Scout! Hear me out!

[CRobin]

Hello!!
We are all very excited for the Terra and Traveler vehicles!

Hear me out though! Just want to suggest a couple things just to see what the universe will have happen!

1. Scout could still offer the EV's; HOWEVER, since they are owned by Volkswagen group they could use one of their hybrid engines or a turbo charged engine that is in the Volkswagen portfolio.
For example, with these being 2 big/beefy off road vehicles they need to have pretty good power. Now that the EV mandates are changing they could use some engines from the Porsche catalog in my opinion.

IE: 2.9 L V6 Turbo (348 Hp 368LB-Ft TQ , 2.9L Turbo Hybrid V6 (463HP 479LB-FT TQ) This would be my build option personally. And they could even throw the 4.0L Turbo V8 (493HP 486LB-FT TQ) in there for those who want a V8 option.

I am just making a suggestion. Not only would it make the launch faster I think, but it would give them more choices and customization for consumers which is what people want. They want to be able to choose and customize a vehicle how they want it to fit them personally. All while still giving them the choice if they want to have an EV. I doubt they will slide any of an actual ICE engine over but I definitely think they should!!!

2. Scout should definitely put the gear shifter in the middle of the vehicle. Or at least have an option for the console shifter. I personally like these shifters better than the little electronic steering wheel mounted shifter. Give people the option to have either. If Scout is about choice and personalization then give it to the consumer. I should not be forced to have the same type of shifter that the Rivians do.

I don't know anything. These are just my thoughts and I am a nobody. I really like both of these vehicles and I think they will sell great for them. I think they just could build them faster and give those who will never adopt an EV an option to have an ICE motor.
Who knows! Looking forward to when these arrive though so I can be even more part of the Scout community!!

Cheers and Blessings to all!!

 

[CRobin]

I just did a ~840 mile road trip on Sunday, and have been curious about this, so I was actually counting, and timing our stops.

Keep in mind this is a single day, one way trip (ie, just the return leg of a road trip to visit family). Also, keep in mind the below is all averaging about 75-80mph (we drove WA to UT, and this leg was from UT to WA. Most of Idaho and northern UT are 80mph speed limits, with people going way faster than tha)t.

Also, our vehicle has a tiny fuel tank (11gal, because its a PHEV), and I have a mountain bike on the back on a rack. All these things together (high speeds, tiny tank, bad aero because of bike). And not once was the range the main limiting factor. Although it was very close on the first stop.

Stop 1: 258 miles, over3 hours of drive time, and a ~15-20 min stop (I forgot to time this one exactly). There were lines at the fuel pumps (every pump was full, and there were at least 5-6 vehicles towing, with the line out almost to the street).

This had the highest avg speed of the trip.

This was the closest to an actual fuel range limit. We had under 1/8 tank left, the fuel light was on, and it showed an estimated 9 miles of range remaining when we pulled up to the pump. But the kids had been clamoring for a bathroom break for 20 miles before then, and I was pushing the range a bit, wanting to get to a better place to stop. Ended up putting 9.998 gal into the 11 gal tank.

Also, FWIW, I still had ~90% battery charge here, so if we were really in a bad spot, I could have turned off the gas engine, and had ~20-30 miles more range to get us to another pump if something went wrong getting fuel somehow. So while I was pushing it, I wasn't totally crazy .

Stop 2: 207 miles. 11 minute stop, timed with a stopwatch.

limited by kids bladders. Still had like 1/4 tank or so.

Stop 3: 221 miles, 9 minute stop, also actually timed from moment we drove in, to moment we were pulling out of the gas station.

Same as above, about the kid bladder limit.

Keep in mind we're averaging ~80mph or so on these. And even at those speeds, thats 2hrs 45min of driving, which isn't bad.

That... was it. The last leg home fit under the kids bladder timer limit, and we made it home with like half a tank of gas. ~830 miles with 3 stops, and ~35min of stoppage time.

We didn't stop for anything but what you see above. We have all our food in the car (wayyy easier with kids, who are often hungry RIGHT NOW, and have a hard time waiting for a fast food place, we just get a bunch of good food/snacks in a cooler, and we graze as we go, because eliminating food stops chops a bunch of time off the trip (its easy to spend ~30min or more at a fast food place).

I didn't think to get the data on the way there, at least not the specific mileage/times. But I do know that we stopped 5 times on the way there, and at least one of the stops had a HUGE line at the bathroom (when we were only an hour from home... of course), and we were likely there at least 20-30minutes. I'd say that leg of the trip we had a combined total of at least ~1hr - 1hr 15min of stoppage time, and we were limited entirely by bladders, rather than fuel.

Sorry, huge rambling post.

TLDR: I think for non-towing use cases, ~350 miles of range is totally fine for families with kids, even at high speeds

For towing, the range changes considerably. Also, 350 miles of range could not be enough for those with super bladders, diapers (children or adult), or really low average speeds (350 miles on a ~50mph highway is about an hr more drive time than at ~85mph)

Thank you for sharing! I agree. 350 for range for certain families and people could work and is probably pretty doable. Personally we drive A LOT and all the adventurous stuff we do is a nice jaunt from the city. And that doesn't include the mountain ranges and hills we have to climb most of the time. Going up the mountains burns through gas pretty quickly, I am sure it will burn through the charge of the battery about the same rate if not more. Scout having the option to be both gas and electric I think will reach more customers. I am looking forward to test drive one of them. Just wish it wasn't 2 years away.

 

[J Alynn]

Thank you for sharing the efficiency note! I am sure that part is very important for some shoppers. Personally overall effective range is what I need for my day to day stuff. Having the ability to go 650 or more miles on one tank of gas is really convenient right now. Especially with prices on the rise. I average 21.2-21.6 mpg in my F150 hybrid; which in a 6000lb vehicle I would say that is pretty efficient. Would you not??

Only thing I hope Scout does for both vehicles is make sure the gas tank on the Harvester models is 20 gallons bare minimum but hopefully more than that. Especially since they are using a 4 cylinder engine. The cars are going to be pretty hefty in weight. My thought is if the gas tank is small, similar to what Toyota just did on the new LandCruiser, Tacoma, and 4Runner then people are going to be pretty disappointed. I know I would be for that big of a vehicle to have a tiny gas tank. Doesn't have to be a 40 gallon tank but one that makes sense for the size and weight of the vehicles.

To be clear, I am not arguing against your efficiency sentiment. I am just saying I need range personally. Maybe some others agree, maybe some others don't. That is okay. WE as a community can share our thoughts openly without any issues.

I responded to your other thread but I’m asking the community where those 5-7 one galleon jugs go below the vehicle. That’s a lot of space when you think of it as (7) 1- gallon containers-and that roughly 22 gallons based on speculation so in theory it might need to be ten jugs. What do you sacrifice to fit that amount of additional volume under the vehicle?

 

[CRobin]

I responded to your other thread but I’m asking the community where those 5-7 one galleon jugs go below the vehicle. That’s a lot of space when you think of it as (7) 1- gallon containers-and that roughly 22 gallons based on speculation so in theory it might need to be ten jugs. What do you sacrifice to fit that amount of additional volume under the vehicle?

That is a good question! I would assume you lose some sort of cargo capacity in the Traveler and some interior space in the Terra? haha I am no engineer but the thought makes sense!!

 

[J Alynn]

That is a good question! I would assume you lose some sort of cargo capacity in the Traveler and some interior space in the Terra? haha I am no engineer but the thought makes sense!!

In that process then the rear floor gets even higher so then loading becomes a nightmare. I’d love to see more range like everyone else but until everything that is needed (functional/nhtsa/battery packs/flat rear storage and fold flat seats to storage) I just don’t think you squeeze more than a gallon or two max.

 

[R1TVT]

This is a perfect example of an edge case. The average buyer isn't buying a Scout to travel 650 miles at a whack, without stopping.

Scout has already shown that the Traveler will have a spot for a jerry can, and that is a whole lot easier than finding more space and reducing cargo space, or potentially, tow capacity. Jerry cans were purpose-built for edge cases.

The one great thing about EV ownership is that if you are traveling all-day, and if you plan to charge around meals, you discover it is actually a much more relaxed way to travel. I just did a 640 mile long round trip last week. Each leg took almost a full day b/c of summer volume and summer traffic along I-95. I really look forward to my charge stops and eating & using the restroom on those trips along the Northeast corridor!

Not to mention the PURE BEV will have 350 miles of range, and the Harvester will provide 500 miles when you add gas with the EREV.