Would love to see a sold state or semi solid state battery for longer range and reliability, especially when off-road. Is there any new battery tech that we could see on the Scout?
I've been hoping what I've seen with Sodium Ion batteries lately can be made practical, They should be cheaper and less volatile than Lithium. Even if there is a weight penalty to get the same KwH of storage, I think it would be a win, But they're still out quite a way from a marketable product as I understand it.
Unless some miracle happens, I doubt a new tech will both be available and priced for general mass consumption in 3 years. Plants will take time to build, time to ramp up production - and initial limited production will not be value priced - it will be sold to the highest bidder.
Solid state may indeed be showing up in vehicles in 3 years - several companies are promising that. But I doubt it will be showing up in the majority of vehicles in that time frame. CATL also has their compact battery - already in production. But they have mentioned their initial production will target the airplane industry. Meanwhile, a third tech (also a compact lithium tech) is currently starting production - but it is targeting the ext ream high end vehicle market.
On the other side of the coin, motor design enhancements have real potential for higher output with less input. Highly unlikely to see axial flux motors in the near term but very cool tech. Mercedes currently controls the patent. Race cars, Lamborghinis, money-no-object club members.
Mercedes is coming out with a Solid State powered CLA in 2025 (supposedly). If they, aka Factorial, have figured out how to mass produce SSB's then we could potentially have them in the Scout. I have a reservation down for a Traveler, but I'm waiting for a SSB's to come readily available before making the switch to an EV.