The itch that Slate scratches, the one that it sort of doesn’t

[jonboy108]

if you’ve ever seen a window sticker from, say, a 1966 Chevy Impala, you’ve also seen a bunch of individual options. You could get an Impala with a six cylinder engine and three speed stick. Add an automatic transmission, or a V8. Radio? optional extra. Rear seat speaker? Ditto. pie pan hubcaps standard, full wheel covers optional. In those days you could order everything ala cart. Now, everything is optioned to the hilt and anything extra is part of a package- Want a banging sound system? it only comes with the Premium package that includes moonroof, leather seats, etc. Slate is often thought of as a stripper- and people are sayiing but I wiant this or that. Fine, order this or that, or get it aftermarket. Over the years I’ve added FM converters to my AM radio (yep I’m that old), 8 track, casette decks, in dash stereos, etc etc. I lke Slate because i can get most everything I want and nothing I don’t. It really satisfies my personalization itch.

The only itch I feel is that I’d like a smidgen more range. Could it get to 300 miles? and if the top speed is 80, it won’t keep up with Florida freeway traffic. The interstate speed limit is now 70, they’re thinking of raising it to 80, but left lane flow often hits 90 already. I know, I can ride in the right hand lane, but I don’t want to.

 

[atx_ev]

if you’ve ever seen a window sticker from, say, a 1966 Chevy Impala, you’ve also seen a bunch of individual options. You could get an Impala with a six cylinder engine and three speed stick. Add an automatic transmission, or a V8. Radio? optional extra. Rear seat speaker? Ditto. pie pan hubcaps standard, full wheel covers optional. In those days you could order everything ala cart. Now, everything is optioned to the hilt and anything extra is part of a package- Want a banging sound system? it only comes with the Premium package that includes moonroof, leather seats, etc. Slate is often thought of as a stripper- and people are sayiing but I wiant this or that. Fine, order this or that, or get it aftermarket. Over the years I’ve added FM converters to my AM radio (yep I’m that old), 8 track, casette decks, in dash stereos, etc etc. I lke Slate because i can get most everything I want and nothing I don’t. It really satisfies my personalization itch.

The only itch I feel is that I’d like a smidgen more range. Could it get to 300 miles? and if the top speed is 80, it won’t keep up with Florida freeway traffic. The interstate speed limit is now 70, they’re thinking of raising it to 80, but left lane flow often hits 90 already. I know, I can ride in the right hand lane, but I don’t want to.

Slate is an in town truck. It clearly is not meant to regularly go large distances between cities.

I dont think EVs for longer trips work, so Ill have a gas minivan to complement the slate.

 

[Saint Alban]

Slate is an in town truck. It clearly is not meant to regularly go large distances between cities.

I dont think EVs for longer trips work, so Ill have a gas minivan to complement the slate.

I keep seeing people saying that about EV’s. “What if I want to go on a long trip?”

We’ve done this in our current EV. We just plan it out and stop at a rest stop that has DC charging stations. Plug in, use the restroom, eat, and got back on the road. I get it if you’re the type that only wants to stop for the amount of time it takes to fill up with gas. That’s just not me. Also, the hotel we stayed at charged the car for free. I guess it all comes down to preference and infrastructure. For me, I’m tired of gas vehicles and going to a gas station every week (I have a daily that I’m holding onto until the Slate comes out).

 

[Sl8rGrl]

and if the top speed is 80, it won’t keep up with Florida freeway traffic. The interstate speed limit is now 70, they’re thinking of raising it to 80, but left lane flow often hits 90 already. I know, I can ride in the right hand lane, but I don’t want to.

They've shared the top speed is 90mph, so hopefully enough for you to cruise on the FL freeways! I'm definitely not expecting to be a speed racer in my mid-20k priced Slate, so will probably stick closer to the right lane for me

 

[bartflossom]

I feel your pain, Texas has 85 mph speed limits in some spots. But I think 90 is plenty enough for me.

 

[KevinRS]

For people worried about road trips, you've got to ask yourself, what is the longest 1 day of travel road trip you make, each way?
For a lot of people in my area, they probably would say the trip to Las Vegas, which does edge into being inconvenient with a Slate, because it would be 2 charging stops along the way. But if you only make that kind of trip once a year or something, consider a rental vehicle. My parents did that for that kind of trip 30 years ago, just to reduce the wear on their daily drivers, and have a chance to drive something different.
I have no intention to go to Las Vegas, if some event did come up, I'd look at options of flying, renting, or just plan to charge twice along the way.
For trips a bit shorter, 1 charging stop is hardly an inconvenience, it will probably charge back to 80% before you can finish eating lunch.

 

[jonboy108]

Slate is an in town truck. It clearly is not meant to regularly go large distances between cities.

I dont think EVs for longer trips work, so Ill have a gas minivan to complement the slate.

After having driven electric for ten years and \ over 160k miles I feel like I have a clue about driving electric. From Cleveland Ohio, I’ve driven to Queen City Missouri (find THAT on a map) Michigan UP, Fort Myers Florida, New Orleans, Asheville NC, Floyd VA, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Niagara Falls, and a few road trips I’ve forgotten. So, yes it is definitely possible to go over the road in an electric vehicle. Where I live in Florida, away from the maddening crowd, every trip to Home Depot or Lowes means a jump onto the freeway. Visiting relatives in state ditto. So, while I can use the 240-250 range, it would be just that much more convenient to have closer to 300. Heat in cold climates and A/C in hot ones steals range. After not visiting a gas pump for all these years, I’m not about to “go back” to an ICE vehicle. I’ve rented cars from time to time, and that’s also doable but I like having my own ride with all my bric a brac on board. Is the “long range” Slate my dream car? Still is, and it’s a second car for us, my wife’s model S will be the road tripper.

 

[jonboy108]

I keep seeing people saying that about EV’s. “What if I want to go on a long trip?”

We’ve done this in our current EV. We just plan it out and stop at a rest stop that has DC charging stations. Plug in, use the restroom, eat, and got back on the road. I get it if you’re the type that only wants to stop for the amount of time it takes to fill up with gas. That’s just not me. Also, the hotel we stayed at charged the car for free. I guess it all comes down to preference and infrastructure. For me, I’m tired of gas vehicles and going to a gas station every week (I have a daily that I’m holding onto until the Slate comes out).

I had to laugh when I was leaning on the fender of my EV, chasrging at a WAWA, and a guy comes up to me and starts telling me how impractical EVs are, how you can’t take them on long trips, etc. I was at the tail end of a 1k plus trip from northern Ohio to south Florida. Oh yea, the trip was a non-stop marathon, except for charging, bathroom and food (all done at the same stop)

 

[cadblu]

I had to laugh when I was leaning on the fender of my EV, chasrging at a WAWA, and a guy comes up to me and starts telling me how impractical EVs are, how you can’t take them on long trips, etc. I was at the tail end of a 1k plus trip from northern Ohio to south Florida. Oh yea, the trip was a non-stop marathon, except for charging, bathroom and food (all done at the same stop)

Perhaps many of us are forgetting that, as we age, road trips will require more frequent rest stops. Not for resting, mind you, but I'm talking about bathroom breaks. Note that this frequency might also be adversely affected with females on board. And with so many Tesla charging points along major routes, for me the NY Thruway and NJ Turnpike, both can be accomplished with a single visit.

If you have a lucky to have large capacity bladder, this message is not for you. Just saying.

 

[jonboy108]

Perhaps many of us are forgetting that, as we age, road trips will require more frequent rest stops. Not for resting, mind you, but I'm talking about bathroom breaks. Note that this frequency might also be adversely affected with females on board. And with so many Tesla charging points along major routes, for me the NY Thruway and NJ Turnpike, both can be accomplished with a single visit.

If you have a lucky to have large capacity bladder, this message is not for you. Just saying.

MY urinary system does not let me forget that, just sayin.

 

[phidauex]

This is one of those cases where people really need to just listen to actual EV owners. I've been taking road trips for 5 years in the MachE (same nominal range as the Slate extended battery), and it is just fine. Yes the total trip time will be slightly longer. No it will not be as much longer as you think since the stops overlap with breaks. Yes you should be taking longer breaks and walking more on trips regardless of your vehicle's range. Yes there are occasional charging issues with the infrastructure. No it isn't a big deal. Yes the charging infrastructure now is light years ahead of where it was 5 years ago. Yes I'd take 300 or 400 mi range if it were available. No I don't feel like paying $50k more for that.

 

[jonboy108]

This is one of those cases where people really need to just listen to actual EV owners. I've been taking road trips for 5 years in the MachE (same nominal range as the Slate extended battery), and it is just fine. Yes the total trip time will be slightly longer. No it will not be as much longer as you think since the stops overlap with breaks. Yes you should be taking longer breaks and walking more on trips regardless of your vehicle's range. Yes there are occasional charging issues with the infrastructure. No it isn't a big deal. Yes the charging infrastructure now is light years ahead of where it was 5 years ago. Yes I'd take 300 or 400 mi range if it were available. No I don't feel like paying $50k more for that.

I agree… since I’m the one that started this thread, I feel like I should clarify my earlier range comment. I’ve been driving an early (2015) Tesla model S which never had more than 250 rated miles, and a first gen (2020) Tesla model Y which was alleged to have 300 mile range. Never did see that. I’d LIKE to have a smidge more range, but I am not spending the big bucks to get that. I’m willing to bet that Slate and company have done a good bit of homework in researching real world needs and usage.

 

[GaRailroader]

The EPA range estimates are made up of 55% city driving and 45% highway. The standard range won’t be good for 150 miles on the highway while it will be able to do more than 150 in the city. Since many owner’s use case will be a 2nd car for around town use perhaps the range limitation won’t be as big a deal as people make it out to be.

 

[sodamo]

Rather than react, maybe folks should approach mileage via a pure analytical approach.
In my case, the standard battery mileage will suffice with exception of one possible trip that over the last 15 years averages less than 6 times per year. Using what it would cost to drive my ICE vehicle and assuming the extended battery is $4k, it would take me almost 20 years to justify. Unknown what that cost would be for me to charge at destination, but assume it would be even less than gas as I would only require a partial charge and of course I’d be stopped anyway. Part of my rationale is heavily influenced by my desire to never pay to charge unless emergency. I’m off grid.
Of course someone making extended trips at higher frequency would have a different view, but again, ya gotta stop sometime anyway.