Introductions & Welcome Thread 👋

[sodamo]

78 yo here and really excited about this little truck I really want, but don’t need. Currently drive almost new Tundra 1794, but have to admit it has way too much tech I don’t use. While I would have been just as happy with a new Ridgeline I suspect I’d feel same way. The Tundra won over the Ridgeline totally due to dealer.
Will be a blank Slate buyer with hope to have a bed topper for the dogs as only must do.
Wife had a 76 Toyota pu when we met. Great little truck that served us well. I had a MGB. Every now and then I sense she still regrets trading that truck almost 40 years ago. At some point I might wrap the Slate in attempt to match 😁
We live 100% off grid and never seriously considered an EV, but now I’m excited.

 

[granite_slate]

I swore I wouldn’t jump on the EV train until solid state batteries came to market, but if they can deliver what they’re promising I’m ready to play ball.
Fingers crossed. Go Slate go!

 

[Imhotep]

Hi all. Just joined the forum. Reserved a Slate the day I heard about it. As much as I love it, my ‘74 GMC pickup is getting too expensive to drive. Been waiting years for a simple truck to replace it and it looks like the Slate fits the bill. Hope it all works out.

 

[Karl Childers]

This platform has me very curious as I have been wanting to try EV as well as have a small truck. My current stable is: 2023 Maverick XLT hybrid, 2014 F150, and a 2005 Acura RSX Type S that i have been trying to restore as OEM + build. Looking forward to learning about EVs and being part of this community.

 

[AL-Derby]

78 yo here and really excited about this little truck I really want, but don’t need. Currently drive almost new Tundra 1794, but have to admit it has way too much tech I don’t use. While I would have been just as happy with a new Ridgeline I suspect I’d feel same way. The Tundra won over the Ridgeline totally due to dealer.
Will be a blank Slate buyer with hope to have a bed topper for the dogs as only must do.
Wife had a 76 Toyota pu when we met. Great little truck that served us well. I had a MGB. Every now and then I sense she still regrets trading that truck almost 40 years ago. At some point I might wrap the Slate in attempt to match 😁
We live 100% off grid and never seriously considered an EV, but now I’m excited.

I would like to hear about off grid charging. I am

I'm in lets see what happens. I just retired from a testing lab, maybe I can do some real world testing for them. I'm in Michigan where the roads and weather suck.

That's why I left Michigan. I had enough of those winters.

 

[sodamo]

I would like to hear about off grid charging. I am

That's why I left Michigan. I had enough of those winters.

In what regards? EV charging? My limited knowledge right now is either Level 1 or 2 charging just as you would on grid. Just plug in and wait. The difference is drain on the solar battery as at this point I don’t know of a direct solar to EV charging device that doesn’t involve AC. My preference would be that direct DC to DC not involving my batteries. Using current equipment, unless one has a very robust system the goal would be to charge during times of excess PV production, basically daytime. Not an option for lots of folks not working from home. My own situation depending on season I could likely charge anytime after 10 or 11 AM, but that is using my battery connected inverter. I would prefer very limited or no impact on my batteries. Now should I be limited to nighttime (after sun) charging then every KW would be from my battery bank and have to be replaced next day.

 

[pez222]

I'm Ian! I live in NW Florida and I am a Professional Babysitter of Incarcerated Adults and a volleyball official. I own a 2002 Mazda MX-5 LS, a 2014 Ford Focus ST, and a 1986 Toyota MR2. I love F1, the Philadelphia Eagles, FSU Seminoles, Premier League, Bicycling, Craft Beers, Cigars.

Looking forward to the Slate Truck. I hope the price point and the govt. EV incentives remain the same. I've got zero EV ownership. I've test driven a Porsche Taycan S and have been in an Uber in 3 different Tesla models. The Slate will be my daily and we will get rid of my wife's car and she can daily my Focus ST.

 

[Driven5]

To keep this going...

I've been following this produce since launch and see a lot of potential in this nifty little electric truck. I'm in early consideration stages for a not-boring runabout to compliment my F150, and this definitely seems to be a contender. There can't be many other people cross shopping the Slate with a Miata.

 

[EverythingSlate]

Hello! My name is Dale! I’ve spent my career in aviation, apache electronics and weapon systems, robotics and automation and now a technologist for a leading jet engine manufacturer. I started everything slate on YouTube because it’s my belief this platform is different and this key difference scratches and itch for me. Over the last several years I’ve found myself becoming stronger in my advocacy and conviction for right to repair and non subscription model services for consumer goods. Like John deer tractors being “licensed” to their farmers and not being owned, hp deactivating full oem ink cartridges because the ink subscription lapsed and the software wouldn’t let them use the remaining ink. Subscription services for heated seats, seats that I bought!? I’ve truly hit my limit- sorry tangent-😅, but it’s my belief the Slate platform is different and based on interviews the entire company’s model is different and that is refreshing. For me this vehicle isn’t just a cool EV, it’s putting my money where my mouth is on new tech and trying to positively impact the future of tech and automotive by activly supporting it in any of the ways I can. Whether that’s through content creation, through community or through design.
Thanks for the positive welcome.

 

[Trace26]

Just saw this so I thought I'd add mine.
Car history:
1989 Chevy 1500, single cab, Long bed, v8/5M - Sold
1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula, in process restoration/engine swap
2018 Chevy Sonic hatchback RS, 6m - wrecked
2024 Mazda CX-90 (wife's car)
My background.
Studied in college for Physics/Engineering but after meeting my wife got an Engineering Technologies degree to graduate faster.
Currently run a fabrication/repair business as well as run the family ranch.
I'm excited about the Slate because I've been wanting someone to build a simple EV almost bought a Chevy Bolt on several occasions, but it never got me excited. The Slate on the other hand checks every box, mod-able, small, truck bed, and more. The Slate will be perfect for the work I do.

 

[Dorbiman]

Hey yall. I've been following since day one. I'm an engineer, formerly in the military. The Slate makes perfect sense for me and my daily usage & commute. I can't wait to take it and make it my own.

Vehicle History:
1978 Chevrolet Corvette (Sold)
1968 Chevrolet C10 (Sold)
1996 BMW Z3 1.9L (Sold)
1998 Subaru Legacy GT (Sold)
1998 VW Passat (Sold)
2001 Yamaha YZF1000R Thunderace (Sold)
2005 Pontiac GTO (Sold)
2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (Not Sold....yet)
2012 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (Sold)

 

[fuzzyweis]

Hello, I'm an existing EV truck owner and keeping my eye on the Slate as it may be a good option to consolidate. My EV Truck is a 2000 Ford Ranger electric, and very like the Slate, it came with roll up windows(I've updated to power windows), de dion rear suspension, single cab, upgradeable stereo, ease of repair. It also works great for house stuff, taking stuff to the dump, getting stuff from the hardware store, I've taken it to Radwood a couple of times.

Of course a major difference would be range. My truck has original NiMh batteries, range varies between 20-40 miles, I've done 50 around town after refreshing them but that's a stretch, refuel light came on a mile or so before I hit the actual 50th.

I also have a 2017 Chevy Bolt as my main commuter, over 100k miles, over 20k on the refreshed battery, and it works great, and we lease a 2024 Prologue for my wife's car.

Getting a Slate would allow me to trade out the Bolt and Ranger, and consolidate, still commute, but still do truck things, and I don't have any concerns on doing the update kits myself.

Lot to like about the Slate design so guess I'll just list some nice to haves. A bench seat, probably won't be done with modern safety regs but they're great for taking the dog on rides and just in general, maybe once they hit the market people will see what benches swap in ok. Also rear sliding window, this seems like an easy one to offer as the rear window will probably be fairly swappable with the SUV kit option. Also charge port location, I know Slate caters to the most popular US format, but I feel like the front like the Ranger has it is a really great spot, at home I either pull in or back in and can connect easy, with the port at the driver rear, it'd be a little trickier to charge at home.

Again I love my Ranger but to upgrade the batteries proper would be at least $10k, and it still wouldn't have dc fast charging. And having the Bolt I really don't need to, but would be nice to consolidate, especially with the flat EV registration fee in NC of $214.50 for "gas tax" when I put barely 1,000 miles on it a year, pay the same fee for our Bolt and Prologue but we daily those, can't have a cheap recreational EV in NC I guess.

Haven't reserved yet as I've literally just about got one at home, but keeping my eye on it. See attached photo of the Ranger and Bolt at a drive electric event.

Below photo of the Ranger and Bolt at a drive electric event, the Ranger always gets questions and looks so there's that too, but maybe the Slate will get some too.

-Jim