New $20k all electric slate truck inbound

It's such a clusterfoxtrot.
Last year, Dominion "forced" everyone to get a "smart" meter for their resi service.
They said it was so they can reduce reading/billing costs, but really it's for them to have the ability to brown out residences during peak datacenter usage.
I refused, and now have to pay an additional $10.65 fee per 400amp meter for a manual reading, like the old days.

 

That’s crazy! Wow what a mess.

 

ok.....so back to the topic.

I like the no frills concept here. I hardly use 50% or more of the luxury garbage they put in vehicles anyway. Even higher on my phone/computer 90%. This is perfect for the short distance needs, but I saw they also have an upgrade battery that gets 250 I think. This is obviously not for you alaska people. hahaha! With the bulk of the population living in an urban area this might fit the bill. It's obviously not to replace the taco or anything that is a truck, but it's a nice golf cart upgrade that is trying to keep it simple. And seriously...does anybody think they will continue the gov't credit? haha.

 

Look at the charge time. It's only usable by people who have access to private Level 2 chargers at home or workplace. It obviously doesn't have the necessary equipment to utilize DCFC infrastructure.

This is vehicle is a joke.

 

what is the minimum spec you'd need on an all electric pickup truck?

 

The cost of oil is increasing and the supply is decreasing, at least on this planet. I can't see a ICE vehicle ever making sense if this trend continues

 

Personally, I wouldn't buy one.
My wife drives a 650hp EV which has a 250-300 mile range under ideal conditions, but more like 180 in winter. It can charge at 270kwh under ideal conditions, 20 to 30 minutes, which is pretty fast. But in winter or at a crappy DCFC location it might take an hour and a half to charge up.

I really, really don't like EVs. They're toys for people on the coasts.
You can't offer a vehicle with low driving range AND slow charge rate. Someone who can afford a house with a charger in the garage or driveway is unlikely to accept thus spartan trucklet, IMO.
So who's going to buy it???

PHEV is probably going to be the way to go for the foreseeable future.

 

Well, this is the first EV that has ever caught my attention. Do I need two vehicles? NO. Do I like the idea of a cheap, no-frills, somewhat affordable EV to use an around-town errand-runner that can be parked out in the weather and in parking lots and I don't have to worry about it? YES. Unless the current administration manages to erase all of the tax incentives for buying an EV, it should be possible to ultimately get back some substantial coin as well. I have solar panels on the roof and actually am not a huge power consumer, so charging the thing at night should be easy and cheap. I love the bare-bones simplicity of the Slate and like the idea of paying only for the add-ons that are really desired.

I will be curious to see if these actually do make it to production, what insurance rates will be, and what type of dealer support might eventually be available. Many questions right now, but a refundable (?!) deposit of $50 seams very reasonable to stake a claim on one.

Not to worry, Tacoma. You will always be my #1.

 

I'm actually very excited for the Slate and put down a $50 refundable reservation. It's super customizable. And lots of 3d-printable accessories will be released from Slate open-sourced. Can fit full sheets of plywood in the bed. Can lower or lift it. Has an option to convert the truck to an SUV. DIY electric windows. I've been wanting a mini-truck for quite a while. And this is likely the option I'll go for.

Check out the motor trend vid on it. And keep in mind the presenter is like 6'8". And he seems to have plenty of head room inside the vehicle.

I would really prefer to see a dual-motor awd version, though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWq3jhxOWUI

 

Two things. I don't need 4 doors. And it's base price is more than double the cost:

Entry models starting as low as $51,500 with available incentives. Retail prices starting under $60,000.

 

Thats awesome.
Yeh sure it could be some other "entry level" 50k dollar vehicle with more more more, but some of yall are really missing the point.
Might not work or be cool enough for some of ya'll and theres still a lot of factors that are going to be important if the vehicles worth it or works out in the market. But end of day a 150 mile range vehicle would do most everyday tasks for most people and be a great brand new second vehicle.

Its basically an upscale "mini truck" or whatever they're called. This isnt targeted towards the people that spend 20k on side by sides.

 

100% we are getting hosed on many levels with these ugly ass data centers. They just can't build them big or fast enough around the Dulles/Sterling area, even creeping out to Loudon and west near me. They must be making billions off them, how fast they are going up. I read the only limiting factor to size is how much diesel and how many of those big ass V12 back up generators the inspectors will allow per site.

 

Put my $50 down today. I'm stoked, something kind of cool I might be able to actually afford. Will be a 2nd (commuter) car for me, so capacity, 2WD etc not a factor and definitely not giving up the Tacoma. This will actually help me extend the Tacomas life, hopefully bottom line works in my favor. Bonus: my realistic chances of the Tacoma getting totaled are during my rush hour commutes, so this also helps save the truck.

At the bottom of their home page is a cool graphic comparing the profile to different rides like a full size Chevy AND a pre-Tacoma Toyota p/u. Other than roof height, its pretty much the same size.

Right now my vision is: Fastback hard-top, lowering kit, 20" rims, low profiles and LED for a modern GMC Typhoon:

 

It’s a Build a Bear go-cart truck that by the time you are done accessorizing it to make it livable, you know what you could have… a Toyota Tacoma. Or the elusive Toyota Stout that will allegedly be here soon.

 

I guess someone in China read my previous post about wishing we had automatic battery swap “gas stations” where you drive up and your battery is replaced with a fresh one- well they got the insight and are doing it already!

We’re really falling behind…

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250506-are-chinas-swap-stations-the-future-of-electric-cars

 

Low payload? It’s rated higher than a Tacoma.

 

Single cab Tacoma doesn't exist anymore. I'd stop even trying to compare it to one. This is more like a modern day replacement for a Kei truck. If that's not the vehicle that suits your needs, then the Slate isn't for you either.

 

Reminds me a little of the Thing and Aztec



The hype brings more skepticism. I like it, but looking at the domestics ability to build an abundance of EV and the current decline in Tesla sales the EV market might not be able to support this product.

 

at this point I don't care what it looks like or performance. We need things on the market that you can call a truck and cost $20k to start taking market share away from current north American mid sizers so they start lowering prices or build something to compete.

 

They do this in Germany.
Makes sense.