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

[atx_ev]

S

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

He posts a lot and I have never him post a positive comment about the slate.

 

[E90400K]

He posts a lot and I have never him post a positive comment about the slate.

Here's one.

Most of my comments on the forum are about the business model and the business execution of getting the Truck to market and the acceptability of the Truck by the market.

The actual truck I really like. I think the outdated manual windows is more of gimmick rather than necessary to reduce the price (especially since Slate has engineered an electric window option) and I think not including electrically adjustable mirrors is an oversight. Also, I think Slate should have used existing round glass halogen headlamps that have been standard in the industry for decades and are still in production by many manufacturers. For example, Wagner H5006 lamps are $11.00 retail. I love the use of plastic body panels and the spaceframe architecture (the Fiero is one of my favorite automobiles). And I think Slate should offer just a few additional MIC colors than gray, which I do not think would significantly add to the cost of producing the Truck, at least not more than the $500 to $1,000 it may cost to wrap it. But none of those issues I have with the truck will keep me from considering buying it once my reservation number comes up.

Review my posts and you'll find I have stated the above many times in many threads.

 

[KevinRS]

Halogens are basically outdated. I believe they are going with a modernized LED version of the same lamps, those LED versions have been available for years if not multiple decades, and use less power, meaning you can drive a bit farther.
One color is 1 line, and grey is the easiest and cheapest to do. Add a second color and you have a duplicate of every body part, duplicate all the tooling needed to make those parts, because it won't be efficient to swap colors and have to purge the machines.

 

[sodamo]

Halogens are basically outdated. I believe they are going with a modernized LED version of the same lamps, those LED versions have been available for years if not multiple decades, and use less power, meaning you can drive a bit farther.
One color is 1 line, and grey is the easiest and cheapest to do. Add a second color and you have a duplicate of every body part, duplicate all the tooling needed to make those parts, because it won't be efficient to swap colors and have to purge the machines.

Save it, he doesn’t accept any rational disagreeing with his multi color panel approach.

 

[E90400K]

Save it, he doesn’t accept any rational disagreeing with his multi color panel approach.

I never suggested multi-color panels (the 1970's are over). I think the panels should all be one solid color; I just think Slate should offer more than just Slate Gray as a color.

 

[AZFox]

Speaking of the body panel material...

Given that "highlighting rather than hiding battle scars is key to the Slate ethos" according to Tisha Johnson, they should probably mention that every once in a while.

I'm not sure most people are expecting their daily driver to accumulate highlighted battle scars.

 

[KevinRS]

Speaking of the body panel material...

Given that "highlighting rather than hiding battle scars is key to the Slate ethos" according to Tisha Johnson, they should probably mention that every once in a while.

I'm not sure most people are expecting their daily driver to accumulate highlighted battle scars.

I think that is kind of optional.
With the base panels and no wrap, things like parking lot incidents that on other cars result in scratches, paint chips, and minor dents and dings, it will just shrug off. If the other car leaves some paint behind, or even leaves a minor gouge, those can be buffed out. A full on fender bender type hit that means a body shop for other vehicles for a 1 panel repair and repaint with blending to adjacent panels, just maybe cracks a Slate panel, so you order a replacement panel and swap.

If it's bad enough that the steel framing underneath is bent, body shop just to pull it back into alignment.

If it's wrapped, just rewrap anything short of a busted panel.