Article: Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman tells us how exactly it’s making a $25,000 EV

[E90400K]

I'm just happy to see someone else banging the Fiero drum, that's the vehicle I've been most comparing the Slate to. I just hope they can figure out a cost effective way to make those composite panels on the cheap. Even Honda went away from them on the last 3 years of Element, instead opting for full steel fenders.

The crank window thing also baffles me, I don't hate it on my Geo or my old LTD that had them, but I was expecting that would be to eliminate any wiring harness going to the door. It still has the power locks (It'll be interesting for the Slate owners who opt to take the doors off). Jeeps have that big ol' harness sticking out:

The Fiero has had a huge impact on the automotive landscape despite, like most things GM, being generally pissed on by the uninformed public.

 

[cadblu]

Not to throw more gasoline on the fire (pun intended) but I find it interesting that we can all 2nd and 3rd guess Slate's design decisions while we are only spectators. Did anyone notice Sandy's reaction to Cap EX (at the end of the Munroe video) where he pretends to gag himself? I've worked under these tense situations, and you need to know that justifying capital expenditures is a grueling task that can take months or longer. Even with favorable payback and ROI to satisfy the finance guys there will still be those that stand in the way. Examples...Those crank windows are more of a throwback vintage quirky feature than a cost savings measure. It will actually cost more to engineer the power window add on kit than to have installed them as standard equipment. Also, Slate made a conscious decision to outsource their underbody and space frame stampings as the Cap Ex for this would have been cost prohibitive. I can't say much on the FRP panels but as others have aptly pointed out, those aren't exactly cheap. There may be long term production quality issues with those FRP panels, more likely than using stampings, but time will tell. Maybe things work more efficiently in a startup where the CEO is heavily involved in every design decision.

I also agree that wrapping a vehicle is way more complex than Slate would like you to believe. My associate wrapped his car as a novice, after watching all the videos, and it still took 80 hours in total. And trust me, you will not get the same results as a professional. That said, I think I will have it installed for an extra $300, money well spent. That $800 (total job) is way less expensive than those custom Tesla colors e.g., ultra red metallic that will add $2500 to the bottom line.

 

[Trace26]

Note that GM abandoned its spaceframe/plastic panel architecture decades ago, which could be reasoning that it turned out in the end not to be less expensive to produce(?). So, my thought here is, what is Slate doing different than GM to make the spaceframe/plastic panel architecture financially viable?

I think I can help some with this question. It's the paint. Painting the plastic panels cost more than painting metal. The composite panels aren't any cheaper, but they don't need to be painted or coated. The Fiero is known for being difficult to paint if you don't know what your doing because it needs a good primer.
That's my 2 cents.

 

[evtruth]

@motorolas found a good article that has an informative interview of Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman.

Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman tells us how exactly it’s making a $25,000 EV -- The automotive veteran explains why her company can deliver a cheap electric vehicle when others, like Tesla, have failed.

Here's a link to @motorolas' likable post.

Love how the author specifically outed Tesla when they have one of the cheapest EVs you can buy, lol.

 

[bartflossom]

I have no problem with the manual windows. I have a problem with the fact that they TURN THE WRONG WAY! AUGGGH!... (but I'll get over it).....(but I bet I sprain my wrist the first 5 times I use it.)

 

[AZFox]

I've been curious why GM moved away from the technology too.

GM lost their way quite a while ago, IMHO.

The public is catching on. The video in this thread has 468K views now (3 weeks since upload).

Private Ownership of Slate Auto is a superpower.

 

[GaRailroader]

I have no problem with the manual windows. I have a problem with the fact that they TURN THE WRONG WAY! AUGGGH!... (but I'll get over it).....(but I bet I sprain my wrist the first 5 times I use it.)

It's been a few years since I have had a manual window car. My recollection is rotate forward for windows down and rotate backwards for windows up. These are opposite to that?

 

[cvollers]

S

So you are definitely not interested in purchasing one then huh? We’ll put you down as a definite No - Negative Nelly.

Or just permanent Devil’s advocate.

 

[Letas]

It’s not this post, it’s every post you have placed here. So, bye for now as he hits the ‘ignore’ button in the profile of @E90400K .

I think it's okay to be skeptical. An echo chamber of positivity doesn't do much good for a car that won't see the public for at least a year. We know Slate is looking at online sources, maybe a head honcho will get a whiff of what the public is thinking.


I have a reservation in, but I'm not 100% committed to purchasing a Slate. I am committed to learning a ton about it and being well informed about it!

 

[Garbone]

Manual windows allow the doors to be removed without fighting a janky wire harness and connector. The cost savings are not only in the windows and motors but also in the wiring to feed such. Of course we have to see what installing the electrics involves but my 2 cents.

 

[Letas]

Manual windows allow the doors to be removed without fighting a janky wire harness and connector. The cost savings are not only in the windows and motors but also in the wiring to feed such. Of course we have to see what installing the electrics involves but my 2 cents.

Wiped out the moment you install door speakers.

Will the locks not be electric? How often are we taking the doors off a Slate?

 

[Garbone]

Wiped out the moment you install door speakers.

Will the locks not be electric? How often are we taking the doors off a Slate?

Plan on a Bimini and no doors... Debating if a marine rated head unit would be a good idea.

 

[SlatePossible2028]

It’s not this post, it’s every post you have placed here. So, bye for now as he hits the ‘ignore’ button in the profile of @E90400K .

I've noticed this more and more - increasingly in internet discussing groups, if you point out flaws, issues, problems, concerns with X project there will now always be a subset of People telling you to be quiet.

The guy who posted what he did has every right to. He's clearly here as a fan like most of us are and has some input.

You know what proper fanbases do? They criticize. The best fan of something you can be is one who loudly calls out everything you see as wrong.

Don't try to silence people for that

 

[E90400K]

I've noticed this more and more - increasingly in internet discussing groups, if you point out flaws, issues, problems, concerns with X project there will now always be a subset of People telling you to be quiet.

The guy who posted what he did has every right to. He's clearly here as a fan like most of us are and has some input.

You know what proper fanbases do? They criticize. The best fan of something you can be is one who loudly calls out everything you see as wrong.

Don't try to silence people for that

Thanks. Perfectly said.

And I've not criticized anything as wrong really, I am just curious how Slate's management has come to some of the conclusions based on how I understand things to be. I see things a bit differently but obviously these are serious, smart, and highly experienced people who know a whole universe more than I do about building automobiles. I'm sure they have done the mathematics every way including Sunday to assure themselves they are executing the most successful plan they can devise.

It's exciting and it's fantastic to see a fourth American EV company stand up and legitimately attempt another EV startup.

 

[Luxrage]

Manual windows allow the doors to be removed without fighting a janky wire harness and connector. The cost savings are not only in the windows and motors but also in the wiring to feed such. Of course we have to see what installing the electrics involves but my 2 cents.

They've shown power door locks in the builds they have so far. So it's at least two wires for that. As long as you can cap off whatever connector they've got with something water-tight I would think it wouldn't be so bad, but we haven't seen them actually show off a real doorless Slate yet.