Range extender versus standard gas engine - what can be omitted?

[Random 9]

Just curious. With the range extender, you are still suck with oil changes, air filters, exhaust, plugs, and coolant (probably).

Can we omit 12 V batter, belts, transmission fluid and fans? Anything else to reduce maintenance versus a regular gas engine to drive train setup?

 

[Mr._Bill]

The plan for the Range Extender is just a separate generator, something like what you would find on an RV. It could be air-cooled, or have a radiator. There have not yet been any specific details released.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Industry is looking to switch from 12V to 48V to better work with features like fly-by-wire steering.

 

[TallCanuck]

Just curious. With the range extender, you are still suck with oil changes, air filters, exhaust, plugs, and coolant (probably).

Can we omit 12 V batter, belts, transmission fluid and fans? Anything else to reduce maintenance versus a regular gas engine to drive train setup?

I don't see how a 100-HP-ish will avoid any of the regular maintenance of a ICE engine. The intervals will likely be longer (especially if you mostly drive in EV mode), but it's still an ICE engine as a generator.

 

[anthonypape]

Its an ICE engine extender which is smart, full hybrid would be genius. If it was flex fuel , Which technically every car is flex fuel whether it says it or not despite the warning big oil put on your gas cap. I've used Ethanol in my Lexus vehicles for the past 12 years without incident. I worked for 25 years at Toyota Motor Sales USA. There is not one part number different between our flex fuel and non flex fuel. Well scratch that there is one part different. The Flex Fuel Badge. Like it has been said earlier it is simply a generator. It will have plugs, belts, and oil, possibly coolant but I can't name an ICE engine today that asks you to change ANYTHING but oil. To me the issue with ICE is pollution. If you put Methanol in it or Ethanol you can nix that and it will be far more environmentally friendly than a pure EV. As charging your EV on fossil fuel power is mental masturbation when it comes to combating global warming. You have to have a pure EV maintained every 5,000 miles anyway just like ICE since you need to do tire rotations. So in Scouts case simply add $19.95 to your bi-yearly tire rotate.

 

[Xlargetophat]

With no dealerships.. wouldn't it be wise for them to have a trap door to the fuel pump from the truck bed? I hate how they all brag about the coolers like we're all alcoholics.

 

[David.Rich]

I agree the added maintenance of having a ICE is not ideal, but I am still a fan of the concept, especially with the option to disable the charging given the range on battery alone will satisfy 95% of my driving and I can still charge at home (with my overproducing solar system!).

 

[Joe]

Just curious. With the range extender, you are still suck with oil changes, air filters, exhaust, plugs, and coolant (probably).

Can we omit 12 V batter, belts, transmission fluid and fans? Anything else to reduce maintenance versus a regular gas engine to drive train setup?

I hope not that would probably be the deal breaker for me. If I have to do all that I’ll just go pure EV.

 

[blmtnc]

On the second gen Chevy Volt engine the only accessory is a belt driven water pump for the engine coolant loop. The inverter and battery pack coolant loops use electric pumps. And the engine could too, as BMW does that. There's no alternator, it uses an accessory power module that converts battery pack high voltage to the 13ish needed by the standard 12v AGM battery to power all the control modules, infotainment, and conventional stuff borrowed from other models. I change the oil and filter every year, and that's twice as often as the maintenance monitor says to. Tranny fluid every 45k miles like an ICE car, but that's not applicable here. This range extender in the Scout is going to need next to no maintenance if you're 80/20 EV vs. hybrid mode... like very little. I think I'm coming up due for the first engine air filter needed on the Volt and the car has over 80k miles (engine running 15k of that). I do need to swap out the coolant, but the procedure for the battery coolant loop is a pain and have been avoiding it.

 

[PhilA]

If we have to do all that maintenance, then just forgo the generator. Give two options: full EV or gas. That would probably be the most economical, right?

I was sold on the range extender, I’m not a fan of full EV. I could / would keep my reservation for an all gas option. But if Scout goes the Rivian route, I’m out… Unfortunately.

 

[blmtnc]

Don't be fearful of the maintenance requirements of the range extender. If you operate the vehicle in pure EV mode 80% of the time, you've extended by a factor of 5 the service intervals (based on total vehicle miles) of the engine compared with the same engine in an ICE application. I think EREVs generally make more sense for most people IF you can charge at home, and use it like a BEV 80% of the time or more. And even the Ramcharger has passed full towing certification in all operating modes, so no performance compromises if that's a goal. In Scout's case they are prioritizing efficiency over maximum performance in all modes.

 

[smboogie]

There will be some slight maintenance but they could make it based on 'running hours' or some other factor that would spread out the intervals but ensure proper functionality.
As for the pollution thoughts with an ICE, in California (where I am) everything ICE is so restrictive they are somewhere in the 90th percentile on efficiency and pollute very little. I'm sure we have all the the stat that if America stopped driving ICE cars it wouldn't lower global greenhouse emissions much at all, maybe 1%. Overall modern engines are extremely efficient and what's really not is the EV charging infrastructure b/c that power comes from fossil fuels.

 

[slimisjim]

if Scout goes the Rivian route, I’m out… Unfortunately.

I haven’t stayed on top of Rivian. What “route” are you talking about?

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

hate how they all brag about the coolers like we're all alcoholics.

,,,, wait a minute.

 

[MikeTZ]

I don't see how a 100-HP-ish will avoid any of the regular maintenance of a ICE engine. The intervals will likely be longer (especially if you mostly drive in EV mode), but it's still an ICE engine as a generator.

My 34kW house generator has a clock that counts the number of running hours. It makes sense the Scout Ice engine will have something similar so the service is based on usage rather than time intervals.