Slate announces Tesla supercharger access + 4,000 service / repair shops RepairPal partnership!

[KevinRS]

On repairing the motor-drive unit or battery, that probably won't be happening. If one fails, it will probably just be a swap, at least within the warrantee period. Any shop that does EV powertrain work should be able to do that quickly.
Maybe after that people will start working on the internals. Under federal law that's 8 years/100k miles, in California 10 years 150k miles on the battery at least. My guess is Slate will just go with the most stringent requirement and apply it nationwide.

 

[atreis]

I think I have it correct. $5,000.

The $3,500 price increase is my calculation for the 30kWh size increase based on a Goldman Sachs estimate of about $80/kWh (before profit) for EV batteries in 2026.

Add those numbers up, even at a MSRP of $25,000 ("mid twenties") the big battery Slate SUV is $34,000 estimated. $34K buys a leather-equipped 4-door Mazda CX-5, or a Chevy Equinox EV LT2. Both have way nicer interiors than the Slate AND a choice of paint colors. I doubt many soccer moms are going to want a 2-door SUV. I still have a concern that Slate will be carrying SUV kits 10 years into the 1st Gen Truck's lifespan.

Not trying to be an argumentative Troll, just stating reality.

The CX-5 isn't an EV, and while the Equinox is a fine EV, neither of them is a pickup. They're for different use cases.

And for me, neither are flat-towable. I figure the Slate, as I want it, will probably be close to $40K and I'm fine with that, so long as it's flat-towable.

 

[sodamo]

Hoping the full on SUV is closer to $3500 vs $5000 and further reduced maybe 1/3 to 1/2 (or more) without rollbar and seats. Pretty much decided I can survive nicely with standard battery, but would keep an open mind as to a new alternative.

 

[E90400K]

The CX-5 isn't an EV, and while the Equinox is a fine EV, neither of them is a pickup. They're for different use cases.

And for me, neither are flat-towable. I figure the Slate, as I want it, will probably be close to $40K and I'm fine with that, so long as it's flat-towable.

Please pay attention to the subject matter.

The subject I was discussing was when a buyer decides to purchase the $5,000 SUV package and the 84 kWh battery ($3,500 increase - estimated), which changes the Slate Truck to a $34K SUV with 240 miles of range, THEN the Slate IS comparable to a $34K ICE SUV or $34K EV SUV offered by the established legacy manufacturers that have a national presence in nearly every state with multiple dealerships.

 

[atreis]

THEN the Slate IS comparable to a $34K ICE SUV

But it's not. It's an EV, not ICE, can be converted back to a pickup. The CX-5 has 4 doors. They're two very different vehicles that fill different use cases that are only comparable on price. (Also, the Slate is hopefully going to be flat-towable.)

$34K EV SUV offered by the established legacy manufacturers

The Slate can be converted back to a pickup, which the Equinox can't, and the Equinox has 4 doors, which the slate doesn't. It's up to the use case and not really comparable. (Also, flat-towable.)

legacy manufacturers that have a national presence in nearly every state with multiple dealerships.

If this is a primary consideration for someone, they're not going to buy a Slate regardless of the price, pickup/SUV, or anything else. It's a red herring.

 

[E90400K]

But it's not. It's an EV, not ICE, can be converted back to a pickup. The CX-5 has 4 doors. They're two very different vehicles that fill different use cases that are only comparable on price. (Also, the Slate is hopefully going to be flat-towable.)

The Slate can be converted back to a pickup, which the Equinox can't, and the Equinox has 4 doors, which the slate doesn't. It's up to the use case and not really comparable. (Also, flat-towable.)

If this is a primary consideration for someone, they're not going to buy a Slate regardless of the price, pickup/SUV, or anything else. It's a red herring.

When one chooses to convert a Slate Pickup into an SUV with the $5,000 (as quoted by the CEO of Slate) then the vehicle becomes an SUV. The owner on purpose switched it to an SUV from a pickup truck. Being able to switch it back is immaterial to the discussion. If you don't think the majority of the market doesn't cross shop EV and ICEV at-the-same-price-level, well then, you'd be mistaken, the sales figures state otherwise.

Based on a lot of replies in this thread, Slate not having a national recognized service network for its Truck seems to be an issue. But you can read the thread how you want.

If you want a flat-towable vehicle for $40K, I suggest finding a 15-year old Jeep Wrangler with a manual transfercase and manual transmission. Find one in decent shape and refurb it.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

When one chooses to convert a Slate Pickup into an SUV with the $5,000 (as quoted by the CEO of Slate) then the vehicle becomes an SUV. The owner on purpose switched it to an SUV from a pickup truck. Being able to switch it back is immaterial to the discussion. If you don't think the majority of the market doesn't cross shop EV and ICEV at-the-same-price-level, well then, you'd be mistaken, the sales figures state otherwise.

Based on a lot of replies in this thread, Slate not having a national recognized service network for its Truck seems to be an issue. But you can read the thread how you want.

If you want a flat-towable vehicle for $40K, I suggest finding a 15-year old Jeep Wrangler with a manual transfercase and manual transmission. Find one in decent shape and refurb it.

To be a contrarian, if I put on national guard gear for a weekend and dress and function like a soldier, I'm not always a hero. I take off the extra gear (the SUV kit), and I'm a plain old plastic 2 seater truck - that can be flat towed.

But, to say that a refurb Wrangler (ICE) is the same as a NEW (EV) flat-towed vehicle doesn't hit quite right.

$5K is gonna push the upper limits on this SUV set up, along with bigger battery and some other adds.

I feel the angst (along with mish mosh of repair centers), but I'm not bailing on my $50 just yet. As interest rates come down (I'm betting on 4 more rate cuts over next 15 months), the future value of that $50 doesn't really explode over the next 15 months.

YMMV.

 

[atx_ev]

Please pay attention to the subject matter.

The subject I was discussing was when a buyer decides to purchase the $5,000 SUV package and the 84 kWh battery ($3,500 increase - estimated), which changes the Slate Truck to a $34K SUV with 240 miles of range, THEN the Slate IS comparable to a $34K ICE SUV or $34K EV SUV offered by the established legacy manufacturers that have a national presence in nearly every state with multiple dealerships.

but arent flat towable and cant be used as a pickup truck.

I do agree that the SUV option doesnt make nearly as much sense as the truck option. Id probably rather hook up a trailer to an equinox than take the shell off the SUV to turn it into the truck for infrequent hauling events.

However if you were going to mostly keep it as an SUV, but periodically use it as a truck for weeks at a time, then the slate is better for that use case than an equinox + trailer.

your arguments always boil down to pointing out specific use cases where the slate is not as good, while refusing to recognize the use cases where the slate is better. The fact that you do that over and over is what makes you a troll.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

but arent flat towable and cant be used as a pickup truck.

I do agree that the SUV option doesnt make nearly as much sense as the truck option. Id probably rather hook up a trailer to an equinox than take the shell off the SUV to turn it into the truck for infrequent hauling events.

However if you were going to mostly keep it as an SUV, but periodically use it as a truck for weeks at a time, then the slate is better for that use case than an equinox + trailer.

your arguments always boil down to pointing out specific use cases where the slate is not as good, while refusing to recognize the use cases where the slate is better. The fact that you do that over and over is what makes you a troll.

You make a couple of interesting points that I'm experiencing now.

I just traded my Lightning (in a fit of despair b/c Ford could NOT figure out how to fix it and I was tired of it sitting in their shop) for a PHEV SUV.

I used the Lightning every weekend for legit "truck things". Now I'll use my 6x10' trailer for "trailer things" behind this little SUV (with 6K # tow capacity). I'll give up the instant bed access of the Lightning, but hopefully won't always be worried about which key electrical component will fail on any given day.

All while I wait around for Slate to bake and become a thing...or whatever Toyota is cooking up next? (Every Ford I've owned in 15 years has had electrical issues....what's their deal?).

And, some on this forum love to be right, even when they might not be...Pride is a heck of thing.

 

[E90400K]

but arent flat towable and cant be used as a pickup truck.

I do agree that the SUV option doesnt make nearly as much sense as the truck option. Id probably rather hook up a trailer to an equinox than take the shell off the SUV to turn it into the truck for infrequent hauling events.

However if you were going to mostly keep it as an SUV, but periodically use it as a truck for weeks at a time, then the slate is better for that use case than an equinox + trailer.

your arguments always boil down to pointing out specific use cases where the slate is not as good, while refusing to recognize the use cases where the slate is better. The fact that you do that over and over is what makes you a troll.

Lol.
Let's review...

In this thread I suggested that if one were to spend the extra $8,500 to covert the Slate Truck to a Slate SUV, it puts the price in the range of numerous small SUV (class size) in the $34,000 price range, both EV and ICEV. atreis decided to argue the point that the Slate is an EV and still a pickup truck vs. the CX-5 I used as a price comparison in the SUV class. None of his points are a counter argument to what I said. I clarified just to make sure he understood.

I made my point in reference to CONVERTING the Slate pickup to an SUV. atreis is the one who offered up a different use case, where the owner will SWAP back and forth between pickup and SUV. If you think a majority of Slate owners are going to switch back and forth between pickup truck and SUV like changing clothes, good on ya then. That's not the use case I was discussing and I'll I bet all of a few owners are going to switch back and forth between pickup and SUV.

 

[Bayfire2441]

I mean, Slate is the only 2 door EV that can be had. As far as I know its the only EV with a removable top (in the U.S.). It's price point isn't as good as it was with the incentives, and the average buyer probably won't buy a Slate for numerous reasons. However, I'd say there are still plenty of advantages to the Slate. They just aren't advantages most people care about. Can Slate survive long term as a niche product? That remains to be seen. But my point here is, I'm not sure that the average buyer in the car world will choose a Slate. So maybe Slate's average buyer won't be the average car buyer. As much as Slate would prefer to have everyone, I don't see it.

 

[sodamo]

Gosh, I really need to work on my being always right skills - so lacking…

My take - the predominate buyer is for a small, 2 door, EV, TRUCK, other considerations are less important to most, but vary.
Will I add the SUV top? Yes. Just like I’ve added a Leer topper to my last 4 trucks. Will I still get truck use? Yes, minus the limitation imposed by the topper. The removable panel of the Slate SUV ( not a feature of the previous listed “comparables, yes”) will let me recapture a bit of my lost truck capability.
I added a Leer topper to my Tundra, but did it make it a Sequoia? Would a Sequoia been a comparable substitute, just a bit more expensive? Could have cross shopped even a 4Runner, but guess what, neither were a truck. MY Tundra is a truck. Does the topper limit some truck functions, yes, but acceptably so. My Slate will still be a small, 2 door, EV truck (With a topper)

 

[E90400K]

To be a contrarian, if I put on national guard gear for a weekend and dress and function like a soldier, I'm not always a hero. I take off the extra gear (the SUV kit), and I'm a plain old plastic 2 seater truck - that can be flat towed.

But, to say that a refurb Wrangler (ICE) is the same as a NEW (EV) flat-towed vehicle doesn't hit quite right.

$5K is gonna push the upper limits on this SUV set up, along with bigger battery and some other adds.

I feel the angst (along with mish mosh of repair centers), but I'm not bailing on my $50 just yet. As interest rates come down (I'm betting on 4 more rate cuts over next 15 months), the future value of that $50 doesn't really explode over the next 15 months.

YMMV.

In nearly every post from @atreis he mentions his need to flat-tow a vehicle behind is RV. He has stated he hopes Slate addresses his need to flat-tow. You can read on most car forums that flat-towing modern vehicles that have computer-controlled drivetrains is difficult. You can read numerous posts on the Bronco forums where owners follow the instructions to set their Bronco in flat-tow mode only to find they have burned out the automatic transmission because the computer did not set the automatic into neutral or the automatic for some reason switched out of flat-tow mode.

Making an EV flat-towable is not a simple task because most EV have some level of regenerative braking. Even electric golf carts have a switch to electrically to disconnect the electric motor. I suggested a vehicle that has manual-shifting driveline transmissions that no computer is required to operate their gear selection modes. I didn't say a refurbed Wrangler is the same as a new EV, I suggested a fully-manual Wrangler (i.e. physical-lever-shifted transmission and transfer case) to eliminate concerns with flat-towing a vehicle behind an RV.

For Christ's sake.