Monroe Live: Beta Factory Hoist Review of Slate Battery, Motor, Suspension, Underbody, Frunk, Body, Electrical System, Software, Safety & More

[SlatePossible2028]

If demand existed for light-duty flatbed trucks we'd see them on the roads.

Flatbeds I see are 3/4-ton and up.

Makes sense when you consider that a pallet of sod weighs twice the Slate's load-carrying capacity (just an example).

It would just be the base base, for like i mentioned before, fleet and SXS replacement. Let the buyer bolt on whatever they wanted. Offer basic hold downs/rings standard. Etc

Could accomplish alot on that side of things

 

[Letas]

It would just be the base base, for like i mentioned before, fleet and SXS replacement. Let the buyer bolt on whatever they wanted. Offer basic hold downs/rings standard. Etc

Could accomplish alot on that side of things

I think you’re overestimating how expensive the “styling” (plastic) up front is

 

[Adam W]

She's Employee #2.
He's Employee #3.
That begs a question...

That was my immediate reaction as well. Do we know who the first employee / founder is?

 

[Dorbiman]

That was my immediate reaction as well. Do we know who the first employee / founder is?

I think it might be Jeff Wilke? Just from a cursory google search

 

[motorolas]

That was my immediate reaction as well. Do we know who the first employee / founder is?

Apparently Slate had been keeping the "Founder" title mum. But from a techcrunch article, it's been pointing to Jeff Wilke from the "Re:Build Manufacturing" incubator project.

Could also be co-founder Miles Arnone.

Looks like the article points to Rod Copes as employee number one, and they frame it as "Our chairman at the time". Also interesting Chris mentions the $25,000 pricepoint.

https://sherwood.news/tech/slate-au...lls-us-how-exactly-its-making-a-usd25-000-ev/

 

[AZFox]

Looks like the article points to Rod Copes as employee number one, and they frame it as "Our chairman at the time". Also interesting Chris mentions the $25,000 pricepoint.

https://sherwood.news/tech/slate-au...lls-us-how-exactly-its-making-a-usd25-000-ev/

Good article! Thanks for posting.

It's good enough to deserve its own thread.

 

[PACMAN]

What a great video. My biggest takeaway was the DELIBERATENESS of each engineering and business model decision. I have anxiety because of the high rate of EV startup failure, and Slate’s misstep of announcing a rock-bottom price dependent on a shaky tax credit, but the discussions in this video eased a lot of my fears. I t seems like if any EV startup can make it, it’s this one.

 

[cadblu]

What a great video. My biggest takeaway was the DELIBERATENESS of each engineering and business model decision. I have anxiety because of the high rate of EV startup failure, and Slate’s misstep of announcing a rock-bottom price dependent on a shaky tax credit, but the discussions in this video eased a lot of my fears. I t seems like if any EV startup can make it, it’s this one.

Excellent point, except that the original $20k price target caught the headlines in a big way, and helped them to achieve the 100k+ reservations. Other car companies (eg Tesla) also play the ‘numbers game’ with rebates and credits baked in the quoted price.

To your point “can this EV startup make it” the wildcard is how well can Slate’s supplier base perform. While they have reduced the bill of materials down from 2500 to about 650, it only takes 1 part to delay the assembly line for months. While I am highly optimistic for Slate, I sincerely hope their suppliers are on the same page.

 

[grumpyunk]

I have yet to watch the Munro video. I will. I will note that he is hook, line and sinker behind BEVs. That said, it appears he is ignorant of some of the facts about China-built BEVs and their failure rates, especialll in regards to battery fires. He praises BYD and their efficiency of assembly, etc, but ignores the fact that the corporation is doctoring its sales numbers at home, and has many China based dealers closing their doors. Does that reflect on quality of build? The fires do, but the economics of China today are suspect to say the least. I would have expected Sandy M to have looked a bit past the efficiency of the assembly to the structure of the corporation, and how much they have had to muzzle bad news. They are not alone in that regard, as the 'corporate view' (all of China INc) is to cover for failures, and wish them out of existence.
I have paid attention to Serpentza and partner for years, and they are able to document problems that the CCC covers up pretty well. Is Munro blind to all that? Or does it not figure into his calculations? Dunno. But it seems sometimes shortcomings are glossed over readily.

I do know I would NOT park a China-built BEV in my garage.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

as I understand it the battery cells are USA, and the modules will be assembled in Indiana.
I'll have to go research the actual cells, and where those !@#$ minerals come from

Could we start a lithium mine in the middle of NYC? might improve the area quite a bit.

 

[E90400K]

Excellent point, except that the original $20k price target caught the headlines in a big way, and helped them to achieve the 100k+ reservations. Other car companies (eg Tesla) also play the ‘numbers game’ with rebates and credits baked in the quoted price.

To your point “can this EV startup make it” the wildcard is how well can Slate’s supplier base perform. While they have reduced the bill of materials down from 2500 to about 650, it only takes 1 part to delay the assembly line for months. While I am highly optimistic for Slate, I sincerely hope their suppliers are on the same page.

Not trying to again be accused of being a Negative Nelly, but I'd like to understand the BOM of 650 vs. 2,500 for a normal automobile. First off, they must be referring to the manufacturing assembly bill of materials and not the entire bill of materials that makes the entire truck. It just means they have significant outside supplier subassemblies that are brought in to assemble. It just means the manufacturing part content (and cost) is upstream of Slate's Warsaw facility. Yup, they have been touting getting some assemblies like the dashboard and doors into the low XX-part count or high X-part count, and the door arm rest is the same part for both doors and center arm rest. Nice and all, but let's admit the styling suffers as a result. Not a negative as long as the owner doesn't expect significant styling content in the Slate.

The Munro video shows the chassis has the typical compliment of parts assembled to form the rolling stock. A lot of this is marketing IMO. But as long as the price comes in at $25,000, who really cares.

 

[AZFox]

Munro videos and articles on sherwood.news look like geurilla marketing.

I approve. Reluctantly. Only because I realize that's how these things work.