Jeff Bezos's $25,000 EV Truck Has One Fatal Flaw • Jeff Jablansky | MotoMan Podcast 006

[Susan]

can I get a fleet of ONE?

When I was talking to Christian from Slate at their in person event in SF in August, I think he said that was an option, to get the cargo version of the Slate. I was asking about getting the SUV kit without the seats. I think both are options. But I'm hoping for more details.

 

[sodamo]

When I was talking to Christian from Slate at their in person event in SF in August, I think he said that was an option, to get the cargo version of the Slate. I was asking about getting the SUV kit without the seats. I think both are options. But I'm hoping for more details.

or the cargo top, but windowed.
rather not lose the space to the rollbar

 

[AKrietzer]

I want the slant rear window top without roll bar or rear seats. I don't like the other top, except for it's removable sunroof.

 

[null98115]

Interesting. I actually wouldn't want it if it had 4 doors. I don't want a back seat either.

Agreed. I already have a four-door hybrid Maverick. It's not an either/or choice, it a both!

 

[cadblu]

When I was talking to Christian from Slate at their in person event in SF in August, I think he said that was an option, to get the cargo version of the Slate. I was asking about getting the SUV kit without the seats. I think both are options. But I'm hoping for more details.

While nobody at this point knows for sure, I'm speculating that the Cargo version without seats will include the square back top with NO windows. There would be "blank plugs" where the windows would be located. I'm hoping that's not the case. I like the look of the windows with the understanding I can add the rear seat / rollbar in the future. A true "fleet vehicle" would normally carry cargo, service parts, etc. and windows would invite theft of expensive tools and components. I hope we can get clarity on this sooner than later.

 

[Susan]

or the cargo top, but windowed.
rather not lose the space to the rollbar

Yep, I want the top with no seats and windows too. Not sure about the rollbars - I want to put a roof rack on and I'm not sure what's required.

I did write to Slate to ask about a few options, so we'll see what they say.

 

[Susan]

While nobody at this point knows for sure, I'm speculating that the Cargo version without seats will include the square back top with NO windows. There would be "blank plugs" where the windows would be located. I'm hoping that's not the case. I like the look of the windows with the understanding I can add the rear seat / rollbar in the future. A true "fleet vehicle" would normally carry cargo, service parts, etc. and windows would invite theft of expensive tools and components. I hope we can get clarity on this sooner than later.

I hope so too.

 

[KevinRS]

$800 ($500 for the Wrap Kit and $250-$300 for service) if you want a custom wrap that isn’t pre cut than you might be looking more at $1,500 or more.

Someone did post a 3rd party site here that was already showing slate as a preview option, to get custom wraps, and it was showing $500 for a full wrap, installed. The same site lets you customize whatever you want on a wrap, and has them for cybertruck too. Who know by launch time where prices will be though.

 

[Letas]

But wait, "Sure, it can be DIYd, but time is money", is not the main idea of the Slate Truck to be DIY'd to the owner's preferences? Is adding an audio system any more difficult than applying a wrap (and having it turn out decent as a 1st shot at wrapping)? Are you saying Slate owners should pay Best Buy $200 for installation of an audio system, which makes it cost prohibitive?

I'm not sure what your point is. My biggest issue with the Slate Truck is the molded in color of the body panels. While I'm an experienced DIY'er of most all things mechanical, I have zero experience applying a vinyl wrap to an automobile body, even one that is supposed to be composed of simple surfaces, defined bodylines, and pre-cut wrap sheets. To change the color of one's Slate Truck, he is going to spend another $1,500 to buy the wrap kit and have it professionally installed.

Oversimplified- my point is: Most people use an audio system while in the vehicle. Excluding that audio system is a deterrent to a customer, unless it is relatively easy to install one post-purchase. Most consumers do not install aftermarket audio in their car, so it is a new world to them. The easier it is to install, the better- as a part of Slate's big picture mission to sell 100k cars/year.

 

[E90400K]

Oversimplified- my point is: Most people use an audio system while in the vehicle. Excluding that audio system is a deterrent to a customer, unless it is relatively easy to install one post-purchase. Most consumers do not install aftermarket audio in their car, so it is a new world to them. The easier it is to install, the better- as a part of Slate's big picture mission to sell 100k cars/year.

Being a teenager of the 1970s, my first five cars were built without an audio system. No head unit, no speakers, no wiring. There was no Crutchfield either. Yet, car radios were standardized and Radio Shack was great back then, as well as "car stereo shops", so installing a radio in a car that came with no audio system infrastructure was doable and we had fun installing them.

Once the Slate open dash architecture is known, I'm sure (snap-in) installation base plates for DIN and double-DIN head units and standard speaker sizes will be offered. Hopefully Slate will offer kits and have several fused and unfused power connections built into the Turck's electrical system. Based on what I've seen so far, the "open" architecture of the dashboard seems well accommodating to install an audio system, and much easier than the cars of the 1970's.

The audio system install is the least of my concerns. Wrapping the thing in colored vinyl or applying real paint is my biggest concern. If most people don't install audio systems in cars, they sure as shit don't wrap them either.

 

[AZFox]

why not just have 5 basic molded in colors: grey, black, white, red, and blue.

Because Slate's ethos is Radical Simplicity.

 

[sodamo]

Because Slate's ethos is Radical Simplicity.

So sensible

 

[E90400K]

Because Slate's ethos is Radical Simplicity.

Understood, but it's changing color pellets in the injection molding machine.

 

[sodamo]

Understood, but it's changing color pellets in the injection molding machine.

And introducing an inventory challenge, how many to manufacture and inventory of each color vs a single color x times number of unique panels.

 

[KevinRS]

The idea is they are getting thousands at a time of the about a dozen or less different grey parts, likely sourced from another company, and they are all the same. 5 colors means 60 parts instead of 12.
Maybe later they would add new base colors, but colors are going to mean another layer of quality control, you don't want to get your red truck and find out the color of the door is a bit off from the shade of the quarter panels.
Grey is also probably easier to deal with getting right with UV blockers/inhibitors.