$24,950 SLATE Truck / SUV Info & News

[Tricky Mike]

I think more than anything I kinda like the no frills, add what you need and not what you don't approach of Slate.

The range limitations on an EV don't bother me - most of the trips would be down to the hardware store and back, about 40 miles round trip.

But.. electric prices do bother me. I know in my head that it's supposedly cheaper than gas, but I look at my California power prices and my already sky high electric bill and my gut doesn't want to give another dime to those utility companies no matter what... Won't lie, I would be ~sorely~ tempted to throw a cheap Predator portable generator in the back and just let 'er rip to charge the sucker.

For being a MUCH less complicated drive train - you are absolutely right there. I'm hoping that EVs start to hit commodity level (like they are in China now) and we can really start to see costs come down across the board. The fact that a Maverick XL and Slate are cost competitive (before incentives) I think speaks a lot.

I would use it exclusively for commuting/errands, and I have no intention of living so far from work that 100 miles of range (probable real world range) wouldn't be sufficient.

I think you're right though that electricity won't be cheap forever.

I currently commute 40 miles one way and I'm using an old beater to keep miles off the Bronco and save a little in gas. This would be a big upgrade for me in that role.

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[Brian_B]

I would use it exclusively for commuting/errands, and I have no intention of living so far from work that 100 miles of range (probable real world range) wouldn't be sufficient.

I think you're right though that electricity won't be cheap forever.

I currently commute 40 miles one way and I'm using an old beater to keep miles off the Bronco and save a little in gas. This would be a big upgrade for me in that role.

Mostly the same for me - just for errands where I need a truck bed. I primarily drive my Bronco, and it's my commuter (my office is 60 miles one-way down the mountain, and I often have to travel to remote sites that are several hours drive) -- it's definitely not practical, but it helps that work pays for fuel when travel is for business in my personal vehicle, so I take advantage of that and drive what's fun to drive.

 

[Administrator]

See the Slate builds people have configured and post your own here:

https://www.slateforums.com/forum/threads/post-your-slate-build-configurations.12605/

 

[Figmo]

Make it 4WD and I'm in

 

[cve]

I feel like Slate will be like Iridium satellites... first to market but later on you have SpaceX/Starlink eat their lunch.

Those first launches were 20+ years apart though…

 

[ONEBronco]

And even if it does, this whole "$20K truck" thing is just marketing smoke and mirrors to grab attention to convince the investors to continue investing and wait for returns.

In the end, it will be a $45K to $50K piece after you accessorize it the way you want.

Consider the history of things like this (coughTeslacough): what are the odds that at launch, the bare bones model won't be available but instead (a) it will be fully accessorized to jack the price up, and (b) the "gotta have it first and now" crowd will happily overpay for it? (See: 6G Bronco.)

Maybe, but it puts to bed the argument that we can't move to electric because the cars are too expensive.
You know how many people I heard complain about having to upgrade their new bronco sport with a $5000 package when they only wanted one small $500 part of that package?
If the car truly stays completely modular it could be successful and perhaps move the market.

 

[adam1991]

Maybe, but it puts to bed the argument that we can't move to electric because the cars are too expensive.
You know how many people I heard complain about having to upgrade their new bronco sport with a $5000 package when they only wanted one small $500 part of that package?
If the car truly stays completely modular it could be successful and perhaps move the market.

Agreed--IF the car stays fully modular.

But all it will take is the greedy Bezos company to release it fully accessorized at a $48K price (for example) for launch customers, releasing the base non-accessorized piece only after soaking the idiots for 3 years.

Sound familiar?

I'm all over the base trucklet like white on rice. So is a 75 year old, F150 driving friend of mine. Hand crank windows? Sure, no big deal. No telematics? That's a FEATURE for me. Buttons and knobs? Gimme. You could even tell me to bring my own bluetooth speaker, or offer accessory speakers and assorted radio bits as options, and that would thrill me.

But the auto industry has been wildly successful with the model you describe, forcing $5000 of upgrades just to get that one thing they know full well everyone wants. There's no way Bezos leaves money on the table.

To date, this thing is all hype, all vaporware.

As for moving to electric, the REAL news is Walmart's new charging network at their stores--essentially they're going to replicate, as a practical matter, what Tesla did. But they'll do it for all cars, not just specific brands, and they'll do it in 5 years. This network plus the Slate trucklet together will be the gateway drug for most people--if the two companies manage to do what they say they'll do.

 

[Administrator]

5 Star Crash Safety Rating goals being met in early crash tests says Slate Chief Engineer

 

[Carolina Jim]

The auto business is OVER-ripe for disruption. This concept sticks out because its one amongst a backdrop of a million traditional vehicles. But picture a market where 6-8 firms are selling basic transportation over the internet for a small fraction of what is on today's dealer lots.

Disposable? probably, after the 10-year battery life is consumed. But the days of 30-40 year old garage queens ended with the demise of 'mechanical' vehicles anyway.

Regulations? meant to be re-written. You can't 'regulate' your way to a scenario where only half the population can afford to own a vehicle.

Different? futurists predict we'll own task-specific vehicles in 20 years. When you boil it down the 3 vehicles in your household today are mostly the same with different wrapping.

But...Ford will still 'own' the market for $80,000 trucks. So don't fret.

 

[Exec_B6spd]

Nice, another silly piece of shit.

They are peddling this crap on every social media app page.

A friend of mine goes “ oh did you see the slate truck what do you think.”

I said simply, notice how there’s been no real new car company emerge with innovation and a gasoline or diesel engine recently, because it takes years of R&D and/or licenses to use engines, frames or transmissions from other players.

Anyone can put a box on wheels with some electric motors and software.

This is where we’re headed.

In the meantime I’d love if they sold the new Land Cruiser 70 series here. Am a fan of simpler, but yet here we are.

 

[Pressurized]

Not bad. But a complete niche vehicle for sure. Said dozens of times in here already. Can they really hit that target price? Also, can they control the price on the options? Can they truly keep it modular? Buy the accessory now or later and DIY it...

I do like the Lego design. Dudes are dropping $50k on side by sides... I have multiple off-road vehicles and bikes for single track... But none will run to Lowes and allow me to bring some shit home with me.

Mildly interested, but interested none the less...

 

[PWillette]

I'm looking at the trunk up front...looks like it would make an awesome cooler...$50, I'm in!

 

[userdude]

I would use it exclusively for commuting/errands, and I have no intention of living so far from work that 100 miles of range (probable real world range) wouldn't be sufficient.

I think you're right though that electricity won't be cheap forever.

I currently commute 40 miles one way and I'm using an old beater to keep miles off the Bronco and save a little in gas. This would be a big upgrade for me in that role.

My boss's wife (they live near downtown Dallas) got an EV a year or so ago and he was shocked at how much they're saving in gas coming from a 10 year old Camry, which I think was a hybrid? He calculated they were paying the equivalent of 10 or 20 cents a gallon as far as mileage goes. She drives about 15 miles through traffic one way that takes close to 45 minutes, little of it in moving highway traffic. Perhaps longer highway trips would cost more from constant use, but just from what he saw, much much cheaper. And it's some little car version of this truck (I think the range is under 200 miles).

 

[OldMetal]

Ill believe it when I see it for 20k....Elon did this prior to the 3 series...same MO....kinda dig it and Id have to say, if they DO start at 20k they will sell like proverbial hot cakes...but this pipe dream right now is exactly that, and this is how you garner interest...its on its publicity tour right now, still a ways away...

They are including the Federal Credit in the ~$20K price. List is closer to $28K. Or at least that is the target today.

 

[Deanh]

They are including the Federal Credit in the ~$20K price. List is closer to $28K. Or at least that is the target today.

even at 28k, Ill believe it when I see it...still over a year and a half away...

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