If the Slate PU came only as an ICE, I would buy one.

[Letas]

Maybe the reason I'm ICE-cautious is because of a past experience with an unproven new engine design.

My '89 Dodge Raider had a Chrysler 3.0L V6 engine with a valve guide defect that, years into ownership, caused the engine to consume oil.

More importantly, there was a looming possibility of catastrophic engine failure if the engine was left un-repaired.

That sucked.

Well, good thing the Slate's drivetrain is well documented and proven!

 

[AZFox]

Well, good thing the Slate's drivetrain is well documented and proven!

...with something like 25 moving parts instead of 2,000.

 

[Sparkie]

My previous car was a 2000 ford focus, had the engine replaced, piston knock, took extra time, once they got the right engine, and got it installed, the computer wouldn't work with it despite getting if flashed by the dealer a few times, so that had to be replaced too, at that point would have been better to have just swapped to the "wrong" engine which was the upgraded option on a new vehicle, because that also would have required the same computer work. Then a couple years later that base engine had the valve seat problem, repairable without replacing the whole engine at least, but a known issue with that engine. A while later I started looking at what vehicles were supposed to have lowest total cost of ownership, because with the mileage, either I was going to have more valve seats fail, or transmission fail or something eventually.

Yikes!
Rust was the biggest problem I had -- but that's a problem for all cars in New England.

 

[B1050]

Slate would probably have to buy an ICE engine from another manufacturer because the machining tools needed to make a gas engine would be very expensive. That being said I'd vote for a Subaru 2.5 engine. I think startups from here on out will either buy engine/trans from known suppliers or be EV.