Dashboard Speakers DO NOT come standard, and more audio options in the works [confirmed]

[Swinefuzz]

I’m not suggesting that you tap into the vehicle’s battery as a DIY project. I’m suggesting that Slate has to do step down in order to support low voltage loads like charging cell phones and powering audio head units. If the step down already exists, why not make it extensible for other DIY DC loads? Make sense?

But it already is, If I'm understanding what you're saying/asking. The huge, main high-voltage battery pack that powers the vehicle's drivetrain also recharges the 12V aux battery, which is essentially a common car battery that powers lights, stereo, accessories, same as an ICE vehicle.

SA has already confirmed they're working on including V2L functionality, which means the Slate Truck should have 120V AC "household" ports to run things like power tools. No portable generator needed. The Slate truck is very much aimed at the work truck portion of the market, so most likely their 12V battery intended for running accessories will be robust and not something you'd see in a common EV car that you'd never plug a skil saw into.

Or a blender to whip up an ume fruit smoothie. Loaded with antioxidants and other vital nutrients.

If SA is serious about capturing the fleet work truck market, they'll do a good job outfitting the Slate Truck with adequate equipment for the task.

 

[cvollers]

But it already is, If I'm understanding what you're saying/asking. The huge, main high-voltage battery pack that powers the vehicle's drivetrain also recharges the 12V aux battery, which is essentially a common car battery that powers lights, stereo, accessories, same as an ICE vehicle.

SA has already confirmed they're working on including V2L functionality, which means the Slate Truck should have 120V AC "household" ports to run things like power tools. No portable generator needed. The Slate truck is very much aimed at the work truck portion of the market, so most likely their 12V battery intended for running accessories will be robust and not something you'd see in a common EV car that you'd never plug a skil saw into.

Or a blender to whip up an ume fruit smoothie. Loaded with antioxidants and other vital nutrients.

If SA is serious about capturing the fleet work truck market, they'll do a good job outfitting the Slate Truck with adequate equipment for the task.

All of which makes sense and is accurate. I just don’t get the need for a 12v battery when you already have a 400v battery built into the vehicle. You just need a voltage step down converter.

But let’s say you are right. That additional 12v battery needs to be maintained. It needs a BMS and a DC-DC charger. It’s another point of failure and it certainly costs more than a converter. It’s also heavier and takes up more physical space.

I just don’t think Slate would go in that direction.

As for AC loads, that’s easy. A DC-AC inverter can handle that connected to either the converter (12v in) or the 400v battery.

 

[cvollers]

All of which makes sense and is accurate. I just don’t get the need for a 12v battery when you already have a 400v battery built into the vehicle. You just need a voltage step down converter.

But let’s say you are right. That additional 12v battery needs to be maintained. It needs a BMS and a DC-DC charger. It’s another point of failure and it certainly costs more than a converter. It’s also heavier and takes up more physical space.

I just don’t think Slate would go in that direction.

As for AC loads, that’s easy. A DC-AC inverter can handle that connected to either the converter (12v in) or the 400v battery.

From ChatGPT:

 

[Blackspots76]

From ChatGPT:

In the Cybertruck, it goes from 800V to 48V, then 12V for traditional 12V stuff.

 

[Mac-Tyson]

I basically asked Slate if add-on speakers are as far as they’re going with audio upgrades.

“You’re right that the base configuration includes dashboard-mounted speakers, and currently that’s the standard option in the single cab build. We designed Slate to keep things simple and flexible, and for many, the dash setup works great for basic audio needs.

That said, you’re absolutely not alone in wanting a more immersive sound experience! We’re actively exploring additional options, including door speaker mounts and a potential subwoofer upgrade, especially as more customers look to personalize their builds. Some of these upgrades may become available as aftermarket kits or part of our growing accessory lineup, especially in SUV configurations.

We’ll be sharing updates as audio options expand, and your feedback is exactly what helps us prioritize what comes next.”

Makes me wonder if the Bluetooth Speaker Mount is an option that actually decreases the price of the Base Slate truck.

 

[Benjamin Nead]

Boy, I'd really be surprised if the Slate's battery is built around an 800V architecture. Most mainstream EVs - from present day Tesla 3s and Ys on down to 14 year old Nissan Leafs - in North America these days are 400V cars.

Also, with the exception of Tesla's Cybertruck, I think most cars in North America - EVs or otherwise - are still 12V for things like lights and accessories. Tesla, in fact, has been prompting the rest of the industry to move to 48V for at least the past few years. Here's an article from December 2023 that explains what's going on there . . .

https://electrek.co/2023/12/07/tesl...e-with-other-automakers-to-move-the-industry/

So, I'm willing to bet the farm that our new favorite entry level EV Truck - with so much reliance on legacy and mainstream Rust Belt supply chain OEM stuff - is going to have 12V lead acid "starter" battery and a 400V NMC traction pack. Tesla, apparently, has been using a 16V LFP pack for accessories since 2022 for Model 3s and Ys (and presumably for Ss and Xs.)

As for V2L, all of that is typically a direct DC tap off the vehicle's traction pack (again, in the 400V range) that requires DC-to-AC conversion for integrating to 240V AC on a house's service panel. I'm going to guess that Slate will develop around an already-available product. Also, I couldn't find anything recent to indicate that the J3400 interface is even ready for bidirectional DC flow. Google AI says the following . . .

While the J3400 standard (which is based on the North American Charging System, NACS, connector) is on the growth path for bidirectional charging, it
currently does not officially support it for consumers.

Here's why and how it's evolving:

• V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) allows unidirectional power flow from the EV to an external device or even a home.
• V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) and V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) are bidirectional technologies that allow energy to flow both into and out of the EV battery, requiring a specific setup including bidirectional EV chargers.
• J3400 is compatible with protocols that enable bidirectional charging (V2L, V2G, V2H).
• However, implementing bidirectional charging with J3400 requires vehicle firmware support and an inverter/transfer switch in the home to convert the EV's DC voltage to the grid-compatible AC voltage.
• As of April 2024, the only consumer vehicle with a CCS port for bidirectional charging is the Ford F-150 Lightning.
• Ford is motivated to overcome this limitation with J3400.
• The SAE J3400/2 standard, which was published in June 2025, specifically addresses the physical architecture of EV connectors for bidirectional power transfer.
• J3400 is expected to become eligible for more federal funding beginning in 2025.

In summary, while the J3400 standard is being developed to support bidirectional charging, it's not yet a standard feature on all J3400-equipped EVs. The capability depends on the specific vehicle model and requires additional hardware and software for full functionality.

 

[Saint Alban]

**Update**
Slate just sent me a correction. It actually DOES NOT come with speakers after all.

“We wanted to follow up and clarify an important detail from our previous message. It turns out we shared incorrect information regarding the audio system: the Slate does notcome standard with built-in speakers or a factory audio system. The audio system in your Slate is completely up to you!”

 

[cadblu]

OP and/or Admin:

I think the title of this thread should be edited to say,

Dashboard speakers DO NOT come standard - confirmed!

 

[Saint Alban]

OP and/or Admin:

I think the title of this thread should be edited to say,

Dashboard speakers DO NOT come standard - confirmed!

Done

 

[cvollers]

Boy, I'd really be surprised if the Slate's battery is built around an 800V architecture. Most mainstream EVs - from present day Tesla 3s and Ys on down to 14 year old Nissan Leafs - in North America these days are 400V cars.

Also, with the exception of Tesla's Cybertruck, I think most cars in North America - EVs or otherwise - are still 12V for things like lights and accessories. Tesla, in fact, has been prompting the rest of the industry to move to 48V for at least the past few years. Here's an article from December 2023 that explains what's going on there . . .

https://electrek.co/2023/12/07/tesl...e-with-other-automakers-to-move-the-industry/

So, I'm willing to bet the farm that our new favorite entry level EV Truck - with so much reliance on legacy and mainstream Rust Belt supply chain OEM stuff - is going to have 12V lead acid "starter" battery and a 400V NMC traction pack. Tesla, apparently, has been using a 16V LFP pack for accessories since 2022 for Model 3s and Ys (and presumably for Ss and Xs.)

As for V2L, all of that is typically a direct DC tap off the vehicle's traction pack (again, in the 400V range) that requires DC-to-AC conversion for integrating to 240V AC on a house's service panel. I'm going to guess that Slate will develop around an already-available product. Also, I couldn't find anything recent to indicate that the J3400 interface is even ready for bidirectional DC flow. Google AI says the following . . .

While the J3400 standard (which is based on the North American Charging System, NACS, connector) is on the growth path for bidirectional charging, it
currently does not officially support it for consumers.

Here's why and how it's evolving:

• V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) allows unidirectional power flow from the EV to an external device or even a home.
• V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) and V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) are bidirectional technologies that allow energy to flow both into and out of the EV battery, requiring a specific setup including bidirectional EV chargers.
• J3400 is compatible with protocols that enable bidirectional charging (V2L, V2G, V2H).
• However, implementing bidirectional charging with J3400 requires vehicle firmware support and an inverter/transfer switch in the home to convert the EV's DC voltage to the grid-compatible AC voltage.
• As of April 2024, the only consumer vehicle with a CCS port for bidirectional charging is the Ford F-150 Lightning.
• Ford is motivated to overcome this limitation with J3400.
• The SAE J3400/2 standard, which was published in June 2025, specifically addresses the physical architecture of EV connectors for bidirectional power transfer.
• J3400 is expected to become eligible for more federal funding beginning in 2025.

In summary, while the J3400 standard is being developed to support bidirectional charging, it's not yet a standard feature on all J3400-equipped EVs. The capability depends on the specific vehicle model and requires additional hardware and software for full functionality.

Pretty sure they have already stated it will be 400v.

 

[Luxrage]

I've been looking at the audio configurator so far in the Slate builder and I don't like the idea of the speakers in that little cubby pointed straight at the passengers face, AND that they're inside the cubbies:

In my Geo the two 4'' speakers for the front of the truck are dash-mounted, but they're mounted facing downwards in the dash. In a perfect world I'd love a double-din hole and a set of door speakers, but if it means taking a 6'' hole saw to those little bottom door panels and running my own wires through the door harness I'll do what I have to do.

Picture lifted from google:

I know I've been bringing up the Geo too much when Slate pictures are showing up in Tracker search results LOL

 

[cvollers]

I've been looking at the audio configurator so far in the Slate builder and I don't like the idea of the speakers in that little cubby pointed straight at the passengers face, AND that they're inside the cubbies:

In my Geo the two 4'' speakers for the front of the truck are dash-mounted, but they're mounted facing downwards in the dash. In a perfect world I'd love a double-din hole and a set of door speakers, but if it means taking a 6'' hole saw to those little bottom door panels and running my own wires through the door harness I'll do what I have to do.

Picture lifted from google:

I know I've been bringing up the Geo too much when Slate pictures are showing up in Tracker search results LOL

Door speakers are the way to go. Maybe tweeters in the top of the dash in the corners. No central speaker is needed nor wanted. Hopefully room for a small sub under the passenger seat.

 

[danielt1263]

What about bluetooth speakers in the doors? That way you don't need to add any wires. (power is already going into the door to control the locks.)

Can you tell I'm not too interested in speakers? A bluetooth speaker hanging from the dash and connected to my phone is all I need.