Scout Makes Sharp Turn: Electric Cars to Get Gas Tank for Peace of Mind

Scout Motors, the new Volkswagen brand for off-road vehicles and pickups, is changing its development strategy and betting on electric cars with Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology. This shift is a response to customer demand, with 80% of pre-orders for the Harvester model equipped with a gasoline engine-generator, according to CEO Scott Kio. The EREV system does not directly drive the wheels. The engine only starts to recharge the battery, maintaining the behavior of an electric vehicle while reducing reliance on charging infrastructure. Scout claims their models will travel around 560 km on battery alone and up to 805 km with the generator in operation.