

Of course! Why not?

Is that not a thing where you live?

I know all my neighbours. We have an annual block party every June. My neighbour across the street - Will - snowblows my driveway when the plow comes. My kid walks our next door neighbour's dog every day. In the summer a bunch of the neighbours come over for backyard BBQs or to hang out around the fire pit (that is for cooking of course because I live in a city ). We're always hanging out on the front lawns when the weather is nice.

Is this not a normal thing where you are?

I think knowing your neighbors is common but the idea/nostalgia of interacting from your front porch is vey minimal any more. People pull in garage when they get home and rarely come out in that sense. Look how many people put up fences and send dogs and kids out to play so they don’t have to interact. It’s a strange phenomenon at least in the north. In south it’s a bit more common due to warm year round weather but still not like it was in the 40’s to 50’s which is what people dream of today

 

[Cranky Canuck]

Well oh jeeze I was just kidding. We are very close to our immediate neighbors but some folks are private and do not feel obligated to be best friends just because you happen to live in the same neighborhood. They can still be good people just not social. Hey by the way your lovely country was pretty devided as well before our current leadership took over wasn't the conservative party gaining power? That said i hope things get back to normal in a year or two.

We weren't as divided as the media led people to believe. We regularly switch between the Conservative and Liberal party as you need to change leadership for the same reason diapers need changing. A lot of Liberals were done with Trudeau.

Nothing like the threat of annexation and invasion to get a country to pull together though!

But I agree, people are generally good people.