Manufacturers need to address the following EV Towing scenarios:

[Deuce]

There's people who don't want the bench seat?!

 

[PMurphy]

Want to see the actual interior to decide. I know my dogs vote YES.

 

[GulfBlue911]

80/20 rule people. I think the numbers are even higher than 80% of rez’s won’t ever tow. Scout’s priority is to get cars out and in the hands of consumers, make money and investors happy. They’ll worry about improving towing and other enhancements in future upgrades. But, until battery range and density is addressed across all EV’s, as well as infrastructure and charging limitations with respect to towing, IMO towing with an EV is a losing proposition today.

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

Want to see the actual interior to decide. I know my dogs vote YES.

When we moved from Idaho to Missouri our 60lb. Dog sat right next to me on the bench seat. That was a long 1600 miles and we received a few ‘looks’.

 

[misu1975]

I posted earlier about how Scout was hitting the key requirements of an EV truck for towing. Since then, they have been going backwards. The initial announcement of a 300-mile range plus 200 miles with a gas range extender for a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs was great news. Then came the update that the range extender version would cut battery capacity (using LFP batteries vs NMC) and hence reduce range, along with towing capacity dropped to 5000 lbs for the SUV range extender version. What the heck?!

Well, look at the reservations...more folks have RSVP'd for the SUV. The range-extended version has far more RSVPs than all-electric. So the most popular combo version of the Scout line is retracting in capability.

The Cybertruck was announced with a 600-mile range and a 10,000 lbs towing capacity. It rolled out with about a 320-mile range but kept the towing capacity at 10K. So it tows for about 160 miles. It's not a real workhorse truck but rather a novelty. The issue is, manufacturers are not walking through the EV towing scenario, at least the way I see it. With EV towing, essentially, the range is cut in half. So you need to recharge. The infrastructure for charging while towing is a bad experience.

EV Truck manufacturers need to solve these key points if they want to get serious penetration into the truck market (and why they are currently failing):

1) Range. Need to get 500+ mile range. That would be only 250 miles towing with some hills and mild head winds. Scout initially hit this well with the NMC battery and range extender, but now retracted.
2) Tow capacity. Min 8300 lbs. so it can handle a nice boat, trailer and gear. Again, Scout hit this initially, but now the range extender pickup can only tow 7,000 lbs and it is a weak 5000 on the SUV.
3) Charging Logistics. It doesn't make sense to use existing charging stations while towing and having the charge port on the rear of the vehicle. Disconnect a trailer once or twice on a trip to charge? That is a deal breaker. Putting the charging port in the front like Rivian helps, but pull-through EV charging stalls are few. This again was addressed nicely with Scout's range extender, but the battery was reduced 120-150 mile range on the extender versions, so this nice EV starts to fall in the spectrum of a novelty like the Cybertruck.

When I tow, it is a boat or watercraft for 200 miles (3 hrs) with a small mountain range to get through. Even a decent all-EV truck like eSilverado / Denali would have to stop for a small charge. The logistics of disconnecting the trailer and charging aren't worth it. Another trip is to Havasu (from SoCal is nearly 5 hours and over 300 miles). There is no way I am stopping twice to handle the pain of the trailer being in the way to charge, not to mention the time delay to charge twice.

I have seen studies about the average or typical car trip is 11 miles and how most cars don't travel more than 100 miles per day. That makes sense for designing a daily driver for "typical" commutes. Pickup trucks and SUVs with a heavy off-road focus are not in that category. I would bet most 4x4 trucks and SUVs don't use 4WD mode more than 20 % of the time, and mine less than 10%. That doesn't mean we don't want or need 4WD, it means the capability is more important than the frequency of use. This is what EV truck owners like me want. Similar to an AED defibrillator device...not used 99.5% of the time, but having it there when needed is the true value.

I am not sure what the rest of you reservation holders are planning to do with your trucks and how the latest updates are impacting your thoughts and impressions, but I would love to hear your opinions.

same here.
I do agree with the 80/20 percentage. In fact I was part of the 80% when I bought my first truck as I just needed to haul a lot of gear around, but when I bought a 25' camping trailer I was indeed happy I had a truck that can really tow. My trailer is around 6,000 lbs empty, most likely close to 8,000 lbs with all the gear added. From my experience, a 10,000 lbs towing capacity makes for a safe and comfortable tow experience in a case like mine. I was really excited for the Terra with range extender but now being part of the 20% who really needs towing capacity I see myself moving away from it unfortunately. I understand it's hard to please everyone but I do wish there was something like a tow package available as another thing I absolutely love on my Ram 1500 Eco Diesel are the flip up tow mirrors. I might have to go the Ramcharger rout even if I really love the Terra look and interior. I also understand it's marketing, but when you sell the idea of a truck that can really do truck things that should include towing as well in my opinion

 

[totesmagoat]

same here.
I do agree with the 80/20 percentage. In fact I was part of the 80% when I bought my first truck as I just needed to haul a lot of gear around, but when I bought a 25' camping trailer I was indeed happy I had a truck that can really tow. My trailer is around 6,000 lbs empty, most likely close to 8,000 lbs with all the gear added. From my experience, a 10,000 lbs towing capacity makes for a safe and comfortable tow experience in a case like mine. I was really excited for the Terra with range extender but now being part of the 20% who really needs towing capacity I see myself moving away from it unfortunately. I understand it's hard to please everyone but I do wish there was something like a tow package available as another thing I absolutely love on my Ram 1500 Eco Diesel are the flip up tow mirrors. I might have to go the Ramcharger rout even if I really love the Terra look and interior. I also understand it's marketing, but when you sell the idea of a truck that can really do truck things that should include towing as well in my opinion

100% on board with this. I drive a gas quarter ton with a 7k tow capacity. For a half ton, anything less than 8.5k-9k is asinine for me, but ive never had an EV. Its puzzling to me that city people are buying trucks and not doing truck things with it? Plus, its a PITA driving and parking a full size truck when ive made trips to Seattle with one, so i extra dont get it. Im keeping my reservation because its refundable, but its unlikely ill go through with purchasing unless they make some changes. If only they'd make a diesel engine 🥲.

 

[joewilk45]

Well ask yourself this by the time these become reality battery tech will be advanced and with Scouts relationship with VW that's a good chance towing will be better but never know n comparison with diesel or a big V8 Scout is an advanced Bronco as to finishes and off road capability.

 

[totesmagoat]

Which is why Im not losing hope until final numbers are out. I have no interest in the SUV, so anything pertaining to it is moot. A 2020 GM 1500 V6 tows 7900, so I feel like 8k shouldn't be an unreasonable expectation. For my day to day driving the electric is perfect, but for my once a month hauling of 5-6k and seasonal loads of hay, I personally need the load rating of 8k. Im crossing my fingers hard as im smitten with everything else about the Terra. The bench seat brings back memories of running around with my dad in his 90s pickup. Id love to have those memories with my two kids once theyre old enough to be out of car seats.

 

[joewilk45]

By an old pick up and the Terra

 

[totesmagoat]

By an old pick up and the Terra

I dont understand that logic. Ill keep my paid off Canyon and use my hubby's 2500 if need be. Memories they won't know they never missed out on, when they've never even seen a bench seat, isnt worth a car payment and inconvenience of swapping vehicles and car seats regularly.

 

[joewilk45]

Then there's no worries you have a 3/4 ton pick up truck to tow. Trade or keep canyon and buy a scout everything doesn't have to make sense it just has to make you happy. Life's a timeshare

 

[itsrixter]

People will buy trucks (or any automobile) based on specs and capacity. They match those specs and capacity ratings to what they want or think they will use. If someone wants a seven-passenger SUV, then that is a criteria that has to exist for them to buy. Whether they haul six people with them or not, and how frequently, doesn't matter.

So this does exist at least in the initial announcement.........690 Mile range, 14,000 TOWING CAPACITY, 2,625 MAXIMUM PAYLOAD CAPACITY, 647 MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER...anyone want to guess what extended range EV truck this is?

Bonus: "wiring the subdivided 400-volt battery modules in series permits 800-volt charging at up to 350 kW, which is said to add 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes"

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

Isn’t this supposed to be the Ram Ramcharger hybrid pickup with Pentastar generator?

 

[totesmagoat]

Ive also looked at the Ramcharger. My problem with it is there's no fossil fuel powered generator that serves as a backup. Realistically, it would probably be ok as I would pull around half that on a regular basis... but the what ifs make me nervous. Fast chargers are somewhat few and far between in northern ID, and in most directions for around 5 hours. Im not getting my panties in a bunch over anything yet though. The Ramcharger will have time to figure out if it wants to add a backup fuel source before Scout's launch, and Scout is still figuring things out.

 

[Chuckles]

Isn’t this supposed to be the Ram Ramcharger hybrid pickup with Pentastar generator?

Stellantis is making it confusing. The Ram REV (BEV) was just cancelled. The Ramcharger (EREV) is now called...Ram REV.