Slate full teardown after 160K miles

[cadblu]

I would be more interested in a 5, 10, and 15 year UV exposure test to the body panels and interior materials.

Well I guess that wasn’t the intention of the test since they started with a wrapped truck.

And from the looks of it, the wrap didn’t hold up very well.

 

[E90400K]

Well I guess that wasn’t the intention of the test since they started with a wrapped truck.

And from the looks of it, the wrap didn’t hold up very well.

All the more reason for Slate to also provide a paint formula that is best to use on the plastic body or sell a paint kit as an option instead of wrap.

My 2-cents.

 

[E90400K]

$50 of rattle can paint will be just as nice as the wrap kit after a year of exposure...

Just saying.

 

[KevinRS]

That truck wouldn't have had the final panel materials. I don't know that we have seen one with the final panels, people have been told at events that the panels they were seeing weren't final.

 

[bloo]

The teardown would've been faster in some Providence neighborhoods.

 

[NMNeil]

Same here is az your lucky if it will last the summer though before cracking

It may make the use of a vehicle wrap mandatory to make the body panels last any length of time.
Maybe it would become part of a 5 year service routine; change the wrap.

 

[sodamo]

Many many years ago when I did coating research we had a UV accelerator, crude but effective as any coating that failed in there definitely would fail in real world. Effective enough we built a second one. Of course we also contracted with facility that actually tested parts real time in the elements, but honestly, any of you really want to wait 15 years?

 

[KevinRS]

Many many years ago when I did coating research we had a UV accelerator, crude but effective as any coating that failed in there definitely would fail in real world. Effective enough we built a second one. Of course we also contracted with facility that actually tested parts real time in the elements, but honestly, any of you really want to wait 15 years?

They likely have had panels in testing starting before the April announcement last year, back when they were running dark.

 

[sodamo]

They likely have had panels in testing starting before the April announcement last year, back when they were running dark.

Absolutely, but those results likely not to be released to public, no reason to.

 

[KevinRS]

Absolutely, but those results likely not to be released to public, no reason.

Exactly, no company just goes and releases all their testing results, but some here seem to think that amounts to some kind of betrayal.

 

[E90400K]

Many many years ago when I did coating research we had a UV accelerator, crude but effective as any coating that failed in there definitely would fail in real world. Effective enough we built a second one. Of course we also contracted with facility that actually tested parts real time in the elements, but honestly, any of you really want to wait 15 years?

Salt fog chambers really do work. 1st hand knowledge.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

It may make the use of a vehicle wrap mandatory to make the body panels last any length of time.
Maybe it would become part of a 5 year service routine; change the wrap.

Yeah but I think wraps here only last 2 years unless you have a garage then yeah maybe 5

 

[Luxrage]

Pleased to see that the headlight panels are a separate piece from the bumper and come off with only a few screws, allowing access to the headlights. Some would argue that makes them easier to steal, but as someone who's has to remove the entire front fascia and bumper from a car to get at em before, I like that.

 

[RetiredOnPaper]

I am 100% go on the Slate. However, here are some of my concerns; Parts will we be able to order standard parts (headlights, panels, seats, steering wheel) at a reasonable price?) The base truck should be able to "fly" off the assembly line once everything is in place and the operators know their jobs. BUT, extra parts, panels, will need to be warehoused. (=$$$) shipped (=$$$). Will these be manufactured in Warsaw or contracted out? My understanding is items like seat warmers will have access points for plugging in. If that's the case, could I go to ye friendly old junk yard and get a nice set of Tesla seats and just plug them in? It will be interesting to see what they use for a business model. How much will they rely on Amazon?

 

[KevinRS]

I am 100% go on the Slate. However, here are some of my concerns; Parts will we be able to order standard parts (headlights, panels, seats, steering wheel) at a reasonable price?) The base truck should be able to "fly" off the assembly line once everything is in place and the operators know their jobs. BUT, extra parts, panels, will need to be warehoused. (=$$$) shipped (=$$$). Will these be manufactured in Warsaw or contracted out? My understanding is items like seat warmers will have access points for plugging in. If that's the case, could I go to ye friendly old junk yard and get a nice set of Tesla seats and just plug them in? It will be interesting to see what they use for a business model. How much will they rely on Amazon?

To start, there is no indication they will have any link to Amazon, besides investors in common. As many as possible of the parts are going to be industry standard commodity parts. An easy one is the headlights. It looks like they are one of the standard LED headlights you can buy pretty cheap to put in older vehicles that use round headlights. What they can source from other companies who already make the same or similar parts and know what they are doing, they source from those companies. It's a little early to be asking about replacement parts pricing when the truck is 6-9 months from first deliveries, and we won't have solid pricing on anything for another 3.