The last product to be made by Scout Motors left the production line close to half a century ago, and that was the Scout II pickup truck. But now, Scout Motors has returned, owned by Volkswagen, and is gearing up to unveil two new models. An all-electric SUV and pickup truck will signal the return of the Virginia-based automaker, which has pivoted from making rugged and capable ICE offerings to an all-electric brand – the aim is still on making off-road capable vehicles, however.
Trademark filing suggests that the firm’s electric pickup truck will be sold under the “Hauler” moniker and is likely to compete with electric pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 Lighting and Rivian R1T. With an unveiling looming, here are 10 things that we think Scout Motors’ pickup truck will need to do if it wants to dominate within the segment.
For the purposes of this article, we’re referring to Scout Motor’s electric pickup trucks as either the ‘Hauler’ (as
trademark filings suggest
) or simply as the Scout Pickup.
1 Extensive Driving Range
Ram
For the Hauler to feature as one of the forefront contenders in its segment, its driving range will need to be competitive, and in the EV sphere, how far an electric car can go on a single charge is paramount. Scout’s competitors, like the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning, have an estimated maximum driving range of 420 miles and 320 miles, respectively. The RWD version of the Tesla Cybertruck coming in 2025 only offers 250 miles of range, but with the option to add a range extender, will see 470 miles on some trims. If Scout wants to be competitive, it’ll have to beat the 250 mile mark, preferably aiming for 300 miles on base trims. Extended range options will need to go quite a bit further than that to draw attention from the Rivian and Tesla electric trucks. Impressive driving range is crucial, but the pursuit of higher driving ranges could lead to another problem…
2 Keep The Weight As Low As Possible
A larger battery is required for a longer range, but this comes at the cost of adding weight (and cost). EV pickup trucks are already heavier than their ICE counterparts. Compare the gas F-150 and the F-150 Lightning. Although both share roughly the same dimensions, the lightest ICE F-150 model weighs 4,941 lbs, and the lightest Lightning model weighs 6,015 lbs. Similarly, the ICE Silverado 1500 weighs in at a minimum of 4,410 lbs and a max of 5,450 lbs, but the EV version tips the scales at 8,800 lbs in RST guise.
Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
Scout Motor’s EV pickup truck needs to have the right balance between a dense battery allowing for a high enough driving range without having it tip the scales like the nearly 10,000 lb GMC Hummer EV, which feels as cumbersome to drive as it sounds. Another lesson to be learned from models like the EV Hummer is that form factor matters and, while the archetypal pickup truck is associated with being large, there is a limit. Larger-than-life trucks are American, yes, but there’s a reason we don’t have heavy-duty trucks as EVs (yet).
3 Pleasant Drive And Handling – Anywhere
Often people write off pickup trucks as not being pleasurable to drive simply because they’re considered laborers that need to just get a job done. Fortunately, some pickups stray from this and offer a luxurious, car-like ride. The Scout Pickup will need to have good driving manners and road holding as it will be as much a daily driver as it will be an adventure vehicle. The trick is that Scout vehicles will be expected to do double duty – tackle the roads less traveled as well as the smoother surfaces. The automaker will have to heavily invest in ensuring a well-damped suspension, capable off-roading kit, and the appropriate drive modes to keep every type of driver happy. Even the Tesla Cybertruck is a deceptively tame urban crawler, even though we’ve seen enough footage of it out in the wild.
4 Good Charging Capability
Mini
Longer driving ranges are all good and well, but if it takes a fortnight to recharge the battery, no one will care. A fast charging time in tandem with a higher driving range means drivers spend less time waiting for their vehicles to have enough energy to make it to their next stop or desired destination. Rivian claims that the R1T can replenish its charge from 10% to 80% between 30 and 41 minutes when connected to a DC fast charger, depending on the battery. Similarly, the F-150 Lightning with a 98 kWh battery can charge from 15% to 80% in roughly 32 minutes on a DC fast charger. Chevrolet claims that the Silverado EV can muster the strength to power on for 100 miles with just 10 minutes spent connected to a DC fast charger. Scout Motors will need to imbue its Hauler with the capacity to recharge as quickly as the Rivian and F-150 Lightning if it wants to win over customers.
5 Approachable Pricing
The top contenders in the EV pickup truck segment vary in price. On one side of the pricing spectrum are the likes of the R1T and F-150 Lightning, both of which come in under $70,000, while the other names on the list approach the six-figure mark. This is in part because some of the automakers have only put one ‘launch edition’ model on sale so far, as is the case with the GMC Sierra EV and the Silverado EV, and partly because some of the EVs go over-kill on the capabilities and features lists – as with the GMC Hummer EV Pickup. For the price of one GMC Sierra EV, a potential customer could afford two examples of a 2024 Sierra 1500 double cab gas model.
Pricing Comparison: Electric Pickup Trucks
Chevrolet Silverado EV*
$94,500
Ford F-150 Lightning
$65,090
GMC Sierra EV*
$97,500
Rivian R1T
$69,900
Tesla Cybertruck*
$99,990
* Cheaper models yet to be released
Scout Motors’ electric pickup could become a top contender in the segment simply by having a competitive price tag that won’t deter buyers looking to switch from ICE to EV. It’s also important to consider the federal tax credits in this case, and with Scout Motors producing its EVs at a new factory in South Carolina as of 2026, using locally sourced components, the full $7,500 tax rebate should apply – further increasing the appeal.
6 High Payload And Towing Capacity
Ford
A high payload and towing capacity is essential for any pickup truck to have as it is one of the cornerstones of the segment. The Hauler will need to live up to its name as the majority of the EV pickup truck segment can tow up to 10,000 lbs and carry up to 2,500 lb, as is the case of the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning. A study conducted in 2017 that looked at consumer preferences regarding pickup trucks found that the ability to move large and heavy objects was among the top three reasons consumers opted for pickup trucks over standard passenger vehicles.
7 Clever Storage And Good Cargo Space
Similarly, cargo space is an important aspect for many consumers interested in this segment. Models like the F-150 are offered with a 5.5-foot cargo bed and an eight-foot bed, while the Sierra 1500 is offered with the option of a 5.8-foot bed, a 6.6-foot bed, and an eight-foot bed. The Tesla Cybertruck has a six-foot bed, but it’s only 4 feet wide. The Rivian R1T has a 4.5-foot cargo bed, but it does have one other party-trick up its sleeve:
So, while it’s important for the Scout Pickup to be able to match – or exceed – the towing and payload capability of its rivals, clever storage solutions will also go a long way to winning people over.
8 High Efficiency
Alongside a battery capable of fast charging is a battery that is also efficient. What this means is a battery with a higher miles/kWh rating and a high MPGe. For the uninitiated, MPGe is the miles per gallon equivalent for electric vehicles. For example, according to InsideEVs, the Rivian R1T in the quad-motor configuration and 22-inch tires has a combined energy consumption of 2 miles/kWh, meaning it has an estimated 68 MPGe. The Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum with 22-inch wheels has an MPGe of 66 or 2 miles/kWh.
9 No-Nonsense Design That Still Appeals
GMC
This may get some people’s backs up, but not everyone likes the “extreme” or overly-futuristic look that some automakers force on their EVs. We’re not pointing fingers, but a truck should still resemble a truck, at the very least. Rivian has done an admirable job of making its products unique enough to stand out without being offensive to the eyes. So Scout will have to go the distance to put together a package that looks different enough to get noticed without being downright odd or ugly. It could also do with gimmicks like bullet-resistant bodies, undesirably convoluted infotainment systems, interiors so spartan you feel like you’re in solitary confinement, or an oddly-shaped yoke for a steering wheel. These may appeal to those who want to be controversial, but they’re non-essential to a good pickup truck, and anyone looking to spend money on a bang-for-your-buck pickup will scroll past.
10 Good Build Quality
Scout is going to need to build two things well: the first being its cars, and the second being its reputation. Many a study has shown that EVs are less reliable than ICE cars, and new automakers with no track record will be subject to more scrutiny. Reliability and build quality as a talking point in the EV world is nothing new: Battery issues, malfunctioning climate control, failing in-car electrical systems and the like have plagued the various EV segments. Not to mention all the reports of autopilot software losing the plot and sending cars on some strange escapades, a la Leave The World Behind.
Aside from the common argument that “EV bad, ICE good”, these issues are some of the main detractors of the appeal of EV offerings. One of the things we’d like to see Scout Motors implement in both the all-electric pickup truck and SUV is good build quality. This doesn’t mean just the mechanical underpinnings of the anticipated models, but also its cabin arrangement from seats to the dashboard and the steering wheel. A solid foundation accentuated by an equally solid body and interior will be one of the focal points of the model.
Scout Motors intends to unveil its new model closer to the tail-end of September. Stay tuned.
Sources:
Ford
,
Rivian
,
Tesla
,
IIHS
,
InsideEvs
,
University of Michigan