Wouldn't it be awesome to get the EV credit now?

[brian10x]

Wouldn't it be awesome if we could pay ahead of production and get the EV credit before it goes away? Of course, that would require a VIN number, and that is impossible at this point, but a guy can dream.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Well they could just make vins for trucks to be haha

 

[brian10x]

I'm ready to give Slate some money right now, just PROMISE delivery. I want to pay now and get the first one!

 

[Daemoch]

"I'll gladly pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today."
In theory, I don't think there is anything technically stopping that. Its no more outlandish than going short or long on a stock, and that happens a few million times a day.

 

[jchetty]

That would be cool. Kinda like the First #7500 orders (going by reservation number) have the option to buy now.

They will send you a serialized key and you can finance at $1/ month until delivery and then pay the balance or refinance before delivery.

 

[brian10x]

That would be cool. Kinda like the First #7500 orders (going by reservation number) have the option to buy now.

They will send you a serialized key and you can finance at $1/ month until delivery and then pay the balance or refinance before delivery.

Capital idea dear sir! Is anyone from Slate reading this? Take my damned money.

 

[Daemoch]

Capital idea dear sir! Is anyone from Slate reading this? Take my damned money.

/Gets in line.....

 

[brian10x]

I guess I'm drinking the Slate Kool-aid. I'm 65 and this is the first time I've wanted to buy a first year vehicle so bad. And I'm in the auto repair industry and I always recommend waiting until at least the second model year so the bugs are worked out!

 

[Daemoch]

I guess I'm drinking the Slate Kool-aid. I'm 65 and this is the first time I've wanted to buy a first year vehicle so bad. And I'm in the auto repair industry and I always recommend waiting until at least the second model year so the bugs are worked out!

yah, but when you work on 'bugs' for a living and this one is designed to BE worked on......

It reminds me of the old Volvos in the 70s-80s or that one 1980s Dodge that only used one size bolt head for everything. It's just so easy to work with!

 

[brian10x]

When you get poorly made crap fixed every day, sometimes , at the end of the day, a guy just wants a relaxing, stress-free drive in a reliable (looking at you, my lovely Tacoma) vehicle and leave the bugs at work.
Some of you may relate!

 

[Letas]

yah, but when you work on 'bugs' for a living and this one is designed to BE worked on......

It reminds me of the old Volvos in the 70s-80s or that one 1980s Dodge that only used one size bolt head for everything. It's just so easy to work with!

I am trying to understand the thought process going around saying this vehicle is "designed to be worked on". Cosmetic and accessories, yes, it seems it will be easy- but mechanically? EVs are quite the opposite of that. Batteries are NOT designed to be worked on by any means, and generally just get recalled or replaced if there are issues. Even a top-notch youtube technician can not fix a PCB or isolation fault. And the battery is going to make up a majority of the cost on this machine...

 

[Dorbiman]

I am trying to understand the thought process going around saying this vehicle is "designed to be worked on". Cosmetic and accessories, yes, it seems it will be easy- but mechanically? EVs are quite the opposite of that. Batteries are NOT designed to be worked on by any means, and generally just get recalled or replaced if there are issues. Even a top-notch youtube technician can not fix a PCB or isolation fault. And the battery is going to make up a majority of the cost on this machine...

I think it's pretty straight forward. Drivetrain will likely be a non-issue for the lifetime of the vehicle. But things like body panels, mirrors, brake lights, bumpers, seats, door cards, window regulators, switches, etc are all designed to be repairable or replaced.

 

[Letas]

I think it's pretty straight forward. Drivetrain will likely be a non-issue for the lifetime of the vehicle. But things like body panels, mirrors, brake lights, bumpers, seats, door cards, window regulators, switches, etc are all designed to be repairable or replaced.

"Lifetime of the vehicle" is determined by the user I suppose. Plenty of ICEs and EVs both dying at 30k miles, while plenty make it to 300k. Saying it will be a non-issue when we have not seen one in the wild yet is a bit of an assumption.

Everything you state can be repaired by a competent youtube mechanic on vehicles today. What makes Slate different?

 

[Daemoch]

There's literally nothing on a Slate I cant work on - NOTHING.

The reason I cant say that about every other car, EV or otherwise, is I cant get schematics of the electrical systems in most of them. I have to reverse engineer chips and circuits. Code is precompiled and the source is not released to the public so modifying it is a real PITA, if even possible at all without a full-on aftermarket replacement. Systems often have poorly or completely undocumented components or features. Most physical components are custom, or at least modified in some way (Aision transmissions for example) by the OEM/OEM supplier and cant be easily swapped out with a 'similar' model. Nobody releases complete/accurate blueprints and BoM of their vehicles so I have to measure and test everything myself.

My understanding is that Slate will make all those headaches go away.

 

[Daemoch]

I am trying to understand the thought process going around saying this vehicle is "designed to be worked on". Cosmetic and accessories, yes, it seems it will be easy- but mechanically? EVs are quite the opposite of that. Batteries are NOT designed to be worked on by any means, and generally just get recalled or replaced if there are issues. Even a top-notch youtube technician can not fix a PCB or isolation fault. And the battery is going to make up a majority of the cost on this machine...

EVs are sooooo much simpler. Simple? eh....no, holistically. But simpler? oh yes. You're just not used to them is all. Maybe thats part of the issue? There's so little there to work on that it seems like it must be a 'black box' - its not. Theres just not that much to them. Youre used to seeing a lot of things inside moving in a 'motor' not just coils of wire. :/ And yes, you CAN rebuild those, too.

Batteries are a bit more of a thing, sure. But I break down and rebuild packs all the time. Theres literally 2 in my shop right now in various states of dis/assembly. It can be done. Usually I recycle the old ones, and just like you would get a credit for a 'core charge' for a traditional alternator or starter, I trade mine in. They get processed (chemically/physically) and what can be reused gets reused. Youre not going to try and tell me that repairing a starter or alternator isnt possible, are you? Technically, Ford and Toyota and everyone else will tell you the alternator is a non-serviceable part too. Same with the 12v Lead Acid battery, IAC solenoid, fuel pump, and basically every other individual component. And we rebuild all those, or we trade them in for a 'core charge' so some other guy can rebuild them (like me). If you had any idea how many ECUs I've repaired or modified in my life time so far... And those are sealed up and buried in epoxy usually; definitely NOT intended to be a 'serviceable' part....but still serviced!

Which reminds me, if you cant "fix a PCB or isolation fault".....you need to set down the keyboard and think real hard about what you just said and maybe reconsider projecting your own capabilities and limitations on to other people. And your ability to search YouTube apparently; there's literally thousands of videos that can teach you that stuff. Thats the whole point of a Slate truck - we can each do it 'our way' as much or as little as we are capable of.