Scouting the Road Ahead With Scout Motors President and CEO Scott Keogh

[Jrgunn5150]

Pretty certain I heard that for the EREV application he said "don't need a turbo."

I can do a bunch of dorky math to prove it, but you can just know it takes 2 hp to produce 1kw of energy.

From there you can look at the space available, and do the math to see the generator will land in the 40 kwh range.

So we know, they need roughly 80hp to drive it, which lands it square in industrial 3-4 cylinder range, reefers, towable generators, etc.

 

[Czernobog]

And being able to upgrade its battery is also so cool. Really innovative technology coming from Scout.

My interpretation of what Scott was indicating by his comments on this point was that the architecture and platform allowed things like upgrading the battery, etc. on a model-year-update basis, not that a battery could be upgraded (or anything else related could be upgraded) by a customer post-purchase. I'd be happy to be incorrect, but I think I'm right.

 

[THil08]

My interpretation of what Scott was indicating by his comments on this point was that the architecture and platform allowed things like upgrading the battery, etc. on a model-year-update basis, not that a battery could be upgraded (or anything else related could be upgraded) by a customer post-purchase. I'd be happy to be incorrect, but I think I'm right.

It would still be cool if we could upgrade the battery by ordering it online and having a service center install it.

 

[chucchinchilla]

It would still be cool if we could upgrade the battery by ordering it online and having a service center install it.

Food for thought, Nio does battery swaps in China in around 3 minutes and you can select different battery sizes that are swapped into the car.

^Note their use case is an alternative to fast charging not upgrades/maintenance/etc. however the bigger point remains that it's easy to achieve what you're talking about.

 

[chucchinchilla]

Nuggets I picked up on

• 800V architecture
• If Harvester engine is made in Mexico (VW's nearest engine factory and I still believe it'll be the EA211), then it could be subject to tariffs.
• In San Jose, 40% of new car registrations in 2024 were EV. Can confirm.
• When it comes to VW dealers, there are "no lawsuits on the table" just a lot of press and articles
• Confirmation of using Rivian-VW JV zonal architecture
• UX was designed in NorCal...must be VW facility in Belmont but by SM employees of course, then will integrate w/RIVN, no CARIAD thankfully
• Highlights flexibility of adjusting battery/gas tank size. Terra has more room for bigger gas tanks for example
• Scott equates Rivian as the Patagonia of cars while Scout is the Levis/Carhartt. By that he means you can "wear" it anywhere..Malibu or farms in Iowa. Note I'm writing this while wearing a Patagonia fleece lol
• New model suggested: Traveler with 3rd row

 

[Czernobog]

Agree on the engine likely being from the EA211 family, particularly since there are (in some markets) and have been in the recent past in the US market naturally aspirated variants, producing 90-ish HP, which would work well for the battery pack size mentioned.

 

[Logan]

I'm still a bit surprised on how small the battery pack is for the pure BEV version. From the sound of it its only ~120-130KWh-ish. Which, is roughly double the harvester battery pack (at ~60-70KWh).

The more I think about that, and the confirmation that the harvester is using a 4 cylinder generator, the more I'm thinking 2 things:

• The Harvester likely isn't going to need to come on at the start of that 500 mile range that they quote as the battery is very nearly half the size of the BEV model.
  • Seems increasingly likely that it will be gas and go?
• It's like its more efficient than our first guesses
  • ~2miles/KHw would have put it between the Hummer EV, and the Rivians in efficiency.
  • But perhaps its closer to the Rivians?

Personally, I think both of those are good signs. Obviously they are not definitive, but, I think they point a good direction (personally).

 

[prattm1964]

What is EREV?
Reading some of this is like working for the government with all the acronyms.

 

[Czernobog]

Extended Range Electric Vehicle. I.e. for Scout, the Harvester variant, which has a gas engine onboard that acts purely as a generator to charge the battery pack.

 

[Logan]

What is EREV?
Reading some of this is like working for the government with all the acronyms.

Its an industry term.

This might help define it a bit more.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/what-is-an-erev-extended-range-ev/

 

[THil08]

My interpretation of what Scott was indicating by his comments on this point was that the architecture and platform allowed things like upgrading the battery, etc. on a model-year-update basis, not that a battery could be upgraded (or anything else related could be upgraded) by a customer post-purchase. I'd be happy to be incorrect, but I think I'm right.

Not to get back at this or anything, but I watched it again and it sure seems like he means after it’s bought. Especially how Scott and the host made it seem

 

[dreamweaver]

What is EREV?
Reading some of this is like working for the government with all the acronyms.

Extender Range Electric Vehicle

 

[Sockdoc]

Not to get back at this or anything, but I watched it again and it sure seems like he means after it’s bought. Especially how Scott and the host made it seem

I interpreted this as future upgrades that Scout can do in future manufacturing years. Not changing sheet metal or the structure for the next productive year but changing the guts (engine, fuel and battery size/type) that really matters. Either way very smart to keep things modular for future proofing (whether by the consumer or by Scout)

 

[JAngley]

I’m most excited for the possibility of a Travelall, suburban sized SUV

 

[OleScout]

Interesting that this was hinted at, selfishly I was hoping for a two door, removeable top but understand the demand may not be there. Seems the interest is in the larger SUV with 3rd row options.

 

[wiescins]

Very insightful interview.

The biggest surprise for me was the range breakdown of the EREV. Everything I've seen prior led me to believe that the range would be 350 electric then supplemented with 150 in gas. Totally understand why that won't be the situation with the gas tank occupying the same space as the battery, but I think it would be great to have EREV range composition options. I would like to have the range breakdown flipped so majority is electric and gas is more emergency use, totally willing to live with a shorter total range for more electrical range. That said, I can completely see how the current breakdown is good for standard commutes balanced with big road trips or towing. Personally, my road trips are usually 200 miles round trip (without a good charging option in the middle) or 350 1 way (with a good charging option in the middle). Ideally would like at least 250 electric range and then however much gas range is possible beyond that with the space available (200?).

A few other items that I wanted to share my perspective on.
1 - The EREV 0-60 reduction doesn't mean much to me. 4.5 is still crazy fast coming from my current cars
2 - I prefer a battery chemistry that is capable of 100% charge (charge every evening on a level 2)

 

[eddiet1212]

Interesting that this was hinted at, selfishly I was hoping for a two door, removeable top but understand the demand may not be there. Seems the interest is in the larger SUV with 3rd row options.

Kid hauling mall crawlers...

 

[THil08]

Interesting that this was hinted at, selfishly I was hoping for a two door, removeable top but understand the demand may not be there. Seems the interest is in the larger SUV with 3rd row options.

A two door was shown in a presentation. Im guessing Scott maybe thought they knew about it already

 

[TreeKiller]

And at the end when Jonny mentions accessories, being able to put a winch on these things, Scott answers back with "and a plow." The accessories store is shaping up to potentially be fun!

And a hay bale spike!

 

[Horsefarmer]

Otherwise you have to strap them down.