🔋 The Extended Battery Decision (Poll: Which battery option suits you best?)

[Luxrage]

I'm in the middle between a standard and extended range. I calculated the longest 'errand' trip I would possibly take and it is 180 miles. With the Standard range that's one charge session in the middle. Not terrible, and there's chargers in some decent spots. Comes down to that trip vs. lugging around the larger battery all the time for a trip I probably do once every two or three months.

 

[sodamo]

I'm in the middle between a standard and extended range. I calculated the longest 'errand' trip I would possibly take and it is 180 miles. With the Standard range that's one charge session in the middle. Not terrible, and there's chargers in some decent spots. Comes down to that trip vs. lugging around the larger battery all the time for a trip I probably do once every two or three months.

Similar here. I have 1 trip 160 miles, avg 5x a year. Cost to use my ice instead, less than $3k over 10 years.

 

[AZFox]

I asked how much weight the Extended Battery option adds to the Truck and how much the Extended Battery option reduces payload capacity

Kylee from the Sales Agent Team gave a prompt and courteous reply.

Excellent questions!​

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We are just a few months shy of our production and sharing more design and material details about the overall build.​

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While I would love to provide the detail you are in search of we ask that you hold tight. We have many things in store.​

 

[Dorbiman]

A few months away seems optimistic! Last I read, they were still overhauling the plant, prepping for concrete as I recall.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

If I'm being honest, 99.999% of my days are less that 50 miles round trip. And we have a second ICE CUV for longer trips. So I should rationally want the smaller, lighter, less expensive battery. Soooo...

Of course I want the bigger battery.

 

[AZFox]

A few months away seems optimistic! Last I read, they were still overhauling the plant, prepping for concrete as I recall.

I'm noticing a pattern.

• $27,499 is in the "mid 20's" for the price.
• Christmas Day is "late next year" for production to begin.

I presume Kaylee means whatever the upper boundary of "just a few months" is.

 

[Roy]

Have to go extended, live in Montana, EV charge station desert.

 

[SlateModGarage]

Sadly I would like it without the bigger battery but my commute is 75 miles one way.

 

[EverythingSlate]

I think short range electric vehicles do more to perpetuate the prevalence of charge anxiety than they do to serve the broader market. Imo they reinforce the idea that EVs are inherently limited, when in reality, the issue is often a matter of infrastructure and design priorities and not the technology itself.

 

[KevinRS]

Many people equate range to a "tank of gas" which leads to anxiety. Most should be setting up to charge at home, so that means you are basically topping off every night.
The real question is how far do you drive in a day?
What is the farthest you will regularly be driving? Once every couple of months or so I drive as far as about 72 miles round trip. A few times a year I visit family 120 miles away, for a few days. There I could either plug in at level 1, or find one of multiple level 3 chargers within a mile or 2. If needed, I could stop somewhere along the way and get a quick top off.
For the occasional longer road trip, it may be cheaper to rent a car than to pay for the upgraded battery. Resale value will be higher with the upgraded battery, but nothing close to what you pay for it.
These trucks will probably continue to be used even after 10-20 years, even if the battery drops to half capacity, because it would still work for short trips to work or a hardware store to haul stuff back.

 

[hbuck]

Back to the Extended Battery decision...

I'm compiling a list of Battery Buzzkills in a text document. Here it is so far:

• Carrying (or towing) extra weight
• Rolling on alternative tires (All-Terrain tires in particular)
• Extreme weather conditions (cold in particular)
• Where you're driving (e.g. highway vs. city)
• Your driving style (e.g. jackrabbit vs. smooth starts)
• Age of the battery

Not claiming it's exhaustive. Just throwing those out there for consideration.

My main use for the Slate is a second vehicle and being towed behind my RV. The Slate will be filled with electric bike, and propane bottles, and my grill and charcoal. My driving will be two my wife and little dog . So I’m thinking I might go with the regular battery if the cost is 4000 more. Hopefully by the start of production a better standard battery will be available.

 

[Letas]

Back to the OT...

So far the Battery Buzzkill that surprises me the most is Highway Speed.

Check this out:

Traveling at highway speeds significantly reduces electric vehicle (EV) range, with studies showing that increasing speed from 55 mph to 75 mph can decrease range by up to 109 miles in some models. For example, the Lucid Air saw a drop from 378 miles to 290 miles, while the Kia EV9 lost 109 miles over the same speed change. In general, driving at higher speeds increases energy consumption due to aerodynamic drag, which becomes more pronounced as speed increases.​

*grabs calculator*
That's a 23% drop for the Lucid.
The Kia's loss was 32% (339 vs. 230).

Sheesh. Factor in the Slate's "sleek and aerodynamic" design, plus the 80/20 rule... That 150mi turns into <70 real fast.

 

[KevinRS]

We need to see what the real range numbers are. The 150 miles might be accounting for the 80/20 rule. The 80/20 rule is for everyday use anyway, occasional 100/5 trips aren't going to hurt, and are needed to calibrate the battery range.