Will the range extender charge when the Scout is not running?

[Red Scout]

Resident of hurricane coast in FL here. I sure hope I can use the harvester engine during days/week long power outages to keep my home going. I would not want it to be automatic.

 

[peters43]

I think that could have an issue if people did it in a garage and create a carbon dioxide issue with in there house. It is a valid question hopefully someone with more knowledge on the subject will chime in.

carbon *monoxide*

 

[joewilk45]

Bidirectional charging I am sure will be an option. As to having a separate circuit to where you could plug a cord into and have your harvester engine act as a generator be cool for home outages and camping. So far our people at Scout seem to be punching the commonsense time card. But as to waiting I feel like I keep getting pictures of my new puppy but I can't bring him home for 2 yrs and I already have his bed ready !!!

 

[justinjas]

The point would be if you are not near a charging station. I can tell you the way it works and my use case in our plug in hybrid RAV4 Prime.

When we dry camp it's nice to be able to use the cars engine as a generator. The RAV4 comes with a 1500W outlet in the back. If we want to top up the batteries in the camper or run the 1100W AC on board we can from this outlet.

The way it works there is you basically have to turn the car on as if you were going to drive it and then set it to charge mode, which will run the engine to top up the battery until it is full, then the engine shuts off until the battery is low at 20% or you manually start charge mode again. This works fine for my use case cause we use it while we are there with the car and the camper but it's obviously not designed for running while you are away. For example you can't lock all the doors while it's running and you need to manually set the screen brightness to off and turn off the car AC so you aren't just wasting power in the car cabin.

I don't know if scout would do it a similar way or be a little more allowing of running it while you are away from the car but it could be a safety thing like others have said here.

 

[grillmarks]

Help me understand the "no benefit to it". Wouldn't it be similar to plugging in to get to 80% where you didn't have access to a charger?

I say no benefit because idling the gas engine or running it while driving is a distinction without a difference as far as its end result: charging the battery. However enabling such a system to idle without the driver present creates unique challenges (eg. software, exhaust considerations, mechanical, electrical) so if the end result presents no charging benefit compared to just driving then why add all the extra effort and expense? The only time I can see where the engine would be needed to run when idle is when camping.

 

[maynard]

I say no benefit because idling the gas engine or running it while driving is a distinction without a difference as far as its end result: charging the battery. However enabling such a system to idle without the driver present creates unique challenges (eg. software, exhaust considerations, mechanical, electrical) so if the end result presents no charging benefit compared to just driving then why add all the extra effort and expense? The only time I can see where the engine would be needed to run when idle is when camping.

Got it...

 

[BigFatBalla]

I currently drive a Ford F-150 Powerboost (Hybrid). The 7.2kwh generator built in was my main reason for purchasing this truck. We tow a camper and the truck runs the power and tops off the batteries via the generator during certain times of the day. In Pro-Power mode on the Powerboost the engine only runs when it is needed to top off the hybrid batteries of the truck once they deplete to a certain level when the generator is being used. On average the truck will provide power to the trailer for around 15-20 minutes before the engine will turn on to top off the batteries to a certain level, usually for around 3 minutes, then turn back off again to start the cycle over. Pro-Power mode does need to be selected to provide power to the plugs.

When not in Pro-Power, and I have the truck just sitting in idle, the truck will sit quietly until the batteries are depleted to a certain level, then the engine just kicks on to to provide a charge.

This will be the same use case with the Terra when I get it. Harvester will both provide constant juice to the battery when towing as well as provide intermittent power to the batteries when running the power to the trailer when camping.

I would think that the Scout w/ Harvester would operate in the same manner when sitting idle and on the correct Harvester setting. Essentially running the Harvester until the battery reaches a predetermined level then automatically shutting off. The only issue with this would be the vehicle would still sit with lights on, environmental controls still at their normal settings, etc, drawing power while sitting idle. It would be nice to have a mode where the Harvester runs to top off the battery then everything just shuts down.

 

[bakdraft21]

man I am confused,,,if you are running out of battery power when driving can you just flick a switch and go over to the harvester for another 150 miles or so of driving??? TIA

 

[Mr._Bill]

man I am confused,,,if you are running out of battery power when driving can you just flick a switch and go over to the harvester for another 150 miles or so of driving??? TIA

The amount of fuel carried in the tank will provide about 150 miles of additional range. The computer will monitor the battery level and start the generator as needed.

Being able to manually start and use the generator at other times has not yet been clearly addressed.

 

[Chuckles]

The amount of fuel carried in the tank will provide about 150 miles of additional range. The computer will monitor the battery level and start the generator as needed.

Being able to manually start and use the generator at other times has not yet been clearly addressed.

Harvester will add 350 miles of range, not 150.