Monro & Associates has done many breakdowns of EDUs from Tesla and other OEMs. Given their relationship with Slate, I have to believe that the JJE EDM has been thoroughly vetted. Perhaps even improved if necessary.
I know that there is plenty of things that can go wrong, but this is a remarkable overall plan. Make the factory production line as simple as possible by building essentially one product. Have a potentially unlimited number of accessories available that are delivered with Amazon-caliber efficiency.
Slate is not just any EV either, it was designed from the start to be as simple as possible. It therefore over time should have low maintenance costs. And I always DIY any repair that I can.
No front wheel drive eliminates 1/2 of the drive train parts. Plus there is therefore no front motor or...
This is a very helpful article to understand the costs of EV versus ICE vehicles. The one comment I have is that is does not discuss off-peak rates that many utilities offer. I always charge at off-peak hours, and I suggest anyone considering an EV check their local rates.
The beetle was rear wheel drive with the engine mounted directly over the rear wheels. Sound familiar? It drove through snow better than you would expect for a car that size. And if you had a problem, it was light enough that you could just get a couple of your buddies to help push it out...
Here is a broader drawing of this building. Note the outside parking. I have been looking for effective ways to support EV charging in apartment complexes. This is one idea.
Assumptions:
- Average driver does 13,596 miles/year, 1,133 miles/month, 37 miles/day.
- Per the website, Slate...
Slate has clearly had its eye on the fleet market from the beginning. Remember the wraps such as "Witch on Demand", "Feline Therapist" and "CryShare".
I can imagine Slate collocating an accessory shop with the factory to apply the wraps and any other accessories required for a fleet order. It...
This article points out the opportunity that Slate has. They are proposing a cost-effective work/commuter truck that gives many of us of fond memories of vehicles that we drove in the 80s and 90s. And we don't need to pay for extras we don't want but can deck it out to whatever level we choose...
This is the same charging routine that I use: 90% most of the time, 100% when a trip is planned. Don't really worry about it but the car is typically at 50-60% when I charge. The result is that I have not yet had any issue with range in over a year when driving locally. As a backup, there is a...
Tesla has been successful with EV manufacturing, so hopefully the Tesla hires bring important experience and help enabling Slate to succeed.
It strikes me however the Slate manufacturing approach is very different compared to Tesla.
Tesla uses large gigafactories that are integrated with the...
It would seem late in the cycle to change batteries and hold to the current production schedule.
My guess is that this is a negotiation strategy. Slate to SK On: "we have lost the tax incentive, so we need a better price to make this product competitive in the market."
If so, Slate will use...
Thanks for the heads up on this. Obviously, I was unaware of the interference issue and the possible legislation. That picture of that ridiculous 1960s style radio I posted seemed a lot funnier before....
A mandate is not required here. If an owner wants to install an AM radio, there will be many options.
I mentioned this to a friend of mine and his response was: "Back in the day I attached a "transistor radio" to the dash of my old truck that did not have a radio." Worked great.
$10 on Amazon.
It struck me that you mentioned Sandy Munro. Looking back through his videos, for several years he has been a fan of Tesla vehicles and manufacturing strategy. He and therefor Slate understand the ins and outs and cost tradeoffs.
Tesla builds cars in Gigafactories that are integrated with the...
So I think that we have established that doc fees are not really about the cost of submitting documentation and destination charges are not really about shipping the vehicle. They can pretty much be anything the seller wants. They just must be disclosed.
Since the maximum doc fee in Indiana is...
I chose Minimalist Design but for a kind of nerdy reason. Watching the Munro Live video, I was struck by the simplicity and elegance of this design. EVs have always had the potential to be the simplest and most reliable of vehicles, and this Slate truck fulfills this potential.
The drive train...