One thing I think might hold Slate truck back.

[B1050]

For me the slate truck does not fit a do-it-all category. It may be great for some things but it's mostly a secondary vehicle for me. I think that today most people are lucky to afford one vehicle they need it to be able to go in the snow, and or on long road trips even if they don't do either all that often. I could go on about what it is good at like commuting 1-5 people a moderate distance or hauling some material for projects. I think that the vehicles that sell well are better at more things.

 

[AZFox]

For me the slate truck does not fit a do-it-all category.

It's not supposed to!

And it'll most likely go in the snow like a boss, so you can cross that off of your list of buzzkill limitations.

 

[Dorbiman]

Your opinion is completely valid, but it also flies in the face of just about every vehicle ever lol. If "jack of all trades" is what matters, then no one would buy a Mustang, or a Mini Cooper, or a Civic, or really anything outside of a vehicle that can do everything.

I don't need a Slate Truck to do everything. I just need it to do everything that I need it to do. Which is take me from point A to point B and haul some stuff around. With the extended battery, longer trips (for me) would be a non-issue too. I don't frequently drive 250+ miles without stopping. And I typically don't drive that far at all.

 

[Trace26]

I think most people that buy Slate and "can only afford one car", aren't going on road trips. Because they can't afford to.
They just want something that's reliable to get them to work so they don't loose their job.

 

[AZFox]

I think most people that buy Slate and "can only afford one car", aren't going on road trips. Because they can't afford to.

The road trip problem is easily solved.

I've rented vehicles for road trips before. It's easy to do, and, in the grand scheme of things, inexpensive.

 

[atx_ev]

The road trip problem is easily solved.

I've rented vehicles for road trips before. It's easy to do, and, in the grand scheme of things, inexpensive.

the question is, is it better to have a car form factor and rent a truck when you need it, or have a truck form factor and rent the road trip vehicle when you need it.

Most people have their cake and eat it too with 4 door trucks, but that brings in other problems.

I do think road trips are oversold, how many people really go on road trips at all?

In my family, my wifes car is the road trip car and mine can just be for me. A sports car even , if I wanted one.

 

[AZFox]

the question is, is it better to have a car form factor and rent a truck when you need it, or have a truck form factor and rent the road trip vehicle when you need it.

I can only answer for myself.
It would the latter for sure, and it's not even close.

I'll have an ICE vehicle for road trips (or long local runs for that matter), so it's moot for me personally.

 

[sodamo]

Naysayers are naysayers, whatever their rationale. The rest of us will be excited to take delivery of our Slates without regard for them or their thinking.

 

[Letas]

I do think road trips are oversold, how many people really go on road trips at all?

In my family, my wifes car is the road trip car and mine can just be for me. A sports car even , if I wanted one.

I think that depends on what you define as a "road trip". The great american cross country road trip is probably no more, but I think many consumers frequently take weekend trips 200+ miles from home. Old school road trip? Maybe not. But far enough that if they only had a Slate, it would complicate things.
And renting a vehicle for a road trip is just a silly argument here. When consumers are choosing to drive instead of fly ($$$), adding hundreds of dollars for a rental is counter intuitive. The cheapest Turo I could find in my area for a 5 day trip was $350. A months car payment.
Sure, if you are affluent and want to road trip for the kicks and giggles, that's a fine option. But when we are considering this is a budget-conscious market (it is a budget-conscious car afterall!), that justification doesn't fly.

That being said- to OP. You are right. The less things Slate can do well, the less consumers will purchase it- think of it as a big Venn diagram. The big question for Slate will be, is that cut of the Venn diagram enough to keep the lights on? Only time will tell.

Additionally- a big chunk of this forum is near or at retirement, relatively affluent, homeowning people who can afford to buy a second car. And for that group, I think the Slate is wonderful. But you are right, the real test will be will this vehicle be suitable as a sole car for an individual or even household. The average first time homebuyer age is 38 (it was 31 just 9 years ago!). Disposable income is dropping. Will Slate be able to survive off of just the 50+ crowd? Or will it need to adapt to being a suitable primary car.

Again, only time will tell.

 

[AZFox]

The average daily cost to rent a midsize car in the United States is approximately $54, based on a general average for all car rentals.

Edit:
On average, pickup truck rentals cost $94 per day. However, specific deals can be much lower.

 

[atx_ev]

I can only answer for myself.
It would the latter for sure, and it's not even close.

I'll have an ICE vehicle for road trips (or long local runs for that matter), so it's moot for me personally.

Thats the same for me as well.

The average daily cost to rent a midsize car in the United States is approximately $54, based on a general average for all car rentals.

Edit:
On average, pickup truck rentals cost $94 per day. However, specific deals can be much lower.

uhaul rents pickup trucks for $20, plus .60 to .99 per mile

 

[KevinRS]

Around here, you reserve a uhaul and when you go to pick it up, it's not available, hasn't been turned in yet.
If you are looking at spending 4k more for the extended battery, or even more by going with a different vehicle, how many road trip car rentals would that be equivalent to? Even if it's $100 per day, going with a high round number instead of that average $54, that's 40 days of rentals. if your weekend trips need a 3 day rental, that's 13 trips.
If they are just around 200 miles, you don't really need to bother. Charge before you go, and plan a stop around halfway to plug it into a fast charger and go inside somewhere for a meal.
A bit longer and it gets more inconvenient. Los Angeles to Las Vegas for example needs 2 stops. I think anything more than 1 stop, unless it's stops spread like 4 hours apart with a longer range EV means you rent a vehicle or fly.
If you are solo, flying makes more sense, but 4 plane tickets adds up.

 

[B1050]

I have an Outback and a Ram the Slate will be my third vehicle I may sell the Ram and get something smaller (Crosstrek?) so it will be good in winter but the Slate will still be a third vehicle. As aid above I'm close to retirement and can afford a 3rd car but people in my situation are not a large demographic to be seeking.

 

[KevinRS]

Many families are 2 car families by necessity. Both parents need to get to work. They don't necessarily need both cars to fit the whole family. That is another demographic.
Another is those getting their first vehicle. Many also live in areas where the winter weather isn't such a concern. Slate trucks should handle winter weather better than many cars anyway.

 

[BobSentMe]

Many families are 2 car families by necessity. Both parents need to get to work. They don't necessarily need both cars to fit the whole family. That is another demographic.
Another is those getting their first vehicle. Many also live in areas where the winter weather isn't such a concern. Slate trucks should handle winter weather better than many cars anyway.

We're a 3 car family, on the verge of becoming a 4 car family. The slate will be the least driven vehicle of all them, but that's because it's mine and I work from home.

I was honestly looking at buying a used Kei truck for as little as i drive, but I like the Slate more, and think it'll last longer, even up here in Michigan.