Poll: Slate's second model - what do you think it will be?

[cvollers]

Required some small modifications for the self driving tech, but I’m sure most will hardly notice

That’s what I’m talking about. It’s like a Rivian delivery van and 3rd world TV station Doka had a love child.

 

[Benjamin Nead]

I haven't read through all 3 pages of posts on this thread yet, but I'm going to guess that not too many would have suggested a 100" (254cm) wheelbase 4-seat passenger car. Note, though, that the Ford Model T, the post-WWII Volkswagen Beetle and (have to mention it) the Mitsubishi i-MiEV I currently drive all fit this exact same drive train dimension.

The general format would be a 4 passenger, 5 door electric hatchback (ie: 4 standard passenger doors with a rear cargo hatch) and, If designed correctly, a small frunk could be part of the deal. I'd also make it rear motor drive.

For a visual of the sort of thing I'm thinking of, I offer the original Audi A2 from 20 to 25 years. ago Not all that much different from an early to mid 2000s Toyota Prius, actually, which also has excellent aerodynamics. One interesting detail about A2s of this period: the aerodynamics were so good that there was no turbulence to speak of around the rear window. Hence, no extra wiper motor/blade/squirter assembly needed back there. Hand crank windows and no pre-installed audio, of course.

Note that the A2 from the early 2000s is around a 95" wheelbase 4-passenger car, while the Prius from that time period has a 106" wheelbase and seats 5. So, the Slate EV Hatch (we've got to call it something super simple like that) can be right in between, at a 100" wheelbase and comfortably/safely seating 4 adults. Rear seats would fold completely flat for a generous cargo berth.

Make it out of the same stuff as the Slate EV Truck and classic Saturns: poly panels (mold them in plain white for this one,) hung on the steel structural skeleton. Tell the kids to bring their favorite color of vinyl wrap, etc.

I'm not going to speculate one way or another if by the early 2030s there's still going to federal EV purchase incentives or not. Or if we'll have already be overrun by small cheap Chinese EVs. But let's just say that this car - with a mostly North American supply chain, assembled domestically, equipped with a 30kWh LFP battery, weighing in somewhere around 2700 pounds, impressive small EV acceleration/handling specs and with a real world range of about 140 miles - could be typically sold in the US for "under $20K"

 

[SlateModGarage]

Simple 4 door car. Called Simple.

 

[Dorbiman]

Simple 4 door car. Called Simple.

I dig it. I could see them calling a small sedan the Pebble. Or a sports car called Flint or Shard.

 

[cvollers]

That’s what I’m talking about. It’s like a Rivian delivery van and 3rd world TV station Doka had a love child.

Maybe a bit more like this:

 

[sodamo]

Simple 4 door car. Called Simple.

Blank Slate
Simple Slate

 

[AZFox]

They call their chassis design the "slateboard". Presumably a future model would fit on the slateboard chassis.

I doubt they'll move the occupants much farther forward because of the need for a safety crush zone.

 

[atreis]

Next: AWD pickup - most parts stay the same, just have to redo some things under the hood and with the front axle.
Next after that: 4 door pickup - as above, most parts stay the same, but maybe have to stretch the frame some.

 

[The Weatherman]

👆👆👆. This!

 

[RetiredOnPaper]

If smart, the concentration needs to be production and ramp up. If popular, then add AWD and LFP chemistry. The puck up market is otherwise saturated with bigger options. Stay with your strength...add styling features like; bolt on panels to give it a 30s or 50s look. Maybe a bed extension?

 

[mthulhu]

A Slate van would go so hard. If you’ve looked at cargo vans, the list of options are crazy because there are so many different use cases and needs. A cargo/passenger van that can be outfitted exactly to the end user’s desires fits the “DIY and customize” Slate model perfectly. Compact cargo vans are also dead here in the US, so it’s a wide open market, EV or not.

It gets me thinking about the hypothetical situation where a Slate truck owner has kids, so they buy the SUV kit. It would be WILD if you could take the “Slateboard” and put a cabover van body on top. You know, for when that 3rd/4th kid comes around. I would love that.

Edit: Scrolling through the thread, I’m glad we are all feeling the cabover truck/van form factor!

 

[BeachHead]

I don't know what it "will" be, but I'd like to see one with a bed maybe 1 foot longer. I think it would look more in traditional "pickup truck" proportion. It would also maybe give enough space to double the main battery pack, with a 300 mile range. Also, the extra wheelbase might allow an increased towing ability. Plus, then they could also offer an "extended cab" version, with more cab space and the short bed, so two vehicles out of just stretching the frame. And if they had a topper/SUV kit for the longer bed version, you could have a "mini suburban" look.

It would seem to me they could get a couple models with a relatively small change to existing engineering that could hold the price increase to offer them down quite a bit.

 

[AZFox]

They could probably do a lot with an "extended cab" version of the OG truck design.

There'd be lots of parts re-use, room for a whopper battery, and who knows what else the Design Team could come up with.

 

[AZFox]

ShowerThought:
Maybe they could make another truck similar to the original but with AWD, 32- or even 33-inch tires, long-travel suspension, and skid plates. Grrr.

An Off-Road Edition Slate Truck would accept existing add-ons.

 

[EverythingSlate]

Good question! I’m thinking van!