Is the timing of Slate's rollout in Winter 2026 a good decision?

[cadblu]

Having experience with EVs, I am questioning Slate's decision to begin deliveries in the winter months. As EV owners know all too well, extreme cold weather conditions are very harsh on range and battery efficiency. This being the first EV purchase for many, I think a winter rollout will not bode well for Slate's initial reliability perceptions.

I appreciate that time to market is important, and beating out other contenders was part of Slate's strategy. With setting up a new assembly plant and filling all the open jobs, 18 months was the logical target to begin production deliveries.

That said, I think it would be wise for Slate to rollout early deliveries in warmer climate states, e.g. California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, etc. This strategy would reduce some of the potentially bad publicity associated with EVs in extreme cold weather. The rest of us will need to wait until Spring / Summer 2027. But I was expecting that anyway.

 

[Dorbiman]

I don't think it will be a big deal. It's a band-aid that needs to be ripped off at some point. I would hope that people who do purchase any EV for the first time would do the research before shelling out upwards of $30K! I also see the larger 84kWh pack being the more commonly sold variant of the truck, which would definitely alleviate some of the range concerns.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

Agree with cadblu, ship to the south first.
No winter battery or charging issues here in central FL.

But winter-2026? As I recall promise was earlier.
Seems to me they are saying "we will ship in the 2027 model year", forget 2026.

 

[skidoofast]

Agree with cadblu, ship to the south first.
No winter battery or charging issues here in central FL.

But winter-2026? As I recall promise was earlier.
Seems to me they are saying "we will ship in the 2027 model year", forget 2026.

They said start Q3 2026 so somewhere July - September which is when most manufacturers will release 2027 models

 

[skidoofast]

Having experience with EVs, I am questioning Slate's decision to begin deliveries in the winter months. As EV owners know all too well, extreme cold weather conditions are very harsh on range and battery efficiency. This being the first EV purchase for many, I think a winter rollout will not bode well for Slate's initial reliability perceptions.

I appreciate that time to market is important, and beating out other contenders was part of Slate's strategy. With setting up a new assembly plant and filling all the open jobs, 18 months was the logical target to begin production deliveries.

That said, I think it would be wise for Slate rollout early deliveries in warmer climate states, e.g. California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, etc. This strategy would reduce some the potentially bad publicity associated with EVs in extreme cold weather. The rest of us will need to wait until Spring / Summer 2027. But I was expecting that anyway.

I think they need to have a priority as in reservation timing #1 and commitment #2 and a qualifier at commitment- when would you prefer delivery, then build out the timing from there

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Having experience with EVs, I am questioning Slate's decision to begin deliveries in the winter months. As EV owners know all too well, extreme cold weather conditions are very harsh on range and battery efficiency. This being the first EV purchase for many, I think a winter rollout will not bode well for Slate's initial reliability perceptions.

I appreciate that time to market is important, and beating out other contenders was part of Slate's strategy. With setting up a new assembly plant and filling all the open jobs, 18 months was the logical target to begin production deliveries.

That said, I think it would be wise for Slate rollout early deliveries in warmer climate states, e.g. California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, etc. This strategy would reduce some the potentially bad publicity associated with EVs in extreme cold weather. The rest of us will need to wait until Spring / Summer 2027. But I was expecting that anyway.

Got you covered. Ship to GA. I'll make sure the batteries can survive the blustery 50F's while cocooned safely in my garage in the winter...

 

[Trace26]

They want to start shipping then, they won't be pumping out 100,000 trucks to start. So not that many people will get them that winter and those who do will be reservation holders who should know what's going on.

 

[sodamo]

Got you covered. Ship to GA. I'll make sure the batteries can survive the blustery 50F's while cocooned safely in my garage in the winter...

Take earliest possible here in Hawaii, Temps swings mostly 60-70’s for us. We can provide stability.

 

[Frogg3074]

Yep, I have an EV. It's a huge difference in wintertime. The Slate will probably only get 100 miles a charge. Lol

 

[AKrietzer]

I think they should start in Indiana, then other states, just as a test market.

 

[brian10x]

Al factors considered, I think Tucson, Arizona should be the first delivery site. Looking at all the factors involved, it just makes sense.

 

[Dorbiman]

Al factors considered, I think Tucson, Arizona should be the first delivery site. Looking at all the factors involved, it just makes sense.

All factor's being "That's where brian10x lives"

 

[brian10x]

All factor's being "That's where brian10x lives"

Well.............You got me. GUILTY!

 

[Letas]

Having experience with EVs, I am questioning Slate's decision to begin deliveries in the winter months. As EV owners know all too well, extreme cold weather conditions are very harsh on range and battery efficiency. This being the first EV purchase for many, I think a winter rollout will not bode well for Slate's initial reliability perceptions.

I appreciate that time to market is important, and beating out other contenders was part of Slate's strategy. With setting up a new assembly plant and filling all the open jobs, 18 months was the logical target to begin production deliveries.

That said, I think it would be wise for Slate rollout early deliveries in warmer climate states, e.g. California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, etc. This strategy would reduce some the potentially bad publicity associated with EVs in extreme cold weather. The rest of us will need to wait until Spring / Summer 2027. But I was expecting that anyway.

Or... perhaps instead of hiding their flaws, put a real battery in it.

 

[Dorbiman]

Or... perhaps instead of hiding their flaws, put a real battery in it.

Definitely an option! Just means higher price.