Volkswagen revived the enduring Scout identify with a pair of electrified SUV and pickup truck fashions on account of launch in 2027. The brand new vary includes all-electric fashions and hybrid choices that characteristic a four-cylinder engine appearing as a variety extender to prime up the batteries, however these hybrid fashions will not be fairly as characteristic packed as the electrical choices.
In truth, Volkswagen confirmed final week that the range-extender fashions of the Traveler SUV and Tera pickup truck will not be able to towing fairly as a lot as their battery-powered counterparts, in line with Inexperienced Automotive Stories.
The hybrid fashions, which shall be dubbed “Harvesters” once they launch, shall be powered by an electrical motor at every axle and an 800-volt battery pack of unknown measurement. The hybrid fashions may even characteristic a four-cylinder engine that acts as a generator to maintain the battery topped up, extending the vary of the Harvesters to 500 miles in contrast with the EV’s 350-mile vary.
How a lot can the brand new Scout tow?
Scout Motors
That further vary despatched many flocking to the hybrid choices from Scout, however now it is emerged the gas-powered choices will not be capable to tow fairly as a lot as their electrical counterparts.
The EVs shall be able to towing round 7,000 kilos within the case of the SUV and as much as 10,000 kilos for the pickup. In distinction, the plug-in choices will solely handle round 5,000 kilos, as Inexperienced Automotive Stories explains:
When requested to verify why the Harvester fashions drop tow capability Scout spokesperson Kathy Graham advised Inexperienced Automotive Stories, “Scout Motors confirms projected towing of over 7,000 kilos for the Scout Traveler and over 10,000 kilos for the Scout Terra, each with practically 2,000 kilos of payload. We perceive the significance of optimizing the towing capability for Scout automobiles. Closing towing and payload numbers for all fashions of the automobiles shall be launched nearer to manufacturing, which is focused to start in 2027.”
The plug-in fashions may even reportedly be round one second slower from zero to 60 mph.
Why cannot the hybrid Scout tow as a lot?
Scout Motors
The deficit of round 2,000 kilos is to not be sniffed at and will make all of the distinction to the form of individuals that really use their vans for hauling round heavy items. It is there for good purpose, nevertheless, as GCR experiences that the drop in capability is because of the battery make-up within the two vans.
The Harvester fashions use one thing referred to as LFP chemistry of their batteries, which use iron phosphate because the cathode. This development means the batteries are extra vitality dense, have a comparatively lengthy lifespan and may work at increased temperatures, however this comes with its disadvantages. In contrast with the lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide batteries that Scout may use within the EV fashions, the LFP cells cannot “produce bursts of energy” to the identical extent, provides GCR.
That is one potential purpose for the drop in haulage capability on the hybrid fashions, however VW hasn’t but confirmed both means if that is so.
Has this impacted gross sales?
Scout Motors
Regardless of the slower acceleration and decrease towing capability, Volkswagen confirmed that orders of its range-extender fashions had been far outpacing demand for the fully-electric Scout Traveler and Tera.
The elevated vary of the Harvester fashions reportedly pushed an increasing number of patrons to go for the range-extender, with VW confirming that “reservations for the hybrid variations are outstripping demand for the pure EVs,” Scott Keogh, Scout’s chief government officer, confirmed in January.
Pricing for the electrical and range-extender fashions has not but been outlined by Volkswagen, however the automaker confirmed that each the Traveler SUV and Tera pickup vans will retail from $60,000 once they go on sale in 2027.