SLATE Truck revealed as modular Pickup & SUV

[Supazuk]

I'm not a EV hater coal roller, Nor do I believe EV's are gonna save the earth
Lets be honest, this thing is never gonna be the "Going to town rig" by any stretch nor is it gonna haul scrap to the metal yard and pick up concrete
However I have been on the fence of a carry or maybe a 80's mini truck to take shit to the dump, move stuff around the yard and maybe in a few years let the kids use to run those chores for me. This might be the perfect fit for this little ute.

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[HannahWCU]

I am not an environmentalist, however I do own two electric cars. Both Chevrolet Bolts. My wife and use them as commuter cars. I have a 2020 (bought in March 2021) with 88,000 and a 2023 with over 30,000 miles. I don't believe I am saving the earth, but I am saving money. I paid $26,500 for each car (new) and I can drive 2000 miles on $70 in electricity (when charging at home). With 260+ miles of range (summer) and about ~220 (Winter). It covers all our daily needs. EV's are not for everyone, but I believe they have their place.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

You really cant put this in the Yugo category (for record I have driven one) that was a crap company selling crap

Slate is more along the lines of the 80's Nissan Hardbody P/U. It was a good little reliable truck , that you could buy with little to no options and didn't take all your money. It could be bought with a 2wd, 5 speed 4 cylinder, bench seat, no radio, one side view mirror, no A/c

Lets hope.

I am not against doing it cheaper and un-regulated. But the Gov is.

The global warming Popes are.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

I am not an environmentalist, however I do own two electric cars. Both Chevrolet Bolts. My wife and use them as commuter cars. I have a 2020 (bought in March 2021) with 88,000 and a 2023 with over 30,000 miles. I don't believe I am saving the earth, but I am saving money. I paid $26,500 for each car (new) and I can drive 2000 miles on $70 in electricity (when charging at home). With 260+ miles of range (summer) and about ~220 (Winter). It covers all our daily needs. EV's are not for everyone, but I believe they have their place.

Thank you.

Bolt or Volt, I don't remember or know the Chevy cars.

The point is freedom of choice. I had a supervisor that owned a Chevy Volt. He loved it. He travelled short distances to and from work. I am glad that he was happy with it.

But if the SHTF and he needed to get out of town, he had a gas vehicle to do that.

Again, it is about freedom of choice.

 

[Supazuk]

I am not an environmentalist, however I do own two electric cars. Both Chevrolet Bolts. My wife and use them as commuter cars. I have a 2020 (bought in March 2021) with 88,000 and a 2023 with over 30,000 miles. I don't believe I am saving the earth, but I am saving money. I paid $26,500 for each car (new) and I can drive 2000 miles on $70 in electricity (when charging at home). With 260+ miles of range (summer) and about ~220 (Winter). It covers all our daily needs. EV's are not for everyone, but I believe they have their place.

... we have 3 kids in hockey lol 3-4 300 mile trips a weekend in differant states are the norm in the winter

My 2015 mini countryman I bought new has 212,000 on it ..
I put 30k on my 2023 JT last year and I have 3 other vehicles

 

[JAY]

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

 

[Sweetums]

You really cant put this in the Yugo category (for record I have driven one) that was a crap company selling crap

Slate is more along the lines of the 80's Nissan Hardbody P/U. It was a good little reliable truck , that you could buy with little to no options and didn't take all your money. It could be bought with a 2wd, 5 speed 4 cylinder, bench seat, no radio, one side view mirror, no A/c

It's not even on sale yet, how can you claim it's "good" or "reliable"? It's completely untested.

 

[Zachanadandy]

You are 100% right about the wackos and their mandates - but you're also ignoring a very real problem that government is really trying to solve: infrastructure.

There are plenty of folks who would be interested in an EV, but would never buy one because "where am I gonna charge it"? Charging overnight in your garage is great for the commuters. But those who want to exceed the 150mi range (which, we all know is not *ACTUALLY* going to be 150mi) need to feel confident that they can find a charging station along their route or they'll never buy into the technology. No matter how much they may desire to.

This whole "let those who ride, decide" mindset is just another way of saying "protectionism" for the current paradigm. Because without the infrastructure, people really don't have a choice.

I think what government is trying to say here is, "let's help those who decide be able to ride". Which, at least is the right idea. Just twisted and perverted by government inefficiencies and corruption like any government venture.

Which sucks but...hey..... even Hitler had one or two good ideas. Let's not throw the baby out with the sewage water. There's gotta be a happy medium that allows those who ride to truly be able to decide.

Some of these guys sound just like the guys that freaked out when the 1st emissions controls were added to gas vehicles. "I can afford to pollute the air and burn all the fuel I want so fuck you and your kids lungs"? I remember the entire central valley constantly having a brown haze over it in the early 80s. We clearly needed some form of regulation and it's very visibly helped. Like anything else it gets pushed to the extreme. I agree we don't need EV mandates but we should probably require minimal emissions and incentives pulling away from fossil fuels. A balance if you will.

 

[Supazuk]

It's not even on sale yet, how can you claim it's "good" or "reliable"? It's completely untested.

I said the nissan was good and reliable and that the plan from slate is along those lines ... that is what their objective is ... where as yugo was a known cheap throw away before t was imported

 

[HannahWCU]

Bolt is all electric. Volt is a plug in Hybrid

 

[Sweetums]

I said the nissan was good and reliable and that the plan from slate is along those lines ... that is what their objective is ... where as yugo was a known cheap throw away before t was imported

The plan and the Amazon Basics brand truck we get are not likely to be the same. I'm waiting to see what happens in the real world.

 

[Mikeisit86]

I personally wouldn't want a trailer pushing the tow vehicle down the road? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. I'd rather add a 2nd motor to the front axle to add towing capacity and stability.

Yeah…um …there’s things like computers that can control motors and synchronize them….works in my 2 different AWD electric bicycles… never implied the trailer push the truck - that makes no sense.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Yeah…um …there’s things like computers that can control motors and synchronize them….works in my 2 different AWD electric bicycles… never implied the trailer push the truck - that makes no sense.

Electric bicycles don't have trailers or run freeway speeds....I wonder why nobody is doing what you suggest? Obviously the front and rear motors in every dual motor vehicle are synchronized. Moving 1 to the trailer means speed sensors etc that now have to communicate between 2 different chassis. Which means A. A super expensive trailer and B. Non-standard trailer wiring that will only work with it's proprietary vehicle. Doesn't that sound like you just destroyed the budget idea of this truck and certainly made it far more complicated than just adding a front axle motor or a larger rear axle motor to increase towing capacity?

 

[Mikeisit86]

I personally wouldn't want a trailer pushing the tow vehicle down the road? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. I'd rather add a 2nd motor to the front axle to add towing capacity and stability.

Electric bicycles don't have trailers or run freeway speeds....I wonder why nobody is doing what you suggest? Obviously the front and rear motors in every dual motor vehicle are synchronized. Moving 1 to the trailer means speed sensors etc that now have to communicate between 2 different chassis. Which means A. A super expensive trailer and B. Non-standard trailer wiring that will only work with it's proprietary vehicle. Doesn't that sound like you just destroyed the budget idea of this truck and certainly made it far more complicated than just adding a front axle motor or a larger rear axle motor to increase towing capacity?

I think you’re a little overly agitated by a simple comment.
1) The fact nobody’s doing it? So what? It‘s called “invention.“ Nobody’s thought to offer a modular no frills bare bones truck before either. Electric vehicles and self-driving cars were considered technologically impossible just a couple decades ago. Personal drones were never a market either, now anyone can afford really good self-flying system with HUD visors. Cell phones were never considered feasible and when they did get to market, nobody wanted them (That’s why they came up with buying a cell phone for a penny w/a 2 year contract). Water based hoverboard. Personal jet packs. Folding cell phone screens. Robotic lawn mowers. They even have cat litter boxes that clean themselves these days….
2) electric bikes don’t have trailers or run at highway speeds…..yes they do. I have one that has a removable side car, and both can reach 60 mph, but there are others that can go even faster. There are dozens of trailers for e-bikes as well. The ebike market isn’t what you know. I’ve got a stand-up scooter that’ll also reach 60 mph. They can actually put engines inside the wheels - imagine that..smh.
3) sure, not saying it would be easy, but I’ve also worked for 30 years in automotive and microchip manufacturing, as a supply chain executive for Eaton Automotive and Intel, so I know most of the items you buy are grossly overpriced - you don’t want to know the real cost of most vehicles (Which is to say you could manufacture something affordably).

 

[Zachanadandy]

I think you’re a little overly agitated by a simple comment.
1) The fact nobody’s doing it? So what? It‘s called “invention.“ Nobody’s thought to offer a modular no frills bare bones truck before either. Electric vehicles and self-driving cars were considered technologically impossible just a couple decades ago. Personal drones were never a market either, now anyone can afford really good self-flying system with HUD visors. Cell phones were never considered feasible and when they did get to market, nobody wanted them (That’s why they came up with buying a cell phone for a penny w/a 2 year contract). Water based hoverboard. Personal jet packs. Folding cell phone screens. Robotic lawn mowers. They even have cat litter boxes that clean themselves these days….
2) electric bikes don’t have trailers or run at highway speeds…..yes they do. I have one that has a removable side car, and both can reach 60 mph, but there are others that can go even faster. There are dozens of trailers for e-bikes as well. The ebike market isn’t what you know. I’ve got a stand-up scooter that’ll also reach 60 mph. They can actually put engines inside the wheels - imagine that..smh.
3) sure, not saying it would be easy, but I’ve also worked for 30 years in automotive and microchip manufacturing, as a supply chain executive for Eaton Automotive and Intel, so I know most of the items you buy are grossly overpriced - you don’t want to know the real cost of most vehicles (Which is to say you could manufacture something affordably).

Is there an e-bike trailer that's powered and goes freeway speed because I can't find one? Combining features of products that exist does nothing to further your point. That's like saying it would be easy to build a 200mph off road capable jeep on 40s because Bugattis exist. A propriety trailer with computer integration and all the safety features you'd have to add to it as a motor vehicle (abs, back up cameras, autopark, etc) would likely make it cost more than the slate truck. Vs adding either a front axle motor or a larger rear axle one. I'm not saying that it's impossible, it's impractical and illogical. More/ bigger motors in the truck offer benfits such as performance even without a trailer where as the trailer motor only works when towing. The vehicle motor upgrades work with with ANY trailer. The trailer doesn't. What if you want several types of trailers from a small utility to a fiat bed to an overlanding/camp trailer? You're more than $100k+ into powered trailers and your truck is still underpowered and boring when driving solo. At that point you could have bought a rivian, cybertruck or hummer with the capacity to tow anything and ridiculous performance when empty. And you could rent any haul or home depot trailer where as proprietary powered trailers wouldn't have much rental market either for the same reasons.

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