Will the Scout EREV be obsolete by the time it gets here in 2027/28?

[notmanrv]

The information here, should be taken with a grain or two of salt as I asked Google AI for "Companies that are producing solid state batteries for automobiles" and "Which companies are closest to mass production of vehicles for the United States?" and; "of those companies, especially Volkswagen, what are the claims for range as compared to today's battery tech?
I really like the Traveler and have reserved one but I wonder if I'm looking at obsolete battery technology that will replaced almost as soon as it enters production in 2027/2028? Are solid state batteries a pipe dream? If these are real and soon to be available it might be worth the wait. Some are reporting extended range compared to today's batteries that look like game changers. I've always thought that I would be interested in an EV that took no longer to "refuel" as it does an ICE equipped vehicle...roughly 10 minutes. Proponents of the solid state batteries are claiming faster recharges that mirror petroleum fill-ups. Another advantage is no need for gasoline for the Harvester gas engine to extend range.

Key companies leading in solid-state battery development:

• Toyota: Plans to launch its first EVs with solid-state batteries between 2027 and 2028, aiming to be a leader in the technology.
• QuantumScape (USA): Develops solid-state lithium-metal batteries, with backing from Volkswagen, and is considered a leader in the field.
• Greater Bay Technology (China): Targeting a 2026 launch for a mass-producible all-solid-state battery, with tests suggesting over 621 miles of range.
• Solid Power (USA): Develops sulfide-based solid-state batteries and works with partners like BMW and Ford.
• ProLogium Technology (Taiwan): Focuses on next-generation solid-state batteries for automakers.
• CATL & BYD (China): Both major battery manufacturers are testing and planning for solid-state battery production around 2027.
• Factorial Energy (USA): Works with Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Hyundai.
• Blue Solutions (France): Manufactures solid-state batteries for buses and other applications, with a long history in the market.
• Nissan: Developing a pilot production plant in Yokohama for a 2028 commercial launch.

What makes this interesting is that Volkswagen Group (via QuantumScape) are deploying real-world demonstration fleets. While true high-volume, mass-market production across the industry is projected for 2028 to 2030, these specific partnerships are leading the U.S. timeline with vehicle integration.

Volkswagen Group & QuantumScape

• Status: Closest to U.S. commercial deployment.
• Timeline: Commercial launch of their scaled "Eagle" manufacturing line is underway, with premium vehicle integration (likely targeting Porsche or Audi) slated to hit the market.
• Advantage: Volkswagen holds a massive equity stake and uses its captive cell-manufacturing arm, PowerCo, to bypass traditional supply chain delays.

If Volkswagen Group is close, could Scout be a part of that?

Of those companies, especially Volkswagen, what are the claims for range as compared to today's battery tech?

Volkswagen and its major technology partners—primarily QuantumScape and Gotion High-Tech—claim that solid-state batteries (SSBs) will deliver a 30% to 45% increase in driving range compared to today's premium lithium-ion technology. Crucially, they assert this range will experience virtually zero degradation over the vehicle's lifespan.

The specific range claims, lifecycle statistics, and comparisons to current EV tech break down as follows:

1. The Raw Range Increase

• The Baseline Comparison: A top-tier conventional EV utilizing liquid lithium-ion cells with an energy density of ~700 Wh/L typically yields around 350 miles of range on a single charge.
• The QuantumScape (VW) Claim: Dropping a QuantumScape lithium-metal cell pack into the same physical footprint bumps energy density to 800–1,000 Wh/L. This increases the vehicle’s single-charge range to 450–500 miles.
• The Gotion (VW Supplier) Claim: Volkswagen's primary battery partner in China, Gotion High-Tech, began testing its "Gemstone" all-solid-state cells in vehicles. Gotion claims its pack configuration can push specialized EV platforms to a maximum of 620 miles (1,000 km) on a single charge.

2. Zero-Degradation Lifespan (The True Differentiator)
Today's lithium-ion batteries lose substantial range over years of usage and DC fast-charging. Volkswagen's battery division, PowerCo, completed endurance testing on QuantumScape's cells and revealed historic lifecycle claims:

• The Test: The solid-state cells completed 1,000 charging cycles.
• The Result: The battery retained 95% of its original capacity.
• The Real-World Equivalent: For a consumer, this equates to driving over 310,000 miles (500,000 km) with zero noticeable loss in maximum driving range. Current lithium-ion standards target dropping down to 80% capacity after only 700 cycles.

3. Charging Speed vs. Range Trade-Offs

• Today's EVs require drivers to slow down charging past 80% to protect the battery chemistry.
• Volkswagen claims its upcoming solid-state packs will charge from 10% to 80% in just 12 to 15 minutes. Because the anode is solid lithium-metal instead of graphite, fast charging does not cause the catastrophic "dendrite" short-circuits that plague current liquid batteries.

4. Competitive Context (How VW Compares Globally)
While VW targets a highly stable 450–500 mile consumer pack, other global automakers are chasing outlier numbers:

• Factorial Energy (Stellantis/Dodge partner): Claims real-world testing ranges clearing 745 miles on highly optimized trial platforms.
• Toyota: Targets a baseline range of 621 miles by 2027–2028, with a future iteration capable of 745+ miles via a higher-performance solid electrolyte.

I saw a YouTube video (forgot the name, unfortunately), that claimed cold weather test do not impact range. I believe that same video claimed that the current battery tech the price per Kilowatt was dropping rapidly. Will the solid state battery be competitive in price and range, etc? I guess time will tell. The next few years could be really exciting for EV tech.

 

[J Alynn]

Yeh! Another SSB thread based on AI input. This will be another circle of repeats

 

[DaveGunter]

New battery technology will eventually make EREVs irrelevant for the vast majority of consumers. I think it's anybody's guess as to whether that happens before or after the Scout EREV makes it to market and depends on whether the current SSB buzz is vaporware or not. I don't think EREVs will become obsolete but I think they will become more of a niche vehicle, limited to very specific use cases i.e. Edison Motors. I personally would love a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup with an EREV drive train. Just came across this video yesterday, he basically says the same thing.

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[notmanrv]

New battery technology will eventually make EREVs irrelevant for the vast majority of consumers. I think it's anybody's guess as to whether that happens before or after the Scout EREV makes it to market and depends on whether the current SSB buzz is vaporware or not. I don't think EREVs will become obsolete but I think they will become more of a niche vehicle, limited to very specific use cases i.e. Edison Motors. I personally would love a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup with an EREV drive train. Just came across this video yesterday, he basically says the same thing.

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Yes! This is the video I viewed yesterday that had me pose the questions to AI to see if any more details would come to light. I was glad to see Volkswagen (if true) is listed as one of the nearest to production, if not the expecting the biggest range. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[Mousehunter]

There are questions. Will the hype become reality, when, and how long will ramp up take before it becomes price competitive. Finally, what is the motivation of the person spreading the gospel.

The truth as I see it: We don't know the first. The second is currently at least 2 years out - but that has been a running 2 years for the last decade. From prior history, ramp up will probably be greater than 5 years - let's call it the average life of new vehicle ownership (another running target).

As for the last - Trucked up is an EV person. I think he has personal motivation to get people to delay purchasing EREVs by a couple years to speed up the BEV revolution. Current BEV companies have 2 reasons to discourage EREVs. Discourage now, they may get current BEV sales rather than loose them to people waiting for EREV's. Or discourage EREV and BEV sales in the near future (the next round of vehicles coming out) and maybe catch SSB BEV sales later (better chance if they kill the startup in the mean time). For Scout reservations, their message is the same - don't buy a Scout in 2 years. Buy ours now, or ours later. This gospil is bias.

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

Take this guy’s prognostications with a salt shaker. He was more interesting before he had an accident with his Lightening where the insurance company totaled the car and Ford discontinued said truck.

Of his three “truths”, #2 may have the greater impact. #1 SSB’s around the corner (“…I’m from Missouri”). #2 the high cost of EREV’s, there may be truth to this. Let’s wait until we have Harvesters in hand before sentencing. #3 in five years EREV’s, and other batteries will be irrelevant and so ‘20’s. Even if #1 is true, a quality truck from any company, will likely be usable for the buyer well past this arbitrary expiration date.

 

[speedrye]

Technological advancements don't have much to do with people jumping into EVs now that we're getting past the early adopters. LFP, NMC or SS chemistries won't much matter to those that are comfortable with gas and have range anxiety concerns, whether real or imagined. The EREVs will be popular for some time to come as the early majority and late majority slowly transition. I suspect having real buttons inside will matter more to the average Scout buyer than the specific battery chemistry.

 

[cyure]

Technological advancements don't have much to do with people jumping into EVs now that we're getting past the early adopters. LFP, NMC or SS chemistries won't much matter to those that are comfortable with gas and have range anxiety concerns, whether real or imagined. The EREVs will be popular for some time to come as the early majority and late majority slowly transition. I suspect having real buttons inside will matter more to the average Scout buyer than the specific battery chemistry.

Yep, done care about the battery as long as it works. But don’t take away my buttons.

 

[THil08]

I would say yes, it will be in a few years, but it's now becoming the new technology in China, EREV hybrids. The technology is there, it's just not being explored to its fullest.

 

[R1TVT]

For me (personally) anything with an ICE engine is already obsolete technology. But, that doesn't mean other people aren't going to buy ICE cars or Hybrids, or just stop using them all of a sudden.

Also, even if SSB is proven, safe, reliable and tested thoroughly in EV's (which will take time), new models with SSB's will require updates to BMS, HW and SW - an EV won't be automatically able to switch out a battery without consideration for an entirely new battery technology. Scout will be no different than any other company building new models now (including Rivian with the R2 for example). The R2 isn't going to be considered "obsolete" by your definition once SSB is available in an EV truck in the US.

 

[J Alynn]

Yep, done care about the battery as long as it works. But don’t take away my buttons.

Not my gum drop buttons!!!
You Monster!

 

[strider]

Oh good lord. Please stop. SSBs have been 2 years away for at least as long as the 16 years that I have been driving EVs. They remain 2 years away. The only thing that changes are the names of the companies.

You are free to do what you want with your money but hanging your hat on SSBs means you are going to be waiting a LONG time. Plus, they are likely to be VERY expensive for the first several years as it will take time to optimize the manufacturing. Bottom line is that Scout, nor any other manufacturer is at risk of being "obsolete" for at least the next 10 years.

That being said battery tech is completely fungible - a pack is a pack. So if SSBs become a reality (I have my doubts as I believe they are too fragile for a high vibration environment like a car) then Scout will buy those cells just like they are buying LFP and NMC cells today.

Another way to think about it.... Modern mid-level sedans put out more horsepower (and have better brakes, wheels, tires, etc) than Ferraris and Lamborghinis from the 90s. Are those 90s obsolete? One could argue that yes they are. Were the people that bought those cars in the 90s stupid for doing so because a few years later you could get the same power for 1/10 the price? That is up to the individuals. My point being this is not a feature of BEVs. Technology marches on regardless of your propulsion choice.

 

[Jamie@ScoutMotors]

Yeh! Another SSB thread based on AI input. This will be another circle of repeats

Let's play nice...

That video makes a number of assumptions that I won't go into here. We have a lot of seasoned engineers at Scout, and as part of the broader VW Group, we have substantial resources, including further engineering and battery technology. AI can't tell you what is coming and when. AI can only pull data from what already exists and what has been published online (both factual and non-factual). That's why asking AI about Scout doesn't usually work well. AI is pulling data from everyone guessing what we are doing or what we have actually said so far. Same for Solid State batteries. Solid State batteries won't be in volume production for automotive at a similar cost to existing batteries (NMC, LFP, etc., etc.) until after 2030 at the earliest. That's according to suppliers and engineers working on the technology - not someone guessing or speculating on YouTube.

Our platform is designed to accommodate future battery technology, so we can pivot to new chemistry when it commercially makes sense. Likewise, the platform supports both EREV and BEV - same platform, same assembly line. We have the flexibility to move in either direction depending on the market.

 

[notmanrv]

Let's play nice...

That video makes a number of assumptions that I won't go into here. We have a lot of seasoned engineers at Scout, and as part of the broader VW Group, we have substantial resources, including further engineering and battery technology. AI can't tell you what is coming and when. AI can only pull data from what already exists and what has been published online (both factual and non-factual). That's why asking AI about Scout doesn't usually work well. AI is pulling data from everyone guessing what we are doing or what we have actually said so far. Same for Solid State batteries. Solid State batteries won't be in volume production at a similar cost to existing batteries (NMC, LFP, etc., etc.) until after 2030 at the earliest. That's according to suppliers and engineers working on the technology - not someone guessing or speculating on YouTube.

Our platform is designed to accommodate future battery technology, so we can pivot to new chemistry when it commercially makes sense. Likewise, the platform supports both EREV and BEV - same platform, same assembly line. We have the flexibility to move in either direction depending on the market.

That's great to hear. I'm looking forward to production of the vehicle. Thanks!

 

[Xlargetophat]

I'm concerned about this because I'm the kind of guy that buys a truck and tries to keep it for 20 years. All ssb and others give the cold weather range as a low of -20. Where I am it gets to -25 and -30 for periods. I still think the harvester is a safer option. But the news from China being 900 mile range on high nickel battery is very tempting and puzzling

 

[speedrye]

I'm concerned about this because I'm the kind of guy that buys a truck and tries to keep it for 20 years. All ssb and others give the cold weather range as a low of -20. Where I am it gets to -25 and -30 for periods. I still think the harvester is a safer option. But the news from China being 900 mile range on high nickel battery is very tempting and puzzling

I highly doubt any OEM would put a 900-mile range battery in an EV around here for the same reason most cars don't have 30+ gallon gas tanks. Ultimately, they'll just downsize the battery to a more normal 300-400 mile range.

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

Let's play nice...

<SNIP> AI can only pull data from what already exists and what has been published online (both factual and non-factual). That's why asking AI about Scout doesn't usually work well. AI is pulling data from everyone guessing what we are doing or what we have actually said so far. <SNIP>

This is why asking AI about anything doesn’t work well. Thanks @Jamie@ScoutMotors.

 

[Hedges1]

Technological advancements don't have much to do with people jumping into EVs now that we're getting past the early adopters. LFP, NMC or SS chemistries won't much matter to those that are comfortable with gas and have range anxiety concerns, whether real or imagined. The EREVs will be popular for some time to come as the early majority and late majority slowly transition. I suspect having real buttons inside will matter more to the average Scout buyer than the specific battery chemistry.

100% This. EV evangelists always want to say this thing makes that thing "obselete"...as if EVs made the millions upon millions of other cars on the road today are obsolete. And yet...EVs are less than 10% of the US market. Having an EREV means in some ways you're future proof - you have no limits to where your car can go/where it's going to be supported, and that's going to be true well beyond the lifespan of the vehicle. I have two '06 GX470s in the driveway next to my EV....they aren't obsolete by any means.

As far as chemistry, solid-state is still WAY off from mass production. They'll be niche when they do reach critical production numbers, reserved for specific models/price points.

 

[Hedges1]

I highly doubt any OEM would put a 900-mile range battery in an EV around here for the same reason most cars don't have 30+ gallon gas tanks. Ultimately, they'll just downsize the battery to a more normal 300-400 mile range.

Yep. Everything is a tradeoff. There's "Better" battery chemistries out there that manufacturers bypass for a million reasons. They choose the chemistry for the market, use case, cost to acquire, support, etc.

 

[cyure]

Honestly all this talk about “obsolete” has got me thinking about what my husband says when it comes to car.

He always says, make sure you love what you drive because there were always be something new that comes after. Make sure that when you walk away from your vehicle you turn back to take one more look before you head off to where you are going.

That’s what the Scouts are for me. I always turn around.