Scout Motors, VW’s direct-to-consumer, South Carolina-based EV brand, had a big presence at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Scout debuted two key technologies aimed at the off-road and overland crowds for its Terra pickup and Traveler SUV: satellite Wi-Fi connectivity and the Harvester range extender. Both features seek to ease common anxieties among adventure travelers.
Online Off Grid
The age of satellite internet connectivity is well and truly upon us, with Starlink leading the way, and other options now breaking into the market or set to launch (pun intended) in the next year or so. Staying online when you’re off-grid isn’t limited to just messaging and emergency services any longer, but increasingly includes full-board internet service, so keeping up with work and social media feeds is possible even in the furthest reaches of the outback. Scout’s satellite connectivity option includes an antenna built into the factory roof rack, long-reach Wi-Fi so users can connect on multiple devices in and around the truck, and full integration into Scout’s UX.
“To make a true Scout vehicle meant we had to listen to consumers and design a versatile tool for today,” said Scott Keogh, President and CEO, Scout Motors. “We’re pairing powerful, state-of-the-art software and in-vehicle satellite connectivity with a community-focused user interface to make our customers’ driving and ownership experience enjoyable and convenient.”
There’s no word yet on which satellite network will provide the service, but drivers should be able to start logging on from their Terras or Travelers when production begins in 2027.
Harvesting More Range
Perhaps the most intriguing tech that Scout laid out in detail at CES is its Harvester Range Extender. A small gasoline engine will operate as a generator to charge the 800-volt primary battery system, boosting the projected range of both the Terra and the Traveler from an estimated 350 miles to 500. Early reports suggest that an overwhelming 81% of pre-orders for both trucks have included the Harvester option.
Clearly, range anxiety is still a major concern for many potential EV buyers, especially those who possibly plan to explore more remote areas or get behind the wheel for long road trips. It will conceivably aid in boosting the scope of the Scouts’ 10,000-pound towing capacity as well. Scout will install the generator in a space located under the chassis near the rear of the vehicle (an advantage of the body-on-frame construction of both Scout models), and the jaunty red fuel can attached to the spare wheel swing-out definitely adds a retro 4×4 vibe to the styling. We can imagine the Harvester also will be a useful add-on for the campsite for powering all kinds of electric accessories and devices. There are no other range extender-equipped cars currently on the market, but Ram’s 2025-2026 1500 Ramcharger EV pickup will reportedly have a similar system.
Scout projects prices for the Terra pickup and the Traveler SUV to start at under $60,000 when the trucks go on sale in 2027.
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Images: Scout Motors
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