Slate Is It Vapourware?

Pointed Sticks say she's

Slate's a startup backed in part by the river guy is this rhetorical real thing we're waiting for?

https://insideevs.com/news/757649/slate-auto-truck-suv-revealed/

Here's another look at it:   https://www.theverge.com/electric-cars/655527/slate-electric-truck-price-paint-radio-bezos

I think it's brilliant and I would buy one to use as a pickup and city runabout.   For grocery runs, hardware store, dump runs, etc., it would be perfect and keep the miles off the 14mpg Pathfinder so we can save it for towing and when we need 3 rows.

I like that it's a single cab and it's boxy like a truck should be, but my opinion is probably in the minority. It reminds me of a first generation Ford Ranger. 

Not vaporware.  I know people that work there.  Still a ways to go for production but apparently they have a good team of real engineers, etc. working on it.  

OMG, I love it.  It's like a good Bronco II.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Oyjx0wTxU

stuart in mn said:

I like that it's a single cab and it's boxy like a truck should be, but my opinion is probably in the minority. It reminds me of a first generation Ford Ranger. 

That's exactly what I thought too.  

I'm pretty sure I want one.

I think it's cool. I like that it's basic and modular. It has crank windows! A range of 150 miles is not enough for me, but I would think that would improve down the road. 

akylekoz said:

OMG, I love it.  It's like a good Bronco II.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Oyjx0wTxU

LOL. Oh, they must mean my little mule....Pepe!

I like it. The website is up and fun to mess around in. https://www.slate.auto/en

This image implies a 4ft wide bed. At 5ft long, it's about the same as a normal 1500 crew cab.

I found this size comparison interesting too. Longer bed than a Maverick, about the same size as the OG Toyota pickup. 1400 lbs payload. 

No idea whether Slate is vaporware or not, but trucks seem much more likely to find customers than Aptera.

As someone who was excited about the prospect of the Mahindra pickup (remember that?) and who purchased a hybrid Maverick, a ~$20k electric single cab pickup interests me greatly.

I love how it's stripped down, doesn't have 37 screens, doesn't have 900 horsepower and doesn't weigh 8k lbs.

I already put a deposit down 

I went to look for a reminder picture of a 1985 Toyota Pickup (and thought I would share it with the rest of the class):

This too is the 1985, Original 4Runner (though Slate will not be 4wd)

In 1985, the MSRP of a Toyota Pickup, 2wd, short box was $6,613 which the internet says is $19,655 today.  
Interesting $20k target.  
However, the Toyota MSRP could go all the way to $11,063 or $32.9k today.  

Im sure that light blue, bottom right corner version will be well over $33k...if not over $40k

In reply to John Welsh :

Hmm. Some of those renders are pretty damn cool - especially the no doors/no roof version!

Put wheel arch flares on it and it would look an awful lot like the Alpha Wolf.

I'm all aboard that Defender look. It's an interesting concept.

My quibble would be how legal that phone set up is in practice. As much as everyone complains about infotainment screens, I'd rather have the tablet mirroring the phone, as accomplishing tasks like adjusting the route and queuing the next podcast is a lot easier on bigger screens. The HVAC controls and extra button set they offer is great and removes the "everything through tablet" nonsense that gets in the way of those essential functions.

I'm going to have to hold out for an AWD/4WD version personally, as my chosen winter hobby demands it in order for me to be the one track out all the fresh snow.

I'm also going to wait to see what kind of telemetry this thing is found to collect. While I know Jeff Bezos isn't running the operation, his involvement, however slight, is enough to immediately hold them at arm's length.

In reply to The0retical :

All fair points. Counterpoint: Any car made in the last 15 years that has OnStar, Navigation, Satellite Radio or any form of SOS function has also been collecting data on you. From preliminary reports, this truck won't have any of those things.

Sign me up for the dual motor AWD version with a bit more pep. 

The bed needs to be a foot longer, and add a few more inches behind the door for behind seat storage or seat recline. 

Otherwise, I really dig it. We were talking about these as maybe new co pany trucks this morning. Be interested to see how it all plays out!

The0retical said:

My quibble would be how legal that phone set up is in practice. As much as everyone complains about infotainment screens, I'd rather have the tablet mirroring the phone, as accomplishing tasks like adjusting the route and queuing the next podcast is a lot easier on bigger screens. The HVAC controls and extra button set they offer is great and removes the "everything through tablet" nonsense that gets in the way of those essential functions.

It doesn't have speakers, how are you going to listen to podcasts?

 

In reply to Tony Sestito :

if it will charge over night on 110-- 150 is perfect for a runabout.

In reply to calteg :

Yeah they're collecting data however they can, but I don't have to take it lying down. Given all the BS that has come of manufacturers selling it to LexisNexus it's probably prudent to at least understand the risk factors and figure out if it can be disabled by removing the fuse or snipping the antenna. I hear that's step 1 of owning a C8 Corvette these days.

In reply to TravisTheHuman :

It looks like a mini truck. Therefore, we must follow the natural laws of owning a mini truck. Law 1: OE stereo must be removed. Law 2: A stereo that will break every window in a 3 block radius must be installed. This thing just skips the first in favor of getting to the second faster, which is thoughtful.

The0retical said:

In reply to TravisTheHuman :

It looks like a mini truck. Therefore, we must follow the natural laws of owning a mini truck. Law 1: OE stereo must be removed. Law 2: A stereo that will break every window in a 3 block radius must be installed. This thing just skips the first in favor of getting to the second faster, which is thoughtful.

Looking at their claims of upcoming accessories, I see one that is just a aa/carplay screen with a single speaker, all as one piece.  And I'm totally fine with that.

Pretty in-depth article about its engineering: https://www.theautopian.com/heres-the-engineering-behind-jeff-bezos-20k-slate-ev/

Some notes: steel unibody, highly engineered bed to b-pillar joint like a Honda Ridgeline, McPherson front, space for a front motor, and De Dion tube rear axle? Interesting. And the rear glass behind the 1st row gets repurposed on the SUV body shells. 

PMRacing said:

Not vaporware.  I know people that work there.  Still a ways to go for production but apparently they have a good team of real engineers, etc. working on it.  

I was gonna say the same thing.

I really like it conceptually, but unfortunately have no actual role for it in my life. Perhaps if I want to afford something with a warranty for a kid to drive when we get to that point...

If this has room for me to fit comfortably at 6'5", I am in.  Single cab pickups usualy limit the seat recline when they are all the way back.

My only real request is a bench seat version so I can take the kids to school in pickup form.