Slate Hires New CEO Peter Faricy. Ex-CEO Chris Barman appointed new role

[AZFox]

I don't want my Slate to transmit radio signals at all.
No Bluetooth
No Wi-Fi
No cellular
Radio silence for the win.

When it's parked I want it to just sit there waiting for signals from the fob. That's the extent of it.

If you could turn that off I might even do that.

 

[bloo]

Emailed Slate about the key and if it’ll have keys in the fob. They responded quickly. Seems like it’ll include two “manual keys”. Still doesn’t answer if the keys are built into the fob or if I’ll be carrying a manual key as well. Would prefer the “manual key” or emergency key to be built into the fob, either a blade or ejection style system.

I was wrong about that, too.

Good.

 

[cadblu]

I wonder what "There will also be a Slate app available" means in that context.

…but it’s completely optional…

Not sure what they’re getting at. Does that mean optional at extra cost? So we now have three options to unlock the truck:

1. Key fob
2. Manual key
3. Slate App (but you need to be close by, within line of sight)

 

[E90400K]

Emailed Slate about the key and if it’ll have keys in the fob. They responded quickly. Seems like it’ll include two “manual keys”. Still doesn’t answer if the keys are built into the fob or if I’ll be carrying a manual key as well. Would prefer the “manual key” or emergency key to be built into the fob, either a blade or ejection style system.

My BMW E90 had that exact ignition system format. A slot in the dash to unlock the ignition (and steering wheel) with the key fob, which kept it charged. The fob had a removable metal blade that slid and clipped into the fob.

 

[AZFox]

1. Key fob
2. Manual key
3. Slate App (but you need to be close by, within line of sight)

My guess is that #3 would be via some sort of cellular data connection, so not line of sight.

The fob is already line of sight, after all.

Just a guess....

 

[cadblu]

My guess is that #3 would be via some sort of cellular data connection, so not line of sight.

The fob is already line of sight, after all.

Just a guess....

Correct. But in previous articles we learned there is no cellular connection, so I suspect the app will connect via Bluetooth which has an approximate 30’ range.

 

[AZFox]

Correct. But in previous articles we learned there is no cellular connection, so I suspect the app will connect via Bluetooth which has an approximate 30’ range.

If there's a BT transceiver there's no way you'd want to leave it turned on when you're away from the vehicle.

A cellular dongle with a subscription would do the trick.

I don't like Feature Subscriptions and I'm not alone in that regard.

 

[KevinRS]

Correct. But in previous articles we learned there is no cellular connection, so I suspect the app will connect via Bluetooth which has an approximate 30’ range.

Someone did get an answer that mentioned a possible add on module that would enable a wireless connection, that is where the cellular connection would come in. Bluetooth wouldn't likely have more range than the fob, so that seems doubtful as a connection method.

 

[E90400K]

Is having the ability to unlock your car with a smartphone really that important?

If you can't deal with using either a metal blade key, or pushing a button on a key fob to unlock the car and need to have your smartphone do every frickin' thing for you in your life, then just use the Uber or Lyft app to satisfy your transportation needs.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

If there's a BT transceiver there's no way you'd want to leave it turned on when you're away from the vehicle.

A cellular dongle with a subscription would do the trick.

I don't like Feature Subscriptions and I'm not alone in that regard.

Totally understandable. But as you can imagine a business owner/fleet operator might possibly have a different approach in order to manage their fleet.

Just suggesting that the forum peanut gallery won't represent all use cases.

Is having the ability to unlock your car with a smartphone really that important?

If you can't deal with using either a metal blade key, or pushing a button on a key fob to unlock the car and need to have your smartphone do every frickin' thing for you in your life, then just use the Uber or Lyft app to satisfy your transportation needs.

This again??? I love you brother but you've got to start thinking bigger! There are more uses for a smartphone app than just locking/unlocking. (emojis used to defuse tension)

1. It would be nice to know when the vehicle is finished charging to avoid congestion fees at charging stations
2. Set charging start time and charge rate for certain charging locations
3. Precondition cab temp
4. Location, speed & direction services (not necessarily for everyone but helpful for some.)
5. Ordering accessories like wood plank bumpers lolool

 

[E90400K]

Totally understandable. But as you can imagine a business owner/fleet operator might possibly have a different approach in order to manage their fleet.

Just suggesting that the forum peanut gallery won't represent all use cases.


This again??? I love you brother but you've got to start thinking bigger! There are more uses for a smartphone app than just locking/unlocking. (emojis used to defuse tension)

1. It would be nice to know when the vehicle is finished charging to avoid congestion fees at charging stations
2. Set charging start time and charge rate for certain charging locations
3. Precondition cab temp
4. Location, speed & direction services (not necessarily for everyone but helpful for some.)
5. Ordering accessories like wood plank bumpers lolool

No offense taken .

I completely see the point. I agree with 1 thru 5 (especially 5) would be nice-to-haves, but a need to unlock the vehicle using your smartphone just adds a layer of security/complexity that the Slate Ethos is trying to avoid. The 1 thru 4 metrics are really not a security issue but still expensive to implement across the broad universe of smartphone and operating systems and their supporting cellular networks (protocols). If I correctly understand the Slate Ethos, simple is less expensive and significantly reduces the software engineering support required to keep the product bug-free.

It seems the Slate Ethos is more geared to the petrolhead axiom of gas 'N go vs. complete connectivity to the machine. The reason EVs have the big screen TVs is exactly because of the connectivity and metrics that is really necessary to best live with the machine.

It seems this is a "cake and eat it to" situation(?).

 

[KevinRS]

No offense taken .

I completely see the point. I agree with 1 thru 5 (especially 5) would be nice-to-haves, but a need to unlock the vehicle using your smartphone just adds a layer of security/complexity that the Slate Ethos is trying to avoid. The 1 thru 4 metrics are really not a security issue but still expensive to implement across the broad universe of smartphone and operating systems and their supporting cellular networks (protocols). If I correctly understand the Slate Ethos, simple is less expensive and significantly reduces the software engineering support required to keep the product bug-free.

It seems the Slate Ethos is more geared to the petrolhead axiom of gas 'N go vs. complete connectivity to the machine. The reason EVs have the big screen TVs is exactly because of the connectivity and metrics that is really necessary to best live with the machine.

It seems this is a "cake and eat it to" situation(?).

Those things would likely be added with an add on module, that's already been mentioned in an answer to someone's question, that was posted in a thread. Probably you would buy the module, and pay a fee for the cell connection, most likely basically similar to paying a prepaid phone, where you could stop it and restart it whenever you want.
Unlocking with a phone is a less useful thing, I don't think anyone here is pushing that they want that. 1-4 are becoming standard across EVs though, and not having at least part of them available would be a deal breaker for some. However once you have the connectivity, adding the lock/unlock function is trivial. 4 has been mentioned to a fleet customer by a Slate rep, as a fleet operator may have need to know where their fleet is.
It seems highly likely that Slate will have all these functions available, just not on the base Slate, They are probably well into the development and testing of the software for it.

I rode with my Uncle in his EV to a family event, we got to the area early, he parked at a charger, set the percent to charge to, we went into a fast food place for lunch, he checked his phone to see the charging was done, then went out and moved his EV from the charger to a regular parking space. Having to go out to the truck to check if charging was complete would add a lot of friction, especially if you are in a high demand area trying to avoid penalties for sitting there when charging is done.
Someone purely driving local, and charging strictly on your own charger, that wouldn't be a concern, but you are going to want it if you drive approaching the range limit even occasionally.