Reusing and recycling accessories

[AZFox]

Last-mile installation of wheels and bumpers does solve the new-versus-used take-off parts issue. The parts would be leave-off, not take-offs.

The wheels and bumpers would be new, packaged parts rather than parts that have been installed and removed (new-ish, but no longer new).

Stock bumpers and wheels could be shipped, packaged, in the Truck's bed (or sent separately or kept in stock by a delivery partner or whatever).

The point is: Last-mile installation means new, packaged stock parts would remain factory-new if an alternate wheel or bumper is chosen.

Bonus Benefit: Doing it that way would also give the factory less to assemble. That means simpler, faster production.

Tires degrade with age. That's something to factor in.

 

[AZFox]

Read Aphrodite's message to @AKrietzer (a.k.a. John) with Transit Wheels and last-mile assembly of separately-packaged commonly swapped parts in mind.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Read Aphrodite's message to @AKrietzer (a.k.a. John) with Transit Wheels and last-mile assembly of separately-packaged commonly swapped parts in mind.

This had best be Burger King, where I can have it my way.

 

[AZFox]

This had best be Burger King, where I can have it my way.

....with a paper hat

 

[Doctors Do Little]

The question is, do you get credit for the standard steel wheels?

I would think so! If standard includes them and you get something else in it’s place, seems like the difference in cost plus labor?

 

[hbuck]

I did a few searches for keywords before posting this thread. I hope I didn't miss a thread that already suggests this.

I've been thinking about the whole concept of buying a blank Slate, then accessorizing. I'm mildly troubled by the idea of all the original parts going into dumps all across America. I have a few ideas for avoiding this, and maybe others (including Slate) have other ideas.

1. Slate can have a mildly incentivized "mail it back" program. Say I buy new interior trim. If I mail it back the original parts in the original packaging, maybe Slate gives me a 5% rebate on the new parts. Ideally, Slate would then reuse the returned parts in production.
2. Slate could mildly change their production process down the road to offer the most common accessories as a package. This complicates the build line, but maybe no so much. Say once a quarter Slate dedicates a whole week's production to building only "Fancy Slates". Like an interior trim upgrade with automatic windows, the nice trim upgrades, etc.
3. This site could have a "Swap" section where owners could swap parts they've replaced. For instance, somebody gets a fender ding. No biggie. Somebody on the site has that piece sitting in the garage and is happy to mail it postage due.
4. Maybe Slate could have a "how to recycle" section on their website for owners upgrading their vehicles.

My point is just that I can see a lot of bits and pieces going into the garbage bin. Anybody have other ideas?

I think minimalists concept is the way to go. Meaning get the barebones like the choice of battery because they will not be interchangeable. And get the top with any racks you want. The rest is just like you mentioned. Change out a wrap, returning it instead of tossing it, and let Slate properly dispose of it or set up a used parts department or contract that out.

 

[AZFox]

The question is, do you get credit for the standard steel wheels?

Their answer is " Once we release pricing, there will be more info on added accessories."

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Their answer is " Once we release pricing, there will be more info on added accessories."

I can imagine that their servers might be impacted on that auspicious day.

Once people can start doing some math and some opt out, gonna get a little crazy. Conversely, they might get an uptick of new reservations if popular packages are under some bogey amount.

Will be like watching an IPO.

 

[KevinRS]

I can see wheels being one of the easiest things for them to do at the factory, we will have to see how they do it though.

 

[AZFox]

I can see wheels being one of the easiest things for them to do at the factory

That was my original thought, but now I think "Blank means blank".

Unless Blank mean leaving the space for the bumper blank, as in without a bumper installed.

 

[sodamo]

That was my original thought, but now I think "Blank means blank".

Unless Blank mean leaving the space for the bumper blank, as in without a bumper installed.

Might make sense that Blanks come of the line without bumpers or wheels but on a trolley thing that takes them to a finishing area for those installs?

could the % of these type mods affect how Slate treats them ?

 

[Letas]

I can imagine that their servers might be impacted on that auspicious day.

Once people can start doing some math and some opt out, gonna get a little crazy. Conversely, they might get an uptick of new reservations if popular packages are under some bogey amount.

Will be like watching an IPO.

I bet Slate is intentionally not releasing pricing yet, to see how legacy manufacturers respond to the tax credit going away. It's safe to assume current EVs will at least be considered to receive a price cut... just how steep we will see.

If the low end of current EVs drops from ~30-35k to 25-30k, Slate might do some scrambling.

 

[AZFox]

Might make sense that Blanks come of the line without bumpers or wheels but on a trolley thing that takes them to a finishing area for those installs?

I was thinking more of a Last-Mile installation, but yes.

Logistics would be vastly simplified.

At some some time in the future (when production supply exceeds current demand) you could be able to decide to buy a Truck in the morning, go to a Delivery Partner and buy it, and happily drive your Truck to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner that evening.

Last-Mile configuration eliminates the delay and complex tracking that would be necessary if options are installed and your custom-configured Truck is then shipped from Warsaw individually.

Instead, Blank Slates would travel by rail in bulk and be held at Delivery Partner facilities. The Delivery Partner could also have an inventory of Accessories.

This way the Delivery Partner could either put your accessories in the bed and bring the Truck to you or install the accessories for a fee.

 

[Letas]

I was thinking more of a Last-Mile installation, but yes.

Logistics would be vastly simplified.

At some some time in the future (when production supply exceeds current demand) you could be able to decide to buy a Truck in the morning, go to a Delivery Partner and buy it, and happily drive your Truck to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner that evening.

Last-Mile configuration eliminates the delay and complex tracking that would be necessary if options are installed and your custom-configured Truck is then shipped from Warsaw individually.

Instead, Blank Slates would travel by rail in bulk and be held at Delivery Partner facilities. The Delivery Partner could also have an inventory of Accessories.

This way the Delivery Partner could either put your accessories in the bed and bring the Truck to you or install the accessories for a fee.

I think Delivery Partners holding inventory is a big no, and goes against the whole model.

I'd imagine the supply chain goes something like...

Blank Slate:
Warsaw Factory -> 3PL (Rail or Ground) -> Customer (At Delivery partner, or at door, for a cost)

Slate with Installed Factory Add Ons:
Warsaw Factory -> Add-On Installation (Presumably near factory) -> 3PL (Rail or Ground) -> Customer

Slate with uninstalled (customer installed) addons:
Truck: Warsaw Factory -> 3PL (Rail or Ground) -> Customer (Same as Blank Slate)
Addons: Factory -> 3PL (Likely Fedex, UPS, DHL, etc) -> Customer.

They have made it clear these add ons are to be flat packed. That takes a significant amount of time and engineering, and the only benefit is that it lowers shipping cost.

Delivery Partners holding inventory opens a whole complexity of demand forecasting, min/maxs, etc at a MUCH smaller level- kind of the antithesis of Slate.

 

[AZFox]

Delivery Partners holding inventory opens a whole complexity of demand forecasting, min/maxs, etc at a MUCH smaller level- kind of the antithesis of Slate.

There's a "waterbed theory of complexity" in programming.

The waterbed theory of complexity suggests that in systems like programming languages, reducing complexity in one area will lead to increased complexity in another, similar to how pushing down on a waterbed causes the water to rise elsewhere. This principle highlights the challenge of managing complexity in design and user interaction.​

Our differing opinions lie in where the complexity should happen, either in Warsaw or where the customers live.