Robust electronics

[brian10x]

One of my fears/concerns with new vehicles are electronics.
I work in the auto repair industry and I see the result of over complication and poor quality in the electronics of modern vehicles.

Now, I'm not a complete luddite, in that I own a 2006 Tacoma. The Taco has easily been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned, but the vehicles built in the last decade or so have me worried about long term durability and reliability.

I'm fascinated and enamored by the Slate truck and its promise of simplicity, but it is still loaded with a lot of electronics. I'm concerned that, as a new vehicle, it will be plagued by the same software glitches I see every day on new vehicles that come into my shop.

One glimmer of hope I have is the fact Slate seems to be using as many off the shelf components as possible, and this may lead to increased reliability. However, a lot of the electronics will be vehicle specific, and with cost cutting measures , this has me concerned.

I like the fact that there are so many prototypes built so far, as they may be able to iron out the bugs pre-production.

Just putting this out there hoping for some optimistic feedback.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

as I see it a lot of the bugs tend to be with the infotainment systems it seems as if recent a lot of ev issues have been getting ironed out for other models so I think any issues that might a ride may be in the app and seeing as how fast they get back to me through messages I bet it would be ironed out fast through a update since I feel they are far more receptive to customer feedback back plus they have people who have been in the car industry for decades so a plus

 

[brian10x]

as I see it a lot of the bugs tend to be with the infotainment systems it seems as if recent a lot of ev issues have been getting ironed out for other models so I think any issues that might a ride may be in the app and seeing as how fast they get back to me through messages I bet it would be ironed out fast through a update since I feel they are far more receptive to customer feedback back plus they have people who have been in the car industry for decades so a plus

Thanks for the reply, but for goodness, please use a period once in a while.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Thanks for the reply, but for goodness, please use a period once in a while.

lol. Ok. I. Will. Do. That. From. Now. On. 🤣 but it is a very “simple” system compared to other ev’s so if it is a bug most likely it will be easy for them to fix since the system won’t be really connected to any other system that may cause a issue like the infotainment

 

[brian10x]

lol. Ok. I. Will. Do. That. From. Now. On. 🤣 but it is a very “simple” system compared to other ev’s so if it is a bug most likely it will be easy for them to fix since the system won’t be really connected to any other system that may cause a issue like the infotainment

I agree, and thank you! I see infotainment systems fail every week at my shop and its very disheartening.

 

[The Weatherman]

And expensive to repair/replace.

That will be a worry we shouldn’t have. 🤞

 

[brian10x]

As I'm obviously a Toyota fan, I dream at night of this very truck made by my Asian friends to the highest standards. It's just a fantasy of mine.

 

[GreatLakes]

I agree, and thank you! I see infotainment systems fail every week at my shop and its very disheartening.

I saw a reference to JD Power consumer satisfaction, or maybe Consumer Reports surveys, recently. I think it was 60% of new vehicle faults were with infotainment. Maybe that included "just too complicated, customer doesn't understand how it works".

I finally got around to firmware update on my F150 SYNC system after driving it 16 months. Plus signing up for the free 3 months of Sirius. My satisfaction is high with those changes, but it could have bricked it. And lots of research leading up to it: my F150 was exported to Canada and then came back, the US version has SYNC 3, CA one is only SYNC 1. So no CarPlay support, but with a 4" screen not sure how useful that would be anyway. The first 14 months the Ford site said I had to see a dealer to do the firmware upgrade. Finally it started offering downloads of the update file.

 

[brian10x]

Dang. SYNC 1, SYNC 2, SYNC12. CarPlay. Whaaaat? me no understand.

 

[sodamo]

No expertise here, but I’m hopeful that if all systems connect via phone, that translates into known simplicity and reliability.

not sure I understand desire of some for functions available on just the phone/tablet to be further available on third party equipment, example Carplay. Those functions are directly available on phone/tablet, why want another screen?

 

[AZFox]

I'm fascinated and enamored by the Slate truck and its promise of simplicity, but it is still loaded with a lot of electronics.

Compared to what? I'm asking because I have the exact opposite impression: that Slate will be keeping electronics as simple as possible, but not simpler.

OBD2 is an emissions-related feature, so I doubt that will be available. Diagnostics will happen using some sort of app, either the end-user one (probably) or a special app for service technicians.

Fortunately for us, app development is a mature industry. Fewer developers + A.I. make for rapid development and troubleshooting of the app.

I'm concerned that, as a new vehicle, it will be plagued by the same software glitches I see every day on new vehicles that come into my shop.

The weight of responsibility for this rests on the shoulders of Slate's engineering team. Let's hope they design the vehicle with reliability and serviceability as top priorities.

Ultimately (years from now) we'll know.

Sales of future models will depend on how that works out, so there's a lot of incentive for Slate to get it right.

 

[Dorbiman]

Some EVs do have an OBD2 port. Our ID4 has one, as does the Ioniq 5, Chevy Bolt, and many others

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Some EVs do have an OBD2 port. Our ID4 has one, as does the Ioniq 5, Chevy Bolt, and many others

True but there is also Bluetooth obd2 devices so is it necessary to have a physical port i mean it wouldn’t cost them much since they would already have the factory diagnostics built in anyway I wonder but I’ve also never used the Bluetooth ones ether

 

[Dorbiman]

The Bluetooth ones still plug into the OBD2 port. They just then use Bluetooth to connect to your phone. I have one and use it regularly

 

[sodamo]

Some EVs do have an OBD2 port. Our ID4 has one, as does the Ioniq 5, Chevy Bolt, and many others

Kinda hoping Slate has. i have the old ATT Mobley that plugs into OBD2 for internet.