Would you buy a used Slate truck?

[cvollers]

All I've ever bought have been used cars, for the past 50 years. Because a lot of new car buyers actually lease instead of buy outright these days, I keep an eye 2 to 3 years in the past to remember what's potentially interesting.

Leased vehicles seem to get watched carefully by dealerships and the lesee often has to do things like buy a set of new tires before bringing back and having it show up in the used lot. You now also have independent auto history tracking services, like Carfax, to keep everyone honest.

If I get the Slate as envisioned now, it will be the first time for me ever buying a vehicle as new. But, yeah, a lot could happen in 18 months.

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Here will be the cheapest way to buy a used Slate EV Truck, with a timeline that assumes the first batch of new ones will be out there in January 2027 and there are no federal EV incentives. This scenario also assumes that 150 mile ones will be $27K and 240 mile ones will be $30K when sold new . . .

Late 2029 to early 2030: The first batch of Slates begins to show up at dealerships. Roughly 40% to 50% depreciation is standard. So a 2027 150 mile one will be between $13K to $17K. Same Slate but with a 240 mile pack will be between $15K to $19K. Some of these price variances might indicate some nice accessories included in the deal.

This is good news for the used Slate buyer - and 2nd owner - 5 to 6 years into the future who snags a clean lease return and plans to simply drive it until it isn't worth it any longer. The one thing that the used Slate buyer will want to watch for is to make sure that they are the 2nd owner and not the 3rd or 4th.

Traction battery warranties for modern EVs are typically transferable to the 2nd owner. Most are now 10 years from the delivery date to the original owner (not the vehicle manufacture date) or 100K miles, whichever comes first.

So, owner number 2 could get "lucky" and have the original battery fail in 2037, but be eligible for a new pack under warranty. As to what that new pack will be - another identical NMC or something fancier that they're putting in all the new Slates is anyone's guess.

OK, that's it. But none of the above is applicable until 2030.

I like this scenario, but only if my home charging situation isn’t resolved in 12 months (it could be). If not, I’m probably going Civic hybrid lease to get the needed fuel economy then will go used Slate in 2030 and return the Civic.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

I like this scenario, but only if my home charging situation isn’t resolved in 12 months (it could be). If not, I’m probably going Civic hybrid lease to get the needed fuel economy then will go used Slate in 2030 and return the Civic.

dude, this is AutoAmerica, trying to plan years in the future? Impossible!
Bury your $$ in a solid investment, and when you see what you want, deliverable in less than 3 months, BUY IT

Until then, its all hype.

Me? I want an Aptera, (and a Slate as well for the pickup-stuff) but my chances right now I would say are less than 50-50.
Remember, I'm English, we gamble, always, on everything.

SO? what did I buy, for my 70-th birthday present to myself?
An Arcimoto, 3 wheel EV, sort of what happens when you leave an ATV, a golf-cart, and a Lambo, unattended, in the garage, on Halloween.