I think I am “over The Slate”

[beatle]

Any discussion of SLATE vs competition when it finally goes into production should also consider how the competition will react. If the SLATE becomes a hit, all the competition has to do is drop their product prices on their low-end EVs to predatory levels, capturing those looking for the SLATE as a low-cost entry level EV (as opposed to those wanting the 2-door pickup form factor) and they'll clobber SLATE before it gets a chance to turn a profit. SLATE may have to contend with cutthroat pricing competition that they won't be able to absorb, where the competition can sell some models at a loss as long as they have others filling their pots.

Next year is going to be interesting.

I don't think traditional automakers will swing low to undercut the Slate. Even if they do, dealers will likely mark up the product. Just look at the Maverick's pricing rollercoaster.

They also risk undercutting their own higher priced vehicles by creating such a gap that upselling someone to a Ranger will be nigh on impossible if the base Maverick is $8k less than the base Ranger.

Further, if someone isn't cross shopping all cheap EVs, and instead fhey want a cheap (or just small) 2 door truck, the Slate is in a class of its own.

 

[AZFox]

My fear for Slate is the market for just a small 2-door trucklet with limited functionality is actually pretty small.

Depends on what you mean by pretty small.

They only need to attract fewer than 1% of a vast number of new car buyers, and used car shoppers will consider owning one as well.

 

[WT_Door]

Oh man, as much as I have been looking into this thing, I missed that. I knew it came with a cord for level 1, but I just looked at the Charging section of the website, and it says level 2 included. That's amazing. I'm all set.

BTW - the Level 2 Wall Charger w/ NACS is listed at $800 on the Rivian Gear Shop. The Ford Connected Charge Station is very similar - $799. Both are 48A (11.5kW and 240V). It will be interesting to see if the specs on the included Level 2 charger from Slate are comparable - if so then it would apparently be a significant value.

 

[Oddballhero]

BTW - the Level 2 Wall Charger w/ NACS is listed at $800 on the Rivian Gear Shop. The Ford Connected Charge Station is very similar - $799. Both are 48A (11.5kW and 240V). It will be interesting to see if the specs on the included Level 2 charger from Slate are comparable - if so then it would apparently be a significant value.

Right. Even looking on the internet, it's a few hundred, easy. They should promote this more. How many EVs come with a level 2 as well?

 

[KevinRS]

Any discussion of SLATE vs competition when it finally goes into production should also consider how the competition will react. If the SLATE becomes a hit, all the competition has to do is drop their product prices on their low-end EVs to predatory levels, capturing those looking for the SLATE as a low-cost entry level EV (as opposed to those wanting the 2-door pickup form factor) and they'll clobber SLATE before it gets a chance to turn a profit. SLATE may have to contend with cutthroat pricing competition that they won't be able to absorb, where the competition can sell some models at a loss as long as they have others filling their pots.

Next year is going to be interesting.

I doubt that will be too much of an issue. 150,000 trucks a year isn't that much of the market: even if Slate becomes wildly profitable, it won't be eating into the other manufacturer's sales that much.
All those other manufacturers are struggling to profit with EVs anyway, some are still losing money on them, they don't have a lot of room to cut prices and lose money just to force a startup out of business. They also can't pivot on a dime, and if gas prices keep going the way they are, everyone's going to have waitlists for EVs.

 

[phidauex]

I don’t know if anyone mentioned this but the Slate comes with a charging cable to at is capable of level 2 charging. You’d just need a 240v outlet. Yes, you’d have to pay to have one installed if you don’t have it already, I just often see posts in other social media making charging an EV seem like a complicated task to do at home

It isn’t complicated in any case, unless you don’t have the 240V outlet already (and in that case all cars are in the same boat). Including an L2 charger is handy for first owners, but a slight drag for people who already have a few lying around. You can buy any number of L2 chargers for a few hundred bucks, they are now a simple commodity.

Basically, no worries either way, it is a simple component.

 

[phidauex]

Right. Even looking on the internet, it's a few hundred, easy. They should promote this more. How many EVs come with a level 2 as well?

Virtually all of them come with a portable EVSE, which isn’t really comparable to the big hardwired units quoted above. A light portable unit might be worth $200, a heavy wall mounted unit $400-500.

I’d prefer if it was a low cost accessory for those who want it, those of us with EVs already don’t need another cord, it’s like buying a new phone and chucking the cable into a bin right out the gate.

 

[Oddballhero]

Virtually all of them come with a portable EVSE, which isn’t really comparable to the big hardwired units quoted above. A light portable unit might be worth $200, a heavy wall mounted unit $400-500.

I’d prefer if it was a low cost accessory for those who want it, those of us with EVs already don’t need another cord, it’s like buying a new phone and chucking the cable into a bin right out the gate.

Oh, thank you. I've never owned an EV before. The pictures online show a cord that plugs in to a regular outlet, and I assumed I would have to purchase a level 2 if I wanted.

 

[phidauex]

Oh, thank you. I've never owned an EV before. The pictures online show a cord that plugs in to a regular outlet, and I assumed I would have to purchase a level 2 if I wanted.

It varies, but many portable EVSEs have both a standard 120V plug as well as a 240V 14-50P plug, so you can do either from the start. Many people are actually fine with 120V / L1 charging, as long as they can do it every day.

 

[atx_ev]

Right. Even looking on the internet, it's a few hundred, easy. They should promote this more. How many EVs come with a level 2 as well?

I think every EV comes with L2

I personally dont want the charger included. I would rather save $500 or $800 as I already have a Level 2 and a L1 installed and have a 3rd portable charger that is L2.

l2 charger should be an option

 

[zipn]

A 32 amp level 2 charge cable can be found pretty cheap well under $200. If you have an open 220v outlet where you park you are golden, even a dryer outlet will do.

If you have an electric dryer in use there are automatic splitters you can plug in so the dryer can share the outlet with the car.

Things can get very expensive if you have to add a new 220 outlet to your breaker panel. Maybe only a few hundred if the wiring distance is short and you re okay with surface mounting, maybe thousands if it’s a long distance and/or you need to upgrade your service. A new 50 amp 220 circuit is pretty typical, and your choice to terminate it hard wired to a charger or use a 220v sovket that a charge cable just plugs into.

...and depending on your daily driving, you might be able to get by with using just a 120v outlet. You could expect to recharge around 40-50 miles or more if you plug in for about 8-10 hours every night using only a simple 120v level-1 charge cable at 12-15 amps max.

Level 2 220v is about 4x - 6x faster than that depending on the amps with 32 amp changing being typical, so with level -2 you could go from near 0% to a full charge on a typical EV (depending on battery size).

Your max amp limit will be based on the circuit breaker+wire+outlet size with a 40 amp circuit required for 32 amps, a 50 amp circuit required for 40 amps , etc, as well as the limits of your charge cable, and the max amp your vehicle can accept. All the EVs and some of the charge cables I've used have had adjustable limits so you can reduce the max amp draw if needed. If the vehicle can handle 50 amps but you only have a 32 amp max charger, you'll only charge at 32 amps, and visa-versa.