Scout Motors will offer a range extender as an option on its EVs.
This will take the form of a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine.
This option will have a smaller battery pack, making for a total range of over 800 km.
We previously reported on the impressive popularity of the range extender option in early pre-orders for the upcoming Scout Motors truck and SUV, and more details about it have recently been revealed.
Indeed, in an appearance on the MotorTrend Podcast, the brand’s CEO said that this optional gasoline engine will be a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine that will be used exclusively to provide electrical power to the battery.
This is why this powertrain is considered a range extender EV (EREV) rather than a plug-in hybrid, since the gasoline engine will never directly power the wheels.
Since Scout Motors was created by Volkswagen to capitalise on the American electric truck and rugged SUV markets, it seems very likely that the engine in question will be sourced from the German automaker.
Scout Motors Already has Over 600 Reservations, About 81% of Which for the Range Extender
This poses an interesting question since the company currently only offers turbocharged four-cylinder engines in North America, implying serious modifications or an entirely different design will be needed before production begins in late 2027.
We now know that the “Harvester” range extender will be paired with a 60 to 70 kW battery pack, which is about half the expected size of the battery in the full-EV version.
The engine and its fuel tank will be installed ahead of the rear axle, in the space left vacant by the smaller battery. This means that the EV and the Harvester will both offer the same interior space and the same “frunk” volume.
Scout Motors targets 350 miles (563 kilometres) of range for the electric version and about 150 miles (241 kilometres) of battery range for the EREV.
Working in tandem with the gasoline engine, this battery will provide up to 500 miles (805 kilometres) of total range, making the range extender well-suited for drivers who need to tow over long distances or those who want to take their Terra pickup or Traveller SUV off-road.
Scout Terra truck concept | Photo: ScoutThe company’s CEO also said that the two powertrains will feature a different battery chemistry, without providing much more detail.
It is likely that the EREV will use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries since they are cheaper and better suited to hybrid use than other types.
The Harvester range extender option will help the Scout Traveller SUV stand out from its most direct rival, the Rivian R1S.
The Terra pickup might have a harder time carving a niche for itself, since RAM is planning to launch its own range-extended electric pickup, the Ramcharger, later this year.
Pre-orders already reflect this, with the CEO confirming that 70% of all prospective customers have selected the SUV.
Source: MotorTrend Channel (Youtube), via InsideEVs
