New basic EV truck

[2manyrocks]

The target market for this kind of truck probably doesn't carry 4x8 plywood/drywall very often. Might not even known what it is.

 

[ultrarunner]

I abhor touch screen controls for basic functions…

Fine for navigation but how is touch screen superior for Heating and A/C?

 

[2manyrocks]

Just wait for the car makers to get rid of the windshield and install touchscreen in its place with a game controller taking the place of the steering wheel.

 

[ultrarunner]

The target market for this kind of truck probably doesn't carry 4x8 plywood/drywall very often. Might not even known what it is.

It’s not so much a lot but the ability should the occasion arise.

One of the great features of 9 passenger wagons of the 70’s is the family car could bring home 4x8 sheet goods and do it well… it was also a good tow vehicle and many SCCA racers used wagons in the 60’s as tow vehicles…

You may be right in that many full size trucks no longer are able to carry 4x8 sheet goods in the shortened beds.

 

[5030]

Here in Michigan, sunny days aren't the norm unlike where you live, plus they get snow coated in winter and while I'm no expert on solar panels, I would suspect that snow cover degrades the output but more importantly in my opinion is they become hazardous landfill when their output degrades over their expected life and not all that important is when they are installed on tillable ground and it's taken out of food crop production, which is usually the case around here.

No issue with them on roofs or on asphalt parking lots. Big problem with them installed over viable cropland and..

Ultimately there is a disposal issue and landfilling them at a hazardous landfill isn't a cheap date either, not to mention the underlying superstructure that also has to be removed. Of course non of that will come to pass in my lifetime but at some point it will become an issue. I have solar panels on my RV's roof so I'm guilty as well.

 

[5030]

The target market for this kind of truck probably doesn't carry 4x8 plywood/drywall very often. Might not even known what it is.

In my case it's more like a 150 gallon diesel fuel tank in the bed with still room to haul stuff. I consider all the new trucks with 4 doors and a short bed as wannabe grocery store mom's trucks anyway.

I see to get a real 8 foot bed today, it has to be special ordered.

 

[ultrarunner]

Here in Michigan, sunny days aren't the norm unlike where you live, plus they get snow coated in winter and while I'm no expert on solar panels, I would suspect that snow cover degrades the output but more importantly in my opinion is they become hazardous landfill when their output degrades over their expected life and not all that important is when they are installed on tillable ground and it's taken out of food crop production, which is usually the case around here.

No issue with them on roofs or on asphalt parking lots. Big problem with them installed over viable cropland and..

Ultimately there is a disposal issue and landfilling them at a hazardous landfill isn't a cheap date either, not to mention the underlying superstructure that also has to be removed. Of course non of that will come to pass in my lifetime but at some point it will become an issue. I have solar panels on my RV's roof so I'm guilty as well.

I don’t know how long my panels will be viable but they have been silently producing since 2008 and meet all my needs and then some…

My 2008 panels are Schott brand, a glass company with 50 years in the solar panel business since the 1950’s, wholly owned by German firm Carl Zeiss and made in USA…

Maybe I lucked out on quality but only time will tell…

 

[Quaffer]

No Bezo's wannabe truck in this driveway, ever. I also agree that a wannabe truck or not, any truck with less than an 8 foot bed is nothing but a poser.

I'm not sold on this vehicle although I did place a deposit. Too much yet to learn. I hope it pans out but no loss if it does not.

If I purchase one, it's role is a second truck. No intent to replace my full size diesel truck which I plan to keep forever. This one would be more light duty projects, grocery getter and more, keeping miles off the more powerful bigger machine.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm really hoping that the low cost, super basic and simple vehicle becomes a real thing. Toyota has gotten a lot of press over their gasoline version that they are working on. This sounds even better to me if it's reliable.

It would surprise me if all of the auto manufacturers where not working on something similar!!!!!

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm not sold on this vehicle although I did place a deposit. Too much yet to learn. I hope it pans out but no loss if it does not.

If I purchase one, it's role is a second truck. No intent to replace my full size diesel truck which I plan to keep forever. This one would be more light duty projects, grocery getter and more, keeping miles off the more powerful bigger machine.

Exactly what I'm thinking. Right now I need a new outdoor light for my yard. Lowes is 11 miles away. I'm not going to drive my truck to Lowes for one light. I'll wait until I'm in the area and pick it up while doing something else.

If I had a small, cheap to operate vehicle, I just might go get that light today and install it.

Having a run around vehicle is something we've been wanting since living out in the country. If I need plywood or sheetrock, I'll use my full size truck with an 8 foot bed. But most of the time, I can put everything I buy at the store in my front seat, and there is no need for driving a truck that gets 16 miles per gallon.

 

[rontaki]

I can see a market but can it be delivered and make money and will the subsidies still exist to hit the target price?

Reliable comfortable ICE cars are also in this price range.

A very early adopter Doc I work with had very early home solar and also did his medical building plus had one of the first Leafs with Nissan trail and he no longer had a gasoline bill and his electric bill for home and office zeroed out…

He still had a winter natural gas home heating…

Solar does not produce enough electricity in the winter, ergo the gas heating. Our solar has the same limitations, so we heat with propane in winter and cool with solar electricty in summer. Also have Polaris Ranger EV and Ryobi 80V ZT mower that charge from the sun when it's shining. Bought new clothes dryer, chose electric instead of gas for the first time ever, sort of an indirect solar clothes dryer (clothesline outside being direct).
I still prefer ICE car for main vehicle, but the Slate sure sounds interesting.

 

[ponytug]

Roof rack (partial)

Extension supports;

Share your Slate

Take a look at my Slate!

www.slate.auto

Might not be that bad for a few sheets of plywood...

 

[2manyrocks]

Harbor Freight has sold an inexpensive 4x8 trailer that can easily haul sheet goods for years. I doubt most buyers need an 8 foot truck bed. They want something that fits their garage and todays small parking places.

 

[scootr]

There is a tremendous amount of lift created by hauling sheet goods that way...I saw a strap break and 15 sheets fly off in 1 second on the freeway in front of me once.
My friend was struck by a sheet a plywood on the highway in FL. The corner of the sheet came through the windshield. Totaled the van and darn near killed them.
No thanks...

 

[ultrarunner]

Harbor Freight has sold an inexpensive 4x8 trailer that can easily haul sheet goods for years. I doubt most buyers need an 8 foot truck bed. They want something that fits their garage and todays small parking places.

I built my box trailer and not a week goes by where I don’t use it.

The SLATE 1,000 max towing would then become the limiting factor.

 

[ruffdog]

Slate is opting for the more expensive US made battery:

https://insideevs.com/news/757802/slate-ev-battery-chemistry-lfp/

 

[ruffdog]

Will it be made in Warsaw Indiana? Maybe....

https://www.autoblog.com/news/hundreds-of-ev-jobs-for-indiana-slate-auto-eyes-former-printing-plant

 

[newbury]

Well in for 1 reservation.
I did the same thing maybe 5 years ago for a Tesla Cybertruck. That never panned out at the original price and specs.
Reminds me of my 1968 Toyota HiLux. Cramped, bare, but did the job.

 

[not2old]

In my case it's more like a 150 gallon diesel fuel tank in the bed with still room to haul stuff. I consider all the new trucks with 4 doors and a short bed as wannabe grocery store mom's trucks anyway.

I see to get a real 8 foot bed today, it has to be special ordered.

I recently purchased one of the last three F350 supercab, long box Lariat's in western Canada with a diesel engine. I found it in a panic after finding that in 2025 a supercab with a long box is only available in XL or XLT trim and a Lariat no longer comes with a leather interior. I will not be purchasing another new truck.

 

[ultrarunner]

Well in for 1 reservation.
I did the same thing maybe 5 years ago for a Tesla Cybertruck. That never panned out at the original price and specs.
Reminds me of my 1968 Toyota HiLux. Cramped, bare, but did the job.

Kind of looks like Toyota Stout?