Harvester range extender engine is 4-cylinder and built in Mexico

[Sparkland]

Tesla deleted the range extender on the CyberTruck - will Scout do the same?

 

[idrw]

Tesla deleted the range extender on the CyberTruck - will Scout do the same?

Given that nearly 80% of reservations are now for the Harvester, it would not be surprising if the EV version is discontinued instead...

 

[Rocket13foxtrot]

Fresh from the "I know it's a pipedream" zone:

I'm increasingly thinking that the better compromise for extending the range while towing is a separate genset mounted on the trailer. Some of the early semi-experimental EVs (like the T-Zero) had an OEM range extending trailer.
There's no reason to carry an engine around for most daily driving.*
But there are at least four problems with this:
1. Current charging schemes provide no way to charge while driving.
2. The charging port isn't in the correct location to connect to a trailer-mounted genset. And why not? Seems to me that the rear center is a better location than the typical side location.
3. Largest routinely available man-portable gensets (~15kW ish) don't produce enough kW to offset average motive power requirement even without a trailer connected.
* 4. Having a range-extending genset on a trailer doesn't help at all unless it's hooked up, i.e., it would not be nearly as convenient as an onboard genset.

Also, I think that if the genset is used to provide energy while in motion, it probably would have to meet the much more stringent EPA emissions for automobiles (vs. the much easier std. for gensets).

I just started a thread on this concept. Thought I had a moment of genius but after reading more I see a number of people have brought up a modular/portable/as-needed generator solution.

 

[E90400K]

I haven't been on the Forum in a while. Surprised there is no further update on the Harvester system. The internet has no new info since May 2025.

 

[JuniperScout]

I haven't been on the Forum in a while. Surprised there is no further update on the Harvester system. The internet has no new info since May 2025.

There's been at least a confirmation of location on the engine now, but you are correct, no specs on the motor.
@4:40 in video is that exact question.

 

[TexasBob]

Here is a summary from CGPT that is helpful. TLDR version - Its the EA211 1.6 MPI which is 60-62 kw engine operating in generator mode with potential for a short peak at 80 kw. Long version:

1. What’s actually confirmed publicly
From VW/Scout statements and mainstream coverage, we can say with high confidence that Harvester uses:

• A VW Group gasoline engine
• Inline four-cylinder
• Naturally aspirated (non-turbo)
• Used only as a generator (no mechanical drive to the wheels)
• Built at VW’s Silao, Mexico engine plant

Additional context:

• Silao currently builds EA211 and EA888/EA288 four-cylinder engines for North America.
• Scout’s execs describe it as a “good, high-output, four-cylinder, small engine” that’s already industrialized in the region.
• Autoevolution and others explicitly say VW will use a naturally aspirated four-cylinder from Silao for Harvester, but also note the displacement is undisclosed.

So any candidate has to be:

VW Group 4-cyl, NA, gasoline, compatible with EA211/EA888 production in Silao, and packaging well as a constant-speed generator.

2. Most likely candidate: EA211 1.6 MPI (or a close derivative)
Why this one rises to the top:

• EA211 is already produced in Silao alongside EA888.
• EA211 exists in naturally aspirated MPI variants around 1.6 L, with ~77–81 kW peak and ~155 Nm, exactly the sort of simple, robust four-cyl that’s easy to adapt as a genset.
• VW Group often uses these MPI EA211s in cost-sensitive or “workhorse” applications (LatAm/Asia), which fits the “generator, not performance engine” role.

At least one detailed Harvester analysis piece explicitly speculates that the engine will be a 1.6-litre EA211 MPI unit adapted for generator duty.

So, if you had to put a pin in a single family today, the best-supported guess is:

EA211 1.6 MPI (or a very closely related NA EA211 four-cyl), re-calibrated and perhaps slightly re-packaged for constant-speed generator use.

3. Other plausible EA211-based options
Even if the exact code isn’t the “standard” 1.6 MPI, Harvester almost certainly lives in this neighborhood:

1. New or bespoke NA EA211 variant (1.5–2.0 L)
   • EA211 is designed for both MPI (NA) and TSI (turbo) applications, and can be adapted to different fuels and hybrid use cases.
   • VW could easily create a NA, high-efficiency generator tune (e.g., Miller/Atkinson-ish cam timing, narrow RPM band) while still keeping it in the EA211 family and on the same production tooling in Silao.
2. De-turbo’d EA211 1.5 TSI block used as a NA generator
   • Less elegant, but still possible: reuse the 1.5 TSI hardware minus turbo, tuned for efficiency at fixed RPM.
   • That said, VW representatives keep stressing “naturally aspirated” rather than “derated turbo,” which sounds more like an MPI flavor than a de-boosted TSI.

Net: EA211 in some NA guise is overwhelmingly the most likely family, with 1.6 MPI the obvious off-the-shelf benchmark.

4. Lower-probability: EA888-based solution
Silao also produces EA888 (1.8/2.0 TSI) four-cyl engines.
In theory, VW could:

• Take an EA888 2.0 TSI short block,
• Delete / bypass the turbo,
• Run it as a naturally aspirated, low-specific-output generator tuned for efficiency.

Reasons this is less likely

• EA888 is designed around boost, and its cost/complexity is overkill for a constant-speed generator that doesn’t need high power density.
• Multiple reports and analyst pieces specifically frame Harvester as using a small, simple NA four-cyl, which matches EA211 MPI’s positioning better than EA888’s.

Still, from a pure “what could be on the menu from Silao?” standpoint, an EA888 derivative is a technical possibility, just not the favorite.

 

[joewilk45]

Here's something along the lines f hats coming
https://carnewschina.com/2025/11/27...2027-hybrid-system-for-existing-ev-platforms/

 

[colinnwn]

I learned about Horse about a year ago and wondered why Scout wasn't using one of their options to speed and offload some development. They seem like a very agile company that would create whatever Scout needed if they didn't exactly have it.

I can only surmise the two biggest reasons were they wanted to keep power train sourcing at least North American and preferably internal as a core competency and strategic advantage, and VW was willing to fund development of an APU/EREV system to use across their product portfolio which Scout was a great first use case.

VW is investing an incredible amount in Scout. It seems like they see Scout as critical to growing and sustaining their North American market share as well as developing BEV and EREV technologies for use across their companies. So far their BEV cars have been lackluster and expensive. But given VW financial position today, I'm not sure they could justify launching Scout if the idea was pitched to their Board of Directors. Or at least I bet they would be badge engineered versus a new build company.

 

[joewilk45]

FYI more info on horse hope everyone enjoyed family and good food over the holiday and the ones to come
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/technology/horse-reveals-drop-range-extender-conversion-evs

 

[joewilk45]

My feeling is they come to market with a fully electric version with 500 miles of range and updated charging capabilities with V2 capabilities I'm all in I'm not towing anything but fat asses

 

[TwoJacks]

My feeling is they come to market with a fully electric version with 500 miles of range and updated charging capabilities with V2 capabilities I'm all in I'm not towing anything but fat asses

I’d much rather have that than haul around two motor systems with all the headaches of maintaining an ICE engine just to save a few minutes charging on the few long trips we take. The EREV is 100% a complete waste for 95% of daily trips. Having had a BEV for a year now (ID.4 that we love) I can’t imagine ever going back to ICE even for the occasional long distance towing trip. 500 miles of range and next gen charging would be so much better than this silly EREV stuff motivated mostly by misplaced range anxiety. Rivian and the Chinese BEV makers have it right and will run circles around all these companies wasting time and resources on this interim technology that will will be completely obsolete with the next generation of EV’s.

 

[joewilk45]

I agree I currently have a Cadillac VISTIQ EV came from plug in hybrid Volvo XC 90 recharge Cadillac has 310 miles of range. And 610 hp it holds its own. The Volvo was an EREV but with only 40 miles of full electric. The couple of times your inconvenienced is minimal. I drove from Alantic city to Fort Myers Florida 1200 miles two day trip stayed at Marriott affiliate hotel with EV chagrin added 1-1/2 of additional travel time which ment dog got longer walks. I can only imagine when Henry Ford brought the model T to life how then to the dinosaurs on horseback said they never work. Glad I'm not a dinosaur so much more fun learning at an older age I got time to read and listen and EV's just make sense Thank you Henry Ford !!

 

[joewilk45]

Hey maybe they do concentrate on the EREV models and delaying full EV because VW knows Solid state batteries will not be available until late 2027 which is fine with me wait to build a spectacular long range suv be nice to know if that's the plan.

 

[TwoJacks]

Solid state is going to take a lot longer to hit the US than that. I wouldn’t hold out hope for Scout coming out with anything like this in ‘27. Maybe ‘30 or’32 if we’re lucky. Meanwhile, Chinese sold state cars will be all over the world.

 

[joewilk45]

I don't know why we can't steel their intelligence like they have ours I think Solid state hits states end of 27 BMW is launching later 26 so my hope is Scout and VW have a plan when it comes to their EV models