$24,950 SLATE EV Truck / SUV Info & News

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

It’s a cool little vehicle. I could see fleet people buying it in warmer flatter locations. And of course there will be hobbyists and early adopters doing fun things.

I watched a few videos about it and one of the engineers said it has an LFP battery. I know those are cheaper than NMC, but they suck in the cold.

The range is also a no go for me. At 205 miles how much do you think that’s going to get on the highway (minus 10%-25%), in the winter (minus 20%-40%), with the extra seats, airbags, roll cage, and SUV shell attached (???), etc. Probably 185-154 miles on the highway and 164-123 miles in the winter. Combine those with the SUV add-ons and you’re screwed.

Unknown what they've done engineering-wise to counter LPF's ability to cope with cold conditions. And with just over 200 miles of range, it's clear they are not after people who tow or road trip often. One glance at any marketing video or online ad Slate has put out, it's clear who they're targeting: young urban hipsters and small business owners* who just want a simple car that is "cheap" to own and operate, and do not place priority on creature comforts that have become expected or standard in most modern cars. It's also obvious they are not aiming to be mainstream. They are after the slice of the market that all existing OEMs have chosen to ignore.

*A strip-down ICE cargo van starts at $48~70k new.

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[Yamazaki]

The range is also a no go for me. At 205 miles how much do you think that’s going to get on the highway (minus 10%-25%), in the winter (minus 20%-40%), with the extra seats, airbags, roll cage, and SUV shell attached (???), etc. Probably 185-154 miles on the highway and 164-123 miles in the winter. Combine those with the SUV add-ons and you’re screwed.

In a metro area that isn't a problem. My Zero only had about 100mi of range and was never an issue. Of course, I wasn't going to road trip with it (especially since it couldn't do fast charging) but every day use was never an issue. On the weekends the wife would get on the back and we'd do errands because - no gas. That 100mi range electric motorcycle is the reason we are ready to get an EV car... because EV cars all have at least double the range.

I would get the Slate truck as a second vehicle. Our primary vehicle still has to be able to off-road and have the range to get to the off-road places.... and that isn't what a Slate truck is for. That's what an R2 is for.

 

[TexasBob]

Slate's market isn't people who only have one car, or intend to use it for long distance trips. Excluding those uses is still a huge untapped market for potential EV buyers in the US.

I have very few friends that even own one EV. Slate is on some of their radars as their first EV for commuting, while keeping an ICE vehicle in their family for everything else.

This is exactly the market IMO. It is for people who want a second or third vehicle that is highly customized and used for commuting or weekend fun. The market for this is tiny, I suspect (I would guess less than 30k a year) but it is there. For the actual entry level buyer there are much, much better options.

 

[Administrator]

Have You Preordered a Slate!?

 

[Administrator]

Slate Reviews Are Here!

 

[ScottnAZ]

Have You Preordered a Slate!?

Why yes, yes I have, and I can’t really say that I know why. Initially, I’m thinking of it as a run around town truck for our home remodeling company.

I was concerned at the original 150 mile range estimate, but think we can make it work at 205.

The one thing I’m questioning is the longevity of it. Are they building it to last 20 years, or is it a run it into the ground for 5-8 years then toss it out, type of truck.

I guess I’ll find out s00n.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Watching the reactions to this is hilarious and kind of sad. Just proves people will complain and be unhappy, no matter what is released.

Slate is an answer to ALL of the very loud people who have been complaining endlessly about the complex, screen heavy, overdesigned and expensive vehicles that have come out as of late. And the response? Mixed, as usual, with most people still finding things to complain about.

My takeaway - it is very difficult to be a car company today. People are going to find a way to complain no matter what you throw at them. Seems like everyone wants a nice, well equipped vehicle under $30k. They exist...in the used market. For the price, I think Slate more than nailed it. This is literally what a lot of people have been asking for. Just a car. No fluff, no extra.

You want range and other goodies? Pay up or buy used. We complain a lot about the cost of cars nowadays, but accounting for inflation and technological improvements that now come standard, it is arguably one of the few areas where we ahead from past generations.

 

[Mos Eisley]

This may be a killer vehicle for my home service business, especially with Mavericks pushing $40k and not needing a second row. I bet fleet buyers are taking a serious look

They're already deep in discussions with several fleet-needing companies. Wouldn't be surprised if fleet sales make up 80% or more of their sales. Hyundai's Santa Cruz sales are really starting to flag (I see a lot of Santa Cruz fleet vehicles in my area) while Maverick is starting to take off. Given the Ford CEO's expressed desire to emulate China with a new, cheaper, faster Ev strategy, I suspect they're watching Slate closely...

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