Design it to last 20 years

[Shawn202]

Most EVs are disposable by design. Battery degradation, sealed systems, software lock-in. That kills long-term value. If Scout Motors wants to own “utility,” longevity is the cleanest way to differentiate.

What that actually means to me...

Battery as a serviceable component

Modular battery packs, not a single sealed slab

Replaceable submodules instead of full pack swaps

Clear degradation reporting tied to real usage

If the battery isn’t economically replaceable, the vehicle has a built-in expiration date.

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Software independence over time

Core vehicle functions work without cloud dependency

Local control persists even if backend services disappear

Long-term update commitment, or open interfaces if support ends

A truck that loses capability when servers go offline isn’t a utility it's a liability.

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Mechanical durability standards

Design targets measured in decades, not lease cycles

Overbuild critical components that see real-world stress

Publish expected service intervals honestly

Think closer to Toyota Land Cruiser than typical EV turnover cycles.

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Parts availability commitment

Guaranteed parts supply window (15 to 20 years)

Cross-platform part reuse where possible

No artificial obsolescence through minor redesigns

If you can’t get parts, nothing else matters.

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Documentation and transparency

Full service manuals available, not restricted

Diagnostic access without proprietary lock-in

Clear architecture so independent shops can actually work on it

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Don’t just build a new EV.

Build something people don’t have to replace.

 

[strider]

Excuse my ignorance, but how do you take care of the batteries? Is there certain maintenance to do for this over time?

The car takes care of itself when it comes to thermal management. If you are able to keep it plugged in when parked it will draw "shore power" as needed to keep itself happy, heating or cooling the battery as required.

One infamous story from the old Tesla Roadster days... Tesla would beat into every owner to always keep the car plugged in. Well, one owner was having some remodeling done on their house and needed to remove his Roadster from the garage. He put it in a shipping container in his yard and did not plug it in. During the day it would get very hot inside that shipping container. The car would dutifully run the AC to keep the battery within temp (below 40C/104F). Eventually the car ran the battery all the way down and ruined it (if the voltage of an Li-Ion bnattery drops too low it cannot be safely recharged. This is called "bricking" a battery. The owner tried to blame Tesla. It went back and forth for a while. I believe he even sued them. Newer models will go into a suspended animation mode before they hit that point of no return in order to try and save the battery.

As others said, the main things are to not let it sit at very high or very low SOC (State of Charge) for long periods of time. Most people aren't driving 350 miles in a day, every day, so have the car normally charge to 80% or so. On trip days, tell it to charge to 100% the night before. If you come rolling into home at 3% SOC, plug it in and charge it up that night. Don't leave it at 100% or 3% for days on end. Not every manufacturer offers this but if you need to leave it for many weeks or months, set it to charge to 50% and leave it plugged in. 50% is the ideal storage charge level.

Coolant is now considered lifetime. Here is the scheduled maintenance for my Model X:

• Brake fluid health check every 4 years (replace if necessary).
• Cabin air filter replacement every 3 years.
• HEPA filters and carbon filters replacement every 3 years.
• Wiper blade replacements every year.
• Clean and lubricate brake calipers every year or 12,500 miles (20,000 km) if in an area where roads are salted during winter.
• Rotate tires every 6,250 miles (10,000 km) or if tread depth difference is 2/32 in (1.5 mm) or greater, whichever comes first.

That's it. Seriously. The only work I've done to my Model X in 4 years and 71k miles are wiper blades, tires (twice - the Plaid likes Summer tires and the sizes are staggered F/R so you can't rotate them), and an alignment.

 

[mastertroll]

No different than replacing the engine in an ICE. EV motors don't fail or wear out. The batteries will, although if they are taken car of they will last a very long time, exactly the same as an ICE.

Last time I checked it costs less. Try looking up what it costs to replace an entire battery. Granted sometimes certain cells can be replaced.