Harvester EREV analysis & predictions: 3 cylinder gasoline engine, HP output, EV battery pack size, fuel tank location, approach departure angle

[TwoJacks]

I’m not seeing any estimates of mpg while in harvester mode, but if the ram charger is any example, mpg in harvester mode will likely be worse than an equivalent full ICE vehicle. Makes sense since you’re hauling around two power plants. So while EV mode allows for efficient short trips, if your use case leans more heavily towards long trips, you’re likely to take a hit on mpg vs just a regular gas vehicle. For me, long trips towing a camper would be the only reason I’d buy a vehicle like this, and with gas already expensive enough, the harvester just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I’d rather just stick with an ICE truck, or live with charging times and get a Rivian with max pack. I do think these make sense for those who mostly do 100 mile days, but I can’t see the logic for people like me.

 

[DaveGunter]

I’m not seeing any estimates of mpg while in harvester mode, but if the ram charger is any example, mpg in harvester mode will likely be worse than an equivalent full ICE vehicle. Makes sense since you’re hauling around two power plants. So while EV mode allows for efficient short trips, if your use case leans more heavily towards long trips, you’re likely to take a hit on mpg vs just a regular gas vehicle. For me, long trips towing a camper would be the only reason I’d buy a vehicle like this, and with gas already expensive enough, the harvester just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I’d rather just stick with an ICE truck, or live with charging times and get a Rivian with max pack. I do think these make sense for those who mostly do 100 mile days, but I can’t see the logic for people like me.

Depends on how much your road tripping hauling a camper. I’ll gladly sacrifice a little mpg on road trips for the efficiency of electric on daily trips and if I have to haul around another power plant to make the road tripping and towing more convenient then so be it. 50% range hit while towing on a road trip on 350 miles of range is a no go, especially if the Harvester allows “gas and go”

 

[TwoJacks]

I’ll be retired soon, so stopping g for a recharge every three or four hours with a Rivian max pack is something I can live with. Towing across country getting 10 mpg is not—for me. For short day trips I’d rather have a small Kia EV than haul a monster like the Scout around town. If the Scout can get range above 400, I’d take another look. The full Ram EV is supposed to get 500 mile range. Think I’d rather tow with that than the scout harvester. I’m getting very tired of ridiculous fuel bills for long trips. Either way, I see these harvesters as a band aid until EV range and charging times improve a bit more, after which harvesters will be obsolete.

 

[TreeKiller]

Depends on how much your road tripping hauling a camper. I’ll gladly sacrifice a little mpg on road trips for the efficiency of electric on daily trips and if I have to haul around another power plant to make the road tripping and towing more convenient then so be it. 50% range hit while towing on a road trip on 350 miles of range is a no go, especially if the Harvester allows “gas and go”

This. With a 150 mile electric range, my weekday commute and other uses would never need the assistance of the gas Harvester. But on the weekends, I tow another vehicle around and sometimes go on road trips and camping trips where I would absolutely need the assistance of the gas Harvester. I can live with a 50% of 500 mile towing range hit and then when I get where I'm going in the middle of nowhere, I can dump in a jerry can or two if need be.

 

[DaveGunter]

I’ll be retired soon, so stopping g for a recharge every three or four hours with a Rivian max pack is something I can live with. Towing across country getting 10 mpg is not—for me. For short day trips I’d rather have a small Kia EV than haul a monster like the Scout around town. If the Scout can get range above 400, I’d take another look. The full Ram EV is supposed to get 500 mile range. Think I’d rather tow with that than the scout harvester. I’m getting very tired of ridiculous fuel bills for long trips. Either way, I see these harvesters as a band aid until EV range and charging times improve a bit more, after which harvesters will be obsolete.

With gas at $3-4/G and the DC fast charging rates I’ve seen in the Northeast “fueling” an EV is not necessarily cheaper than fueling an ICE, esp on a road trip, and may not be for home charging either depending on what your utility charges for electricity.

 

[NukeDukem]

With gas at $3-4/G and the DC fast charging rates I’ve seen in the Northeast “fueling” an EV is not necessarily cheaper than fueling an ICE, esp on a road trip, and may not be for home charging either depending on what your utility charges for electricity.

I've yet to see a use case where an ICE vehicle is cheaper to fuel than an EV. Can you provide some additional details? Normally, it's not even close.

 

[DrumReaper]

Regardless of “cheaper to fuel”… are we considering the grand cost effectiveness of ICE vs Battery?

nice thing about an old Scout is an LS engine works well as a replacement. A new Scout?…. Nah

 

[Scooby24]

I've yet to see a use case where an ICE vehicle is cheaper to fuel than an EV. Can you provide some additional details? Normally, it's not even close.

 

[NukeDukem]

Whoa! First time I’ve heard this.

 

[TwoJacks]

I have a ton of solar at home so home charging is basically paid for in my solar investment and even if I use the grid, it’s dramatically cheaper than gas. That’s true for pretty much anyone that charges at home. On the road it depends what chargers you use. Yes, a super charger will cost close to gas, but a level 2 at a hotel or camp ground will often be free or at least much cheaper than gas. Most people with EV’s do the vast majority of charging at home.

 

[DaveGunter]

I've yet to see a use case where an ICE vehicle is cheaper to fuel than an EV. Can you provide some additional details? Normally, it's not even close.

My Ioniq 5 gets 3.5 mi/kWh on roadtrips, in the summer, IF i keep the speeds down below 70. 2.2-2.5 mi/kWh in winter conditions. EA DC fast charging costs can vary a lot, typical is $0.47/kWh = $0.134/ mile Summer $0.20/mile winter. If my car as an ICE got 30 mpg and gas is $3.50 per gallon = $0.116/mile.

 

[NukeDukem]

My Ioniq 5 gets 3.5 mi/kWh on roadtrips, in the summer, IF i keep the speeds down below 70. 2.2-2.5 mi/kWh in winter conditions. EA DC fast charging costs can vary a lot, typical is $0.47/kWh = $0.134/ mile Summer $0.20/mile winter. If my car as an ICE got 30 mpg and gas is $3.50 per gallon = $0.116/mile.

I’m trying to digest this….

 

[DaveGunter]

I have a ton of solar at home so home charging is basically paid for in my solar investment and even if I use the grid, it’s dramatically cheaper than gas. That’s true for pretty much anyone that charges at home. On the road it depends what chargers you use. Yes, a super charger will cost close to gas, but a level 2 at a hotel or camp ground will often be free or at least much cheaper than gas. Most people with EV’s do the vast majority of charging at home.

Yes, charging at home is usually cheaper, some people though have very high utility rates. Using my example above a utility rate of $0.40/kWh is the same as gas.


We are grid tied solar with 1:1 net metering. Our array covers 95% of our needs, including EV charging. The cost of the electricity from the array based on the cost of the array, it‘s lifespan and projected production is $0.07/kWh. So we are waaay cheaper.

 

[timmyhil]

Maybe Scout Tells VW we want a Porsche 6 stroke inline4 as the Harvester.

 

[TwoJacks]

Yes, charging at home is usually cheaper, some people though have very high utility rates. Using my example above a utility rate of $0.40/kWh is the same as gas.


We are grid tied solar with 1:1 net metering. Our array covers 95% of our needs, including EV charging. The cost of the electricity from the array based on the cost of the array, it‘s lifespan and projected production is $0.07/kWh. So we are waaay cheaper.

Exsctly. An EV really only makes sense if you can do the majority of charging at home. If you do charge at home, it will be much cheaper than gas in just about any location, especially if you have solar or buy low priced power at night.