Robust electronics

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Ok so I asked slate if they would have it apparently it’s be a requirement since 1996

 

[sodamo]

Ok so I asked slate if they would have it apparently it’s be a requirement since 1996

Good news 🤙

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Wait if it has obd-II doesn’t that mean we can tune it? interesting 🧐 I mean idk how to tune a ev but I know how (in theory) to tune a classic v8

 

[AZFox]

I recently bought an OBD2 reader for $20 on Amazon. At that price everyone should have one. Well, everyone with a car that has OBD2 anyway.

Doesn't seem very durable, but does the job.

My reasoning for not expecting OBD2 in the Slate is because I think 1) it would cost extra to include it and 2) OBD2 support isn't necessary.

Edit: typo

 

[AZFox]

Ok so I asked slate if they would have it apparently it’s be a requirement since 1996

Hmm... 🤔 My understanding is that OBD2 is not required for EVs and Tesla vehicles don't have OBD2 ports.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Hmm... 🤔 My understanding is that OBD2 is not required for EVs and Tesla vehicles don't have OBD2 ports.

Hmmm interesting 🧐 no follow up like last time from slate so I guess it will have one

 

[AZFox]

Hmmm interesting 🧐 no follow up like last time from slate so I guess it will have one

The plot thickens... California, of course. 🤦‍♂️

 

[GreatLakes]

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

Brian,
Sorry to confuse you. SYNC is the infotainment system that Ford uses. It was a Microsoft product, I first encountered it in a 2014 Focus. The 1,2 etc is the version number.

I should probably go read the Wikipedia article on it. Maybe Microsoft transferred it to Ford? I think the latest version is SYNC 4, not sure. My brother's 2019 Ranger has SYNC 3.

I used the Focus's SYNC 1 for about eight years. It managed the audio system. AM/FM/CD/USB stick. It supported voice input, but I never used that. You could use voice commands to adjust the fan & temperature - I just used the buttons & knobs. Oh, and hands free phone operation. As usual with Microsoft, it had software bugs.

The SYNC 1 system in my 2016 F150 has a small color screen for the backup camera. It adds Sirius XM satellite radio. Nothing fancy.

CarPlay is the Apple iPhone system that connects to some car infotainment systems. Basically it puts the phone's screen onto the car screen. You can then use the car touchscreen to control stuff, or use Siri for voice commands. It is very popular on some forums I frequent, seems like a majority of people swear they will never buy a car without CarPlay. I don't have much experience with it, since I've never had a vehicle that supports it.

Hope that helps!

 

[Letas]

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?

The carplay interface is not available anywhere other than on installed carplay radio units.
You can not use it on an ipad, or a phone, or anything else.

Carplay has two great draws:
1) Easily display both GPS/Route, as well as music playing. Very easy to quickly control, for example, skipping a song or changing your waypoint.
2) removes the user from their phone. Just plug and play. Not bogged down with notifications that may distract the driver, or block the screen when getting directions.

Even a mounted iPad would be a significant downgrade from Carplay. I've been in a rental without carplay this week and genuinely feel much less safe, not to mention annoyed with using my phone for directions.

 

[AZFox]

The carplay interface is not available anywhere other than on installed carplay radio units.

Portable CarPlay/Android Auto screens are available and inexpensive.

 

[Benjamin Nead]

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.

Hey, Tucsonan, greetings from Bisbee!

I, too, now have continuing concerns about the electronic complexity of modern vehicles. The promise of OEM EVs in the early days was a reduced mechanical parts count (powerplant and drivetrain, specifically,) and after the inevitable price reduction of batteries, lower cost at both point of purchase and operating costs for the owner. 10 years of owning what is now considered a primitive early EV - a 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV, purchased used - I can attest that most of this has played out.

So, I watch with frustration when I hear about modern-and-still-expensive EVs that seem to be ridden with software problems. And so much of it seems to all the extraneous stuff . . . infotainment glitches at one end and burgeoning self-driving tech at the other. I'm pleased to see that Slate is sidestepping much of this with their "bring your own tech" approach. I also like, as another poster mentioned here, that much of the electronic bare bones will be off-the-shelf stuff from carefully-chosen supply chains. What might keep Slate busy is making sure their app will work on both iOS and Android platforms for so much of the extra gadgetry that so many owners will want to integrate with the vehicle.

 

[Benjamin Nead]

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

OBD2 ports became a requirement on all vehicles sold new in the US from 1996 forward. Although I
don't use it often, I have a rather sophisticated app was developed for owners of i-MiEVs and related worldwide variants (ones sold internationally under Peugeot and Citroen branding) that allows cell-by-cell battery health monitoring and the like. It all works through an OBD2 reader plugged into the port and broadcasting via Bluetooth to a phone or tablet.

What this particular app developer has insisted on, though, is for the vehicle owner to invest in a decent quality OBD2 reader. I think I paid around $70 for mine, which is a little on the pricy side. But it has always sncyed from vehicle to device without issues. People who buy the $20 or $30 OBD2 readers are the ones who have had problems, apparently.

 

[AZFox]

OBD2 ports became a requirement on all vehicles sold new in the US from 1996 forward.

At the risk of quibbling, all ICE vehicles, not all vehicles.

"While ICE-powered vehicles follow the industry standard for data extraction through the OBD port, EVs are not obliged to follow any such standard. Although electric vehicles are not required to comply with OBD-II DLC connector standards or use the OBD-II CAN communication protocol, many do – especially vehicles with hybrid powertrains." -- source​

Countless other sources say the same thing.