Place Your Bets! (actual blank Slate starting price contest)

[1yeliab_sufur1]

OK, everyone, including me, are under 30k.
I just wish this were a bar where I could pin the $100 bill above the register.

2024: predicted 20k, with the EV credit, i.e. 27.5k for-real.
2025 4% inflation, that takes it to 28.6k
factory comes online, July-4-2026, another 6% inflation (thanks Mr T)
3% for 6 months, that brings it to about 29.5K

So? my prediction, 29,999 no so far off
I wonder how I ever got to that number?

Mine? will be in 2027, probably well over $33k
I shall still buy it, gray plastic and all!

My slate fully customized will probably be 50k as right now I’d say it’s 35k with all the upgrades if not 40 depending on the upgraded battery

 

[Doctors Do Little]

My slate fully customized will probably be 50k as right now I’d say it’s 35k with all the upgrades if not 40 depending on the upgraded battery

I love your optimism ($50K - wow!). Since I've got another expensive EV with most available options, I'm going with your original plan: Buy blank-ish and add as monies are saved.

Wild guess is that if I got just the lift and bigger AT tires, a spare, the SUV kit, and a sparse amount of mods on the inside, with the bigger battery....$37K?

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

I love your optimism ($50K - wow!). Since I've got another expensive EV with most available options, I'm going with your original plan: Buy blank-ish and add as monies are saved.

Wild guess is that if I got just the lift and bigger AT tires, a spare, the SUV kit, and a sparse amount of mods on the inside, with the bigger battery....$37K?

I’d say yah pro 37k

 

[sodamo]

I’m still hoping it’s my special birthday present Nov 2026, my 80th. much beyond then could severely cut into my enjoyment time. Early delivery appreciated.

 

[sodamo]

One aspect of pricing I’m not reading much. What is the $$ impact of no dealerships? Doesn’t that remove a significant cost layer?

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I’m still hoping it’s my special birthday present Nov 2026, my 80th. much beyond then could severely cut into my enjoyment time. Early delivery appreciated.

"From your mouth to God's ears!"

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

One aspect of pricing I’m not reading much. What is the $$ impact of no dealerships? Doesn’t that remove a significant cost layer?

Yah it could save about 1,500 to 3,000 but I todays market it’s like 3,000 to 7,000

 

[Paul Rodgers]

only option I'll go with on day-1 is bigger battery, since its not upgradeable.

Well, not yet anyway.
But I've seen a few videos that seem to indicate all you need to go from small to big is:
1) a big one
2) a transmission jack
3) a screwgun
4) a bunch of $$$

Not sure I believe this, not yet anyway. But aftermarket LFP anyone?

 

[Doctors Do Little]

only option I'll go with on day-1 is bigger battery, since its not upgradeable.

Well, not yet anyway.
But I've seen a few videos that seem to indicate all you need to go from small to big is:
1) a big one
2) a transmission jack
3) a screwgun
4) a bunch of $$$

Not sure I believe this, not yet anyway. But aftermarket LFP anyone?

I’d have to watch at least 2 YouTube how-to videos before I’m tackling that project….

 

[sodamo]

only option I'll go with on day-1 is bigger battery, since its not upgradeable.

Well, not yet anyway.
But I've seen a few videos that seem to indicate all you need to go from small to big is:
1) a big one
2) a transmission jack
3) a screwgun
4) a bunch of $$$

Not sure I believe this, not yet anyway. But aftermarket LFP anyone?

Battery upgrade or upgradeable battery.

I have assumed and likely others have, the Slate will offer upgrade from Standard to Extended, but no details on the how other than initial order.

I think more attractive maybe 1 battery, but upgradeable. All in keeping with known Slate philosophies of minimal parts, reusability, upgradeability, even DYI

My view

It’s all about the battery container. Word is Slate is sourcing the cell pouches from SK ON, but building the container in house and assembling.

Considerations:

0ne container for all battery configurations. That one container in all Blank Slate builds. Possibly installed early process even without the modules.

That container is mounted and completely accessible/ serviceable from underneath with minimal body impediment. Dropping the cover provides access to all components.

All internal and external wiring is separate from pouches and exists in a single configuration. Am assuming the pouches are connected via a bus arrangement. Pouch installs no contact other than buses

3 pouches for Standard, 5 pouches for extended according to CEO interview. Pouch installation could be separate from container install. Upgrade costs would be minimal except cost of the actual pouches unless container was closed.

BMS/software should be autosensing, self configuring, regardless of number of pouches. This would open the possibility of an intermediate upgrade of 4 pouches (190 mile). Sure would suit my needs.

Based on what we have seen of the SK ON pouch they appear to use a blade type contact each end.


Might it be possible to develop a method, maybe even a tool where a pouch can be added with minimal to no risk of installer accidentally making a hot contact? Minimize pouch insertion error, maybe color code bus and pouch end? Am assuming serial buses so pouches might alternate? Sure could open up the post manufacture upgrade process.

Desire to upgrade to 4 or 5 pouches for the mileage after purchase, simply drop battery cover, inserted new pouch(s) and reinstall cover. Next powerup, BMS senses additional pouch(s) and adjusts. Worse case, make a configuration option in the software.

I really hope Slate engineers are considering and implement such an approach.

For us, the cost to upgrade would be near the cost of the 2 additional pouches if during initial build and more palatable than a battery swap. add an installation cost if after build and not DYI.

This approach could also benefit future upgradeability as SK ON or 3rd party would only have to match current pouch configuration and whatever software update.

My apologies if I mangled anything technically, but hopefully the idea is clear.

The Pouch

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Battery upgrade or upgradeable battery.

I have assumed and likely others have, the Slate will offer upgrade from Standard to Extended, but no details on the how other than initial order.

I think more attractive maybe 1 battery, but upgradeable. All in keeping with known Slate philosophies of minimal parts, reusability, upgradeability, even DYI

My view

It’s all about the battery container. Word is Slate is sourcing the cell modules from SK ON, but building the container in house and assembling.

Considerations:

0ne container for all battery configurations. That one container in all Blank Slate builds. Possibly installed early process even without the modules.

That container is mounted and completely accessible/ serviceable from underneath with minimal body impediment. Dropping the cover provides access to all components.

All internal and external wiring is separate from modules and exists in a single configuration. Am assuming the modules are connected via a bus arrangement. Module installs no contact other than buses

3 modules for Standard, 5 modules for extended according to CEO interview. Module installation could be separate from container install. Upgrade costs would be minimal except cost of the actual modules unless container was closed.

BMS/software should be autosensing, self configuring, regardless of number of modules. This would open the possibility of an intermediate upgrade of 4 modules (190 mile). Sure would suit my needs.

Based on what we have seen of the SK ON module they appear to use a blade type contact each end.


Might it be possible to develop a method, maybe even a tool where a module can be added with minimal to no risk of installer accidentally making a hot contact? Minimize module insertion error, maybe color code bus and module end? Am assuming serial buses so modules might alternate? Sure could open up the post manufacture upgrade process.

Desire to upgrade to 4 or 5 modules for the mileage after purchase, simply drop battery cover, inserted new module(s) and reinstall cover. Next powerup, BMS senses additional module(s) and adjusts. Worse case, make a configuration option in the software.

I really hope Slate engineers are considering and implement such an approach.

For us, the cost to upgrade would be near the cost of the 2 additional modules if during initial build and more palatable than a battery swap. add an installation cost if after build and not DYI.

This approach could also benefit future upgradeability as SK ON or 3rd party would only have to match current module configuration and whatever software update.

My apologies if I mangled anything technically, but hopefully the idea is clear.

How much is it going to cost to ship this bad boy from IN to HI, David?

 

[sodamo]

How much is it going to cost to ship this bad boy from IN to HI, David?

About $2300 Long Beach to Hilo, didn’t check from Indiana.

 

[atreis]

About $2300 Long Beach to Hilo, didn’t check from Indiana.

It'll be about half that to get it to Long Beach if you arrange it yourself. I'd guess Slate will have their own delivery arrangements to the West Coast though that cost less than that. (e.g. Truck them to Chicago and put them on a train in bulk.)

 

[GaRailroader]

It'll be about half that to get it to Long Beach if you arrange it yourself. I'd guess Slate will have their own delivery arrangements to the West Coast though that cost less than that. (e.g. Truck them to Chicago and put them on a train in bulk.)

Norfolk Southern Railroad services the plant on its mainline between Fort Wayne and Chicago. The plant has two tracks coming in. I am certain Norfolk Southern will be happy to bring autoracks in there for loading of finished Slates.

 

[sodamo]

It'll be about half that to get it to Long Beach if you arrange it yourself. I'd guess Slate will have their own delivery arrangements to the West Coast though that cost less than that. (e.g. Truck them to Chicago and put them on a train in bulk.)

That’s my hope. slate has a Long Beach location so might make sense to have a delivery location in area.

i shipped vehicles from GA to Hilo 20 years ago, prices definitely have risen.
2 years ago I shipped our son a Crosstrek from Hilo to No VA and that was about $2400.