Scout has 150K+ reservations now. 85% are for Harvester EREV Hybrid

[joewilk45]

Here's my approach to the EV conversion. When Henry Ford spit out the model T how many Texaco stations were there ? As The new gas / charging stations of the future are constructed just like in field of dreams build it and they will come. !! Why because it makes sense. How many still have a flip phone ? Let's apply commonsense to our lives and embrace change and what comes with it who knows we might be amazed at what the young people can teach us if we let them !!

 

[joewilk45]

Personally when I read shit like this it pisses me off we use to be the leaders of technology and the beacon of light WTF Happened the dinosaurs need to go !!!
https://www.ecoticias.com/en/china-...-the-oil-it-used-to-buy-from-venezuela/26533/

 

[WXman]

Well, brakes and oil... No oil changes and less brake changes as the EV motors are less on brakes. Now, the big question is, are tires replaced more often due to the increased weight of an EV? That would offset costs. (Not to mention if you keep the vehicle long enough to need to replace the battery....but then again, a new engine wouldn't be cheap either)

I don't know if I'd ever buy an EV vs. lease. The depreciation is through the roof. I leased a Jeep 4XE and the buyout was $40K and at the time I turned it in it was worth $26K.

It's not The weight of the EVs that causes the tires to wear out faster. It's the massive torque.

Yeah, for decades we've had heavy, high torque HD pickups and those get 60k to 80k miles on a set of tires. So these EV trucks have no excuse.

And yes on the depreciation. It's nuts. My Lightning had a $72k sticker and 4 months after I drove it home they're telling me market value is $45k. O U C H.

For me to go BEV the charging times need to get to under 10 minutes, there needs to be massively more charger stalls out on secondary highways in west Texas that are trailering friendly and on a charging network you can see and trust they will be functional, along with a little longer range.

Between towing, cold weather, the buffer you are supposed to leave for battery life, and the buffer you should have in case of an out of service charger when traveling in rural areas, range isn't nearly as long on BEVs as the best case 0-100% rating everyone quotes.

Exactly. I can fill up a gas or diesel truck in 5 minutes ANYWHERE. People can act like these EVs are not inconvenient all they want to but the truth is they are very inconvenient if you want to road trip them or especially tow a camper, boat, etc. The Lightning is a great truck, but this was my first and last EV.

 

[Roger 123]

I haven't been on here in a long time - are people still moaning about range? After over 10 years of so many great EVs - that's what people are still on about?

Not as much range for me as availability of charging (I don't have a 500 mile bladder). I do a lot of backroad/ off-road stuff in remote parts of VA, WV, TN, KY and in those travels I haven't seen much of a charging infrastructure in the back country of Appalachia. If you're a city commuter or take your trips along major interstates then it's probably not much of an issue for you.

Get out on the back roads in rural America and it's a bit of a different story. Maybe it's out there and I just haven't seen it and yes, you could really alter a trip to make it work but I don't have to do that with my ICE vehicle. So until the infrastructure is there why take a step back and box myself in with a vehicle when there isn't any need.

I love all things automotive related and it's interesting to be here seeing the development of a new automotive technology that rivals the horse to the car transition. I just don't want to be an early adopter on a $70K purchase that will lose 50% or probably more in 5 years of ownership that provides no benefit over my current form of transportation. For me personally there is no benefit to an EV over an ICE vehicle. the maintenance argument doesn't hold much weight with modern vehicles. Major service at 100K miles isn't a deal breaker (coolant change, plugs, serpentine belt, tranny fluid change) and air filter every 30K. Most every town in the USA has a small garage and a NAPA close by that could at least take a look at your ICE car having an issue, good luck getting anyone other than a factory service department from looking at your EV on a road trip.

I just absolutely fell in love with the Scout design and concept, if they offer an ICE version I'm in!

 

[Bkenyon53]

I haven't been on here in a long time - are people still moaning about range? After over 10 years of so many great EVs - that's what people are still on about?

It's a little crazy how much EVs trigger people too. It shouldn't be mandated...but what is the problem with having them as an option?

What I don't understand is that the anti-EV truck people use the arguments about towing and how they can't tow their 5th wheel or can't load up 3 tons of gravel in the bed. You never see those same people argue that case about a Ranger or Tacoma. If that's what makes a truck a "truck" then midsize aren't "trucks?"

It's all about the general usage per person. If you need to haul that much for work, then an EV is not for you...no need to complain about it as an option. You also aren't in the market for a Tacoma or Corolla either.

Personally, I went with Harvester but that's because it fits my needs better. I'd love to go full BEV but my daughter plays travel softball and we do road trips multiple times a year so it'll just easier for us. On the flipside, my parents live down in the Villages (FL). That is the perfect spot for a full BEV. They don't travel far, it's not cold (this week being an exception to the rule), and they're always home to charge.

 

[joewilk45]

FYI DTC news
Exploring hypothetical outcomes and strategies in ongoing legal disputes involving businesses and franchise models is not possible. Predicting the impact of potential legal decisions or how companies might navigate future challenges involves speculation about sensitive and complex matters that are currently being litigated.

I can help you understand the potential impact on dealer businesses and the franchise model if they lose the lawsuits. Would you like me to detail that?







































To see how this plays out, let's look at the two paths this "civil war" could take.

1. If Dealers Win: The "Franchise Shield"
A victory for dealers would essentially force Scout to become a traditional wholesale manufacturer.

• Business Impact: Existing VW dealers would likely gain first right of refusal for Scout franchises. This would turn a potential competitor into a massive revenue stream (service, parts, and used car trade-ins) that they are currently excluded from.
• Model Impact: It would set a legal "iron curtain," signaling to other legacy automakers (like Sony-Honda's Afeela or future EV sub-brands) that they cannot use new brand names to bypass existing dealer contracts.
• Consumer Shift: Prices might become subject to "market adjustments" (dealer markups), which Scout’s fixed-price DTC model currently aims to eliminate.

2. How Scout Navigates a Loss: The "Agency Model"
If Scout loses the right to sell directly but still wants to control the customer experience, they may pivot to an Agency Model.

• The "Workaround": In this setup, dealers act as "delivery agents." Scout would still own the inventory and set the price online, but the physical hand-off and servicing would happen at a local dealership for a set commission fee.
• The "Clean Sheet" Loophole: Scout could attempt to sell through a completely separate dealer network (e.g., inviting non-VW dealers to apply), though this would likely trigger even more litigation from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).
• Scaling Back: Scout might be forced to abandon "Harvester" (EREV) models in certain states to keep their "EV-only" legal status, potentially alienating 80% of their current reservation holders who want the gas-generator backup.

The fallout is being watched closely at the NADA Show 2026, as the result will determine if the 100-year-old franchise model survives the EV transition

 

[Roger 123]

Here's my approach to the EV conversion. When Henry Ford spit out the model T how many Texaco stations were there ? As The new gas / charging stations of the future are constructed just like in field of dreams build it and they will come. !! Why because it makes sense. How many still have a flip phone ? Let's apply commonsense to our lives and embrace change and what comes with it who knows we might be amazed at what the young people can teach us if we let them !!

There weren't any. It took us 118 years to get to where we are today, I don't have that kind of time!

 

[Roger 123]

It's a little crazy how much EVs trigger people too. It shouldn't be mandated...but what is the problem with having them as an option?

It's almost as bad as the triggering that happens when you tell an EV diehard that they really just aren't for me.

 

[joewilk45]

No time isn't our friend especially for us over 65 hope to someday put a face to a name in meantime stay well to all

 

[joewilk45]

That's why steering wheels turn both left and right because they're made for everyone it just takes some longer to ditch their flip phone and see what's out there !!

 

[Roger 123]

I love everything about the Scout concept, I reserved day one as soon as could. I love the fact that VW is trying to break into the market with a rugged off-road vehicle, I love the looks, I love the nostalgia, I love the fact that they are trying to go direct to consumer to stick it to the asshole dealerships out there. I love the fact that they seem to have listened and pivoted to a quasi gasser version, love it all.

I also love this site and being able to see both sides of this discussion. I only know one person that has owned a hybrid, my daughter, and she dumped it in about a year for a pure ICE vehicle. So I really have zero experience with them, people that have them love them and seem to be pretty militant about converting the masses.

I'm closely following the tech and really hope they do well, more choices/ options is never a bad idea. I really hated the finger on the scale of the EV parade and am glad to see it lifted. Now we'll get to see if they truly are better cars or not. I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

 

[joewilk45]

All I can state is my actual experience with an EV I owned a hybrid plug in Volvo 35 miles pure electric was a gateway to EV ownership. Have a Cadillac VISTIQ for 8 months 8 k miles one long road trip to Florida from New Jersey I absolutely love this suv 3 rows great power super cruise hands free driving for long trips and bad weather and night driving all safety features heated and ventilated massage seats great stereo and google navigation. Cost me 12 bucks to charge at home for 280 miles of range. I plug a electric cooler / freezer in rear for when we go to Costco to keep all out meats and frozen food cold while we stop and have dinner gets hot in Florida and since we own a home in Florida it also acts as a backup generator if power goes out due to hurricanes or weather.

 

[No_Remorse]

Just stumbled on this article describing how the predominance of Harvester orders supports the VW dealers argument that EREV’s don’t qualify for the “electric vehicle” exemption to dealer franchise laws?!

Who knows how this will play out BUT if Scout loses the case we may have helped the dealers prove their point.

https://apple.news/AQNEyt1O-T3-5YJ-4SfGCeA

Yup just saw this as well, which means DTC sales won't happen and dealers get their fingers in the pie; i.e. higher prices for the vehicles because "you need our special anti-rust under-armor coating that can't be removed from the price"

 

[Roger 123]

Personally when I read shit like this it pisses me off we use to be the leaders of technology and the beacon of light WTF Happened the dinosaurs need to go !!!
https://www.ecoticias.com/en/china-...-the-oil-it-used-to-buy-from-venezuela/26533/

We led the world in cleaning up our environment, look at our cities today compared to what they used to look like. Looks like China is trying to catch up and is finally doing something about their horrible air pollution problem. I hope they succeed.

 

[bpdougd]

Here's my approach to the EV conversion. When Henry Ford spit out the model T how many Texaco stations were there ? As The new gas / charging stations of the future are constructed just like in field of dreams build it and they will come. !! Why because it makes sense. How many still have a flip phone ? Let's apply commonsense to our lives and embrace change and what comes with it who knows we might be amazed at what the young people can teach us if we let them !!

True enough but when it comes to something as basic as transportation I am not the early-adopter type. But, bless those early Model T buyers.