New basic EV truck

[paulsharvey]

Kei trucks also have some practical use, but i wouldn't want to drive one as a primary vehicle.

 

[BravoXray]

If Slate has a hint of doing good, I would expect them to get bought out quickly.

Then the MBAs and bean counters will take over and it'll go to hell in a year.

 

[Jstpssng]

Then the MBAs and bean counters will take over and it'll go to hell in a year.

Too true.

 

[Oaktree]

Then the MBAs and bean counters will take over and it'll go to hell in a year.

I don't know if it's the evil "MBAs & bean counters" who are to blame, but more than the real or perceived pressures of marketing.
Look what's happened to regular trucks over the past 25 years or so. Every automaker that makes a full size truck has an over-the-top model, they wouldn't have them if they didn't sell.

Gonna go out on a limb here and say that many will kick the tires, and once the rush of early adopters subsides and the novelty wears off, sales will be weak. I just don't see many Americans going for something that spartan when for not much more you can get something like a Maverick or Santa Fe.

 

[paulsharvey]

The very short, regular cab config, that's gonna rule it out for most people. Everyone says they wish truck makers still made a basic model, but then the Only buyers will be parts delivery at Autozone. Even most company trucks, they will atleast order extended cabs.

 

[Runner]

Gonna go out on a limb here and say that many will kick the tires, and once the rush of early adopters subsides and the novelty wears off, sales will be weak. I just don't see many Americans going for something that spartan when for not much more you can get something like a Maverick or Santa Fe.

That's why the key to this is that it HAS to be DIRT CHEAP. If it's not, just about ANYTHING is better. I think there is a market for a DIRT CHEAP electric vehicle to be used as a third or fourth beater.

 

[paulsharvey]

That's why the key to this is that it HAS to be DIRT CHEAP. If it's not, just about ANYTHING is better. I think there is a market for a DIRT CHEAP electric vehicle to be used as a third or fourth beater.

So, if it really was dirt cheap, and with EV credits, and all, you got payments too $250/month; and insurance was cheap; i would consider it as an extra vehicle. Something you can leave a mess, lend to son, not get annoyed by deer corn spilled all over the seat.

You would need the total package cheap, not just payments. Major part of its utility is being street legal, so tag and insurance too.

For that kinda vehicle, as a 3rd, it really just needs AC and be street legal, and reliable.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

You would need the total package cheap, not just payments.

If they indeed end up costing only $20K and someone still needs to take out a loan for that, they probably shouldn't be buying one. Or anything for a while.

 

[paulsharvey]

If they indeed end up costing only $20K and someone still needs to take out a loan for that, they probably shouldn't be buying one. Or anything for a while.

If I had to guess probably less than 5% of new car sales are cash sales.

Correction, 12-15% of new car sales are cash; but anyone in the market for a 20k vehicle is likely not going to have 20k sitting around. Edmunds. 2023, 15% cash buyers.

I would guess the cheaper the car, the less cash sales.

 

[paulsharvey]

Kinda like the thing where cheap vehicles often don't hold up well, In part, because people buying the cheapest cars, also are Far more likely to skip PM services. Thats not to say some of the cheaper stuff isn't made cheap, but its also consumers playing a role.

Remember the Saturn line from GM. At one point, moms house looked like a Saturn dealership, I think there were 5 of them at one point; moms, step dad's, sisters, other sisters, and the old station wagon model, that was kinda the spair, not worth enough to sell/trade, but ran good. All of them ended up going 200k+; with regular oil changes; but Brandwide, they had a pretty mixed reputation. I think in large part to people not doing basic PM. Honestly, Geo, probably falls in the same group.

 

[EddieWalker]

Kinda like the thing where cheap vehicles often don't hold up well, In part, because people buying the cheapest cars, also are Far more likely to skip PM services. Thats not to say some of the cheaper stuff isn't made cheap, but its also consumers playing a role.
...

I have a running joke with my wife that the three most dangerous people on the road are the ones with the windows open, handicap plates and everyone in a Kia.

They all drive like idiots, and you cannot predict what they will do next, except it will require braking on my end to avoid an accident.

 

[paulsharvey]

I have a running joke with my wife that the three most dangerous people on the road are the ones with the windows open, handicap plates and everyone in a Kia.

They all drive like idiots, and you cannot predict what they will do next, except it will require braking on my end to avoid an accident.

Women pulling a horse trailer.... that might offend some people here, but those are scary. Someone with no experience, driving a Chevy 6500, with a 32 ft goose neck with living quarters, and her precious babies inside...

That's not meant to all of them; but if you work in horse country, you've dealt with the type

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Thankfully my girlfriend is an exception. As are her friends, and our neighbors in the area. Then again, only a few of them use medium duty tow vehicles, most are only 1-tons.

Either way, I'd rather deal with a female driver in a 6500 than any driver pulling something with a 1/2-ton. Even if she screws up, chances are that the vehicle can make up for it. There's not much margin with a 1/2-ton.

 

[paulsharvey]

Another thought, im not in the RV world, but maybe this Slate would make a good dinny vehicle, for once the motor home is parked, and that sorta driving.

 

[Oaktree]

Another thought, im not in the RV world, but maybe this Slate would make a good dinny vehicle, for once the motor home is parked, and that sorta driving.

Yeah. Wouldn't have to worry about getting the drive wheels off the ground to prevent transmission damage.

 

[paulsharvey]

I have watched a couple more videos on it. Pre rebate, $27k, I'm just not sure the $4k savings over a Maverick is worth the trade offs. With the rebate... maybe, but i think I'd lean maverick.

Another thought, wonder how this would work for Uber Eats, Walmart contract delivery, rural mail carrier, ect? In a suburban area, the range might not be an issue.

I did see air conditioning is standard.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, not Slate specific, more EV question. How does age and/or milage affect resale? I would think miles are less important than age? Would there be a display showing how many charge-discharge cycles are on the battery? Or are all of the current EVs basically disposable after 5-8 years?

 

[paulsharvey]

Thankfully my girlfriend is an exception. As are her friends, and our neighbors in the area. Then again, only a few of them use medium duty tow vehicles, most are only 1-tons.

Either way, I'd rather deal with a female driver in a 6500 than any driver pulling something with a 1/2-ton. Even if she screws up, chances are that the vehicle can make up for it. There's not much margin with a 1/2-ton.

I didn't mean the mechanical limits; I more mean the ones that need 6 lanes to make a turn, or can't back up. Actually, I know Swift drivers have a rep, but Cardnial trucking.... Dealing with some of those when building a warehouse years ago, and some would refuse to enter a site without pull in, pull out; they didn't know how to back any semi up

 

[ruffdog]

I have watched a couple more videos on it. Pre rebate, $27k, I'm just not sure the $4k savings over a Maverick is worth the trade offs. With the rebate... maybe, but i think I'd lean maverick.

Being that the Maverick is made in Mexico, who knows what the future price will be.

 

[ruffdog]

So, not Slate specific, more EV question. How does age and/or milage affect resale? I would think miles are less important than age? Would there be a display showing how many charge-discharge cycles are on the battery? Or are all of the current EVs basically disposable after 5-8 years?

I have wondered the same thing as we hardly put any miles on our vehicles. Would the battery become useless long before the rest of the vehicle sees wear?