Scout Motors reservation holders cite range concerns, preferring the option to fill up or plug in.
Over 80% of Scout reservations opt for extended-range electric with gasoline-powered generator.
Terra and Traveler EREV versions expected to deliver up to 800 km total driving range.
Scout has not yet confirmed which variant will reach production first.
More than 100,000 reservation holders for Scout Motors’ upcoming vehicles have selected the extended-range electric variant, according to the company’s CEO.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Scott Keogh confirmed that over 80% of current reservations for the all-electric Terra pickup and Traveler SUV are for the extended-range model, which features a gasoline-powered generator to supplement battery charging. Scout Motors, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, currently holds 130,000 total reservations.
“Over 80% of the reservations are the range extender,” Keogh said. “In general, in life, you like to meet the market. So certainly, we would probably lean with the EREV, but nothing we’ve announced yet.”
Both the full-electric and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants are being developed in parallel and can be built on the same production line, the company said. The company has not yet announced which powertrain will launch first.
In Scout’s powertrain layout, the EREV version employs a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery expected to deliver 150 miles (approximately 240 kilometres) of electric-only range. A naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, positioned behind the rear axle, recharges the battery on the move to extend the total range to 500 miles (approximately 800 kilometres). The engine does not drive the wheels directly.
Scout Terra concept | Photo: Scout Motors
In contrast, the all-electric versions of the Terra and Traveler will use a 120-kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery targeting up to 350 miles (approximately 560 kilometres) of range. Both variants will be capable of DC fast charging.
The rise in EREV demand mirrors the current trend across the North American market. Automakers like Stellantis and Honda have turned their attention to hybrids and extended-range EVs based on consumer feedback. Extended-range systems offer a compromise for drivers concerned about limited charging infrastructure and long-distance capabilities.
Scout Motors plans to build the vehicles at its new production facility in South Carolina.
Trained as an Automotive Technician, Matt has two decades of automotive journalism under his belt. He’s done TV, radio, print and this thing called the internet. He’s an avid collector of many 4-wheeled things, all of them under 1,500 kg, holds a recently expired racing license and is a father of two. Life is beautiful. Send Matt an emai
