Extended battery price? Another clue... "less than SUV kit"

[Shrink36s]

I'm worried that the only model available is going to be a $28500 extended-range unit, but the headline price will be a $23999 standard-range that isn't available for purchase in year 1. That wouldn't be the Slate ethos, but it would be a typical 2026 rug pull...

For just $1k the extended range upgrade would be easier to justify.

The cells for that much more capacity are more than $1k, so that isn’t going happen.
I am not worried about extended only. They’ve promised an affordable disrupter, and that is what they will try deliver, IMO. They have to be as cheap is possible.

 

[GaRailroader]

When you look at the new R2, the versions that are available in the near term are higher margin versions. I don’t think there will much difference in the margin percentage wise between standard range and extended range Slate.

 

[Jasman]

Have you browsed through the Slate FAQ?

Yes I have... multiple times..

 

[tubes]

The cells for that much more capacity are more than $1k, so that isn’t going happen.
I am not worried about extended only. They’ve promised an affordable disrupter, and that is what they will try deliver, IMO. They have to be as cheap is possible.

Yeah, my Milwaukee 5 AH M18 battery pack with 10 18650s costs $100 or more. There's no way $1k is going to happen. I think $3k would be a nice dream.

I do hope you are right and they don't pull the rug and offer both options.

 

[clofan]

I mean they could subsidize the cost with the expectation the early adopters help them gather data or test the waters for the extended range model.

Probably not, because there aren't a lot of unknowns. Selling ext range batteries at cost is not outside the realm of possibilities though.

 

[kvermeer]

When you look at the new R2, the versions that are available in the near term are higher margin versions. I don’t think there will much difference in the margin percentage wise between standard range and extended range Slate.

I want both of these takes to be true, but I'm curious about your rationale for them.

Value isn't one of Rivian's core values. It's not surprising that they did a bit of a "rug pull" by marketing a low-cost base trim and then only selling the high-cost AWD long-range trims; VW did the same with the ID4 5-seater that never came to the US and Tesla did the same with the Model S. But I don't think that Slate can try the same tactic without an astonishing and unexpected amount of hypocrisy, at least with the base "Blank Slate" model.

They certainly can (and I think most anticipate they will) make back some of that margin on center consoles and flower-pattern tail light covers, whether you think they can do the same with the extended range battery or SUV kit is less clear.

Yeah, my Milwaukee 5 AH M18 battery pack with 10 18650s costs $100 or more. There's no way $1k is going to happen. I think $3k would be a nice dream.

I think $4500 would be fair, but your Milwaukee pack is representative of the cost of vendor lock-in, not the cost of lithium ion batteries. At market rates, an 18650 is like $3, your tool battery should cost $30 not $100.

 

[tubes]

I think $4500 would be fair, but your Milwaukee pack is representative of the cost of vendor lock-in, not the cost of lithium ion batteries. At market rates, an 18650 is like $3, your tool battery should cost $30 not $100.

I think $4500 would not surprise me.

As for Milwaukee, they say: "BuT wE UsE tHE hIGHest QuAliTy aNd SaFE CeLLs."

And I say: but they go out of balance and are sh*t too quickly. Your point is well taken.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I think it was Slate's new CEO who said there is just a single SKU. That leads me to believe that every blank Slate would have the same battery size, with the lower-range model being software-locked.

Have you browsed through the Slate FAQ?

Yes I have... multiple times..

Slate's website has this to say about their battery offerings:
Slate FAQ | Vehicle Details

What is the battery range?

The Slate has a projected range of 150 miles* and is designed and engineered to get you through most local daily driving needs. A longer-range battery pack extends the range to a projected 240 miles.*

Overall, range is about more than just the size of the battery. Here are some key things to consider.

*Slate’s projected range estimates are based upon the EPA test cycle and official EPA estimated ranges will be provided when available.


Want more specs? Here’s a handy chart.

Their Specs Page also lists two batteries:

RANGE:

• Standard battery: 150 miles projected*
• Extended battery: 240 miles projected*

I'm not aware that a software limited battery has been mentioned. If you have a link to this news from the new Slate CEO, please let us know.

 

[GaRailroader]

I want both of these takes to be true, but I'm curious about your rationale for them.

Value isn't one of Rivian's core values. It's not surprising that they did a bit of a "rug pull" by marketing a low-cost base trim and then only selling the high-cost AWD long-range trims; VW did the same with the ID4 5-seater that never came to the US and Tesla did the same with the Model S. But I don't think that Slate can try the same tactic without an astonishing and unexpected amount of hypocrisy, at least with the base "Blank Slate" model.

They certainly can (and I think most anticipate they will) make back some of that margin on center consoles and flower-pattern tail light covers, whether you think they can do the same with the extended range battery or SUV kit is less clear.

I agree. I don't think Slate is going to command significantly higher margin on the extended range battery over the standard range. I don't think they will only offer the extended range version only out of the gate. I think they would be more likely to limit to only the standard range until supply chain fully ramps than vice versa. Just my opinion though.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Oh great. Had mine removed in the 90’s. That was the first time a doctor told me I should be dead already.

huh i get the same reaction but with shock like "how are you still standing and talking normally" (note i had a fever of a 115) best day of my life because my response was my ma told me to get up so i got up and walked

 

[BlackFlagBop]

(note i had a fever of a 115)

Congratulations on surviving what would have been tied for the highest fever ever recorded in human history..................

 

[atx_ev]

Telo is fascinating. They say they're going to be doing an initial 500 handbuilt "bay builds" in H2 2026. So I'm curious if they meet that target. They say if that goes well, they'll set up a low rate production line for the next 1,500.

Telo has a different audience. It's coastal Californians wanting something unique, EV, functional, high performing and manueverable in inner city traffic and parking. The whole Telo proposition won't appeal to your average Slate buyer, but I suspect Telo will do fine with a well-heeled niche audience in CA.

I'm not a Telo fanboy, but I'm cheering them on. Not a Slate fanboy either, but cheering Slate on too. The more the merrier.

The telo is interesting because it seats 5, has an 8 foot bed length with the midgate down, and is 152 inches - 30 inches shorter than the slate.

 

[atx_ev]

True. However, apparently everyone can function quite normally without one, but when they fail it can potentially kill you. Not an equitable trade-off if you ask me!

This got me thinking--What would be the vehicle equivalent of an appendix? The best corollary I could come up with is some emissions equipment. In most cases the vehicle can run just fine if you properly remove it, but if it fails it can potentially disable a vehicle. Therefore it's effectively worse than useless.

Perhaps the human appendix was also just a bureaucratic mandate in human creation/evolution/simulation?

(I fully expect a certain forum member to take the bait and run wild with this. You know who you are 🤓)

tundra has two secondary air injection pumps. Their only purpose is to optimize emissions when the car first starts. They are 2K each to replace and water can accumulate causing them to rust and fail. When they fail, the tundra goes into limp mode.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Congratulations on surviving what would have been tied for the highest fever ever recorded in human history..................

Lol yeah XD you should have seen the nurses faces they where absolutely in shock

 

[NMNeil]

Tesla would sell a customer a large battery for the cost of the smaller battery. They'd software limit battery capacity to what you paid for. And Tesla granted that customer the OPTION of unlocking the full capacity at a later date for the same differential they would have paid in the first place.

It's a no-brainer. You got what you paid for. If you wanted more, all you had to do was pay for it down the road. Without the hassle of trading your car. Everybody was a winner.

Didn't take long.
https://www.motortrend.com/news/tesla-unpatchable-jailbreak-hack