CNBC Video: Can Bezos-Backed Slate Build An Affordable EV Truck In The U.S.?

[atx_ev]

Nobody mention AWD!

I 100% want AWD. But the reality is in my tundra, over 15 years, ive only had to use it for one week in an ice storm and a few other times where I thought it might be better to have it on.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I 100% want AWD. But the reality is in my tundra, over 15 years, ive only had to use it for one week in an ice storm and a few other times where I thought it might be better to have it on.

Two motors better than one when it comes to faster takeoff though. Some of us who have to deal with higher speeds roadways need every advantage possible in getting to highway speed fast. So, AWD has some advantages for various terrains, but even more on highway “mergers and acquisitions”, as I call them in ATL. My $0.02…

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I don't know that there is a better use case for EV with regenerative braking than some USPS routes. My neighborhood is 1 acre lots, with pairs of mailboxes on one side, in front of each house. So they are stopping every 160 feet or so. So they are idling at each box, and gunning the gas and hitting the brake to stop every 160 feet, every day.

100%. Would be much more cost effective than some $65K/unit units rolling around now. Put the steering wheel and pedals on right if you get an order of, say, 100K units?

 

[OldMetal]

Aren't most people buying Slates as a secand car or for city driving? Slate isn't tring to be everything for everybody. But if this is a second car or you drive less than 100 miles a day, this is an interesting option, especially if Slate can keep the price point down (and maybe improve on the 8 second 0-60 time).

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Aren't most people buying Slates as a secand car or for city driving? Slate isn't tring to be everything for everybody. But if this is a second car or you drive less than 100 miles a day, this is an interesting option, especially if Slate can keep the price point down (and maybe improve on the 8 second 0-60 time).

3rd car….unless it goes to my current teen. But might flex to be my daily driver if I love it? Currently slated (yup) to replace my golf cart (no doors and open air) and be our goof-around ride around the hood….maybe get it to the beach for a week?

 

[KevinRS]

It looks like there are lots of cars out there with 0-60 times higher than 8 seconds.
There is a site that lists times for hundreds of cars, I drive a versa, looks like no versa is under 9 seconds, some are 10. I'm sure that site is weighted with fast cars, but there are plenty on the list that are slower than 8 seconds,

 

[Dorbiman]

It looks like there are lots of cars out there with 0-60 times higher than 8 seconds.
There is a site that lists times for hundreds of cars, I drive a versa, looks like no versa is under 9 seconds, some are 10. I'm sure that site is weighted with fast cars, but there are plenty on the list that are slower than 8 seconds,

This seems like such a non issue to me lol. I wouldn’t mind having a faster 0-60 time, but it’s just not even close to being a concern

 

[Doctors Do Little]

This seems like such a non issue to me lol. I wouldn’t mind having a faster 0-60 time, but it’s just not even close to being a concern

Especially since top speed is 90. This won’t be a major interstate ride. But will suit many other use cases!

 

[KevinRS]

Even the 90 mph stated top speed... who drives OVER 90? in a pickup truck?
With the way damage scales with speed, a crash at 90 isn't likely survivable without a real rollcage and 4 point restraints. 80+ mph crashes are the ones where the engine is a block down the street, here is the back axle, the driver is in pieces in a field.
I know I've hit 80 at times, but don't think I've ever gone past 85, and I try not to do either.

Also, that "top speed" doesn't mean it's a hard limit, battery probably drops even faster if you go past it though.

 

[cadblu]

Even the 90 mph stated top speed... who drives OVER 90? in a pickup truck?
With the way damage scales with speed, a crash at 90 isn't likely survivable without a real rollcage and 4 point restraints. 80+ mph crashes are the ones where the engine is a block down the street, here is the back axle, the driver is in pieces in a field.
I know I've hit 80 at times, but don't think I've ever gone past 85, and I try not to do either.

Also, that "top speed" doesn't mean it's a hard limit, battery probably drops even faster if you go past it though.

I think you just nailed it. Just try to imagine driving this thing at 90 mph and hit a large bump, perhaps biased to one side. It will likely pitch, buck and roll like a wild bronco (no pun intended) and may even overturn like the old Suzuki Samurai's

I think we need to drive this truck very conservatively; it obviously is not built for speed.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Even the 90 mph stated top speed... who drives OVER 90? in a pickup truck?
With the way damage scales with speed, a crash at 90 isn't likely survivable without a real rollcage and 4 point restraints. 80+ mph crashes are the ones where the engine is a block down the street, here is the back axle, the driver is in pieces in a field.
I know I've hit 80 at times, but don't think I've ever gone past 85, and I try not to do either.

Also, that "top speed" doesn't mean it's a hard limit, battery probably drops even faster if you go past it though.

Even the 90 mph stated top speed... who drives OVER 90? in a pickup truck?
With the way damage scales with speed, a crash at 90 isn't likely survivable without a real rollcage and 4 point restraints. 80+ mph crashes are the ones where the engine is a block down the street, here is the back axle, the driver is in pieces in a field.
I know I've hit 80 at times, but don't think I've ever gone past 85, and I try not to do either.

Also, that "top speed" doesn't mean it's a hard limit, battery probably drops even faster if you go past it though.

well….I’ve been known to on I75 in ATL…keeping with traffic in left 3 lanes when NOT in rush hour. But only bc F150 5.0 would do it without much fuss.
Would not attempt left lanes in the Slate.

 

[AZFox]

Also, that "top speed" doesn't mean it's a hard limit, battery probably drops even faster if you go past it though.

The top speed may be limited by motor RPM.

When I got my golf cart I grabbed a GPS and tested its top speed going slightly downhill. Result: 27mph. The I turned around and checked it going slightly uphill on the same stretch. Same result! Wasn't expecting that.

If top speed is limited by motor RPM, changing tire diameter will affect what top speed is achievable.

 

[Trace26]

A 0-60 in 8 seconds will make this the second fastest vehicle I've owned 😂 honestly most people don't even use the "3,4,6,whatever" 0-60. 8 seconds is plenty to keep up with most traffic because the average 0-60 of cars today is 6-10 secs.