New basic EV truck

[Oaktree]

I'm kinda wondering where this Slate is on the cost vs capabilities bell curve, and that we might be to the point we are removing features for small, small cost savings.

At a certain point, do you want to remove the cup holders to save $50? What did we have with the crank windows, maybe $100?

Some of the big expensive, useless features are mandated, like air bags, and all that. So, we probably have $5000 in mandated BS.

Good points. I've gotta wonder how much less (if any) it costs to manufacture a vehicle with crank windows vs power. Cupholders? Probably no difference in cost, just change the way the plastic is molded. If you're gonna include an amplifier and speakers for blue tooth, adding radio capabilities and/or a port for a flashdrive would only add pennies to the cost, especially if it has built in telematics (which I think they all do now). How much of eliminating that stuff is more for show than anything else? Personally, I could easily do without A/C, but I live in a northern state where you don't really need it.
Agree that the mandated "safety" crap adds a lot to the manufacturing cost, not just airbags but all the automatic lanekeeping/braking infrastructure.

 

[Jstpssng]

The Slate is starting at $27,500 according to everything I've seen. So, yeah for right at $31k, you can get a pretty decent Maverick.

Good point. I went in the wrong direction with my math.

 

[ruffdog]

The Mavericks here sticker from $32k to $43k with sale prices $30k to $40k.

 

[RSKY]

I picture the Slate as being positioned in the market as a 'buy it and keep it and run it until it dies' type vehicle. IF they can sell it for $20k then they will sell and I will probably buy one. I am seventy-one years old and 75% of my driving is one or two people on a round trip of 80 miles or less. Another 20% of our driving adds one more person or a longer round trip so a larger SUV is needed. Less than 5% require the utility of a larger pickup to pull a trailer or carry a heavy load. So the Slate would be the one to run to Walmart, 6 miles round trip, or some other short trip that would burn a LOT of gas for the distance covered. I've said for years a small pickup like the old Datsuns sold here in the sixties and seventies would be perfect for that type of usage. The Slate fits the profile except it is battery powered.

RSKY

 

[dmccarty]

If we figure 4000 charge cycles; that equates to maybe 16 years of life. Now, does just years affect the battery too? I know times have changed, and battery tech as well; but the older batteries had about a 5 year "half life", regardless of charge cycles. So, that 150 mile range was more like 75-80 mile range after about 5 years. My thought, 150 miles does a lot; say 35 mile commute, both ways, no worries. Your life starts dipping towards a 100 mile range, and you start getting a bit nervous about that 35 miles there and back, if there's an accident and you need to detour...

If running that 4000 charges at 50%, we have a battery life of around 300,000 miles, which is about the life span of most vehicles.

No one really knows, but with LiFePo batteries, it seems possible that the batteries will fail due to age and not the number of cycles.

If one is looking at used EVs, it might be better to buy a car driven by the "little old lady" that just went to church and the store once a week vs the car driven mostly on the highway since the "little old lady" likely charged with little use of the battery while the highway driver deeply discharged the battery all/most of the time.

 

[dmccarty]

EV tied to a house solar system would seem to be a good idea, if one has the money. Having the money has always been my issue. We don't have the cash to install a solar powered system, the payoff is years in the future. and I can't see it making or saving money. It is a nice to have, especially with more and more power outages due to grid problems.

I am not anti solar, I have been reading up on the subject for decades, designed our house to be passive solar, and with a roof pitch to provided good solar power. I went to a class years ago that was very interesting. So many people thought you just threw some panels on the roof and one had power and had power during a grid failure.

The good thing about the class was I knew 90% of what was taught. The good thing about the class is the 10% I did not know.

The teacher had been a developer who had built a subdivision with solar power. The big takeaway from the class, was that in NC, getting money back from the power company was an iffy proposition. Meaning, don't build a solar power system that provides 20KWh of power per hour when you need 10KW and think you are going to sell 10KWh to the power company. This was problematic for the homes he built and even back then, dealing with the paper work was not worth the hassle. The last time I checked in NC, to get money for your solar installation you have to be fast in getting in your application. Only a limited amount is available and who gets there name on the list first gets the money. If you delay and the money is allocated, you are SOL. Not sure if one can be paid for power supplied to the NC grid with the current rules.

The teachers suggestion was to figure out how much power you need on average per day, and build a system to meet or be a bit less than that amount. Any over production is just free money to the power company. One needs to know how much power one consumes, which I have tracked since we moved into the house, and if one has an EV, then one has to know how much power the EV is going to need. If I had to drive into work, I would need 25KWh if the EV get 3 miles per KWh. Our house averages about 43-45KWh per day. The EV is a huge increase in our daily power usage. If I build a system to support the EV at a high mileage but then don't drive that many miles, the power company gets the power/money....

Not just states, but countries, change how solar is being paid and taxed. Spain was all in on solar years ago with tax subsidies, then they removed the subsidies and started taxing the solar installations. May people had put large amounts of money in solar and then had to remove the installations to avoid the tax burden. The NL is changing how much house holds can earn from supplying power to the grid. NC has done so as well. This makes it hard to forecast the future money wise and gets back to the 10% lesson, only produce what you use.

Now I see some insurance companies in some states are having issue with solar panel so one needs to check their insurance coverage and hope that does not change in the future.

 

[Oaktree]

I picture the Slate as being positioned in the market as a 'buy it and keep it and run it until it dies' type vehicle. IF they can sell it for $20k then they will sell and I will probably buy one. I am seventy-one years old and 75% of my driving is one or two people on a round trip of 80 miles or less

A factor here, especially for us older folks is how is the ride? Will it ride like a modern vehicle or will suspension be an area where corners will be cut? Dunno about you, but I'm a couple years older than you and have no interest in a vehicle where you feel every pebble, pothole, etc. in the road.

If one is looking at used EVs, it might be better to buy a car driven by the "little old lady" that just went to church and the store once a week vs the car driven mostly on the highway since the "little old lady" likely charged with little use of the battery while the highway driver deeply discharged the battery all/most of the time.

Chances are the proverbial "little old lady" isn't going to buy an EV in the first place, but what effect does having it sit on the charger, unused for days at a time have on battery life? Will the small drain/recharge cycle shorten the life more than more deep discharges? Doesn't seem to be good for power tools, laptops, etc.

 

[paulsharvey]

I don't obsess about ride, but bad seats make for a car I don't want. I know a Lot of people think back fondly on that 1992 F150, or that 89 S10; but in reality, you wouldn't drive it now, with the straight back, vinyl bench seat, 2 speed windshield wipers, ect. Yes, some people still do, but I don't see the cost benefit, when looking at new production. This Slate, give it 16" longer cab, and a bit of seat afjustment and a place for a back pack behind the seat...

Also, I know it's a two seat, buckets, but its width is just under 72". Think about that; that's mighty "cozy" with two adults. The whole truck will fit in a 6 ft box blade path

As a spare vehicle, it seems spot on (if it's cheap enough), but as a daily, nah, keep it. It would be a fine "starter" car for a single guy, working/going to school, until he/she can upgrade. Even still, two people can't bring their back pack or lunch box, unless you leave it in the rain

The Maverick, I know people make fun off, cause it's not a real truck; but around here, the counties/cities are liking them for inspectors, PSAs, meter readers. People that might need to take 2 or 3 people with them sometimes, might have a small tool bag, or a lap top; but also might need a rake, shovel, and the ability to carry a replacement meter box.

We have a couple Mavericks at work, that the guys seem to complain about, but its mostly a status thing. "Nobody is gonna respect you pulling onsite in a glorified station wagon". I dont put much weight on that. I also drive an Explorer for work, and I never felt I carried less authority cause of it; but even a 48" bed would be nice to throw stuff in, instead of inside the Explorer.

Even most contractors, you are having materials dropped off; you just need your tools, and air compressor, and 3 or 4 guys. You don't need to bring 2 pallets of shingles.

 

[paulsharvey]

Oh, another thought; this could be an out of the box thinking; this might not be a bad "crowd source" car, like those scooters you see. You stop by the lot, pay for 50 miles and 4 hours on the app, and leave it when done?

The world is changing, and this might fill a roll we don't really understand yet.

Those e-scooter rentals seem to be pretty popular in college towns;

With a target audience of the people who want/need a truck, for a specific task, but no desire to own one. It seems a lot of younger people now are OK with the idea of not owning something. So, those same teens/20s using e-bikes, might rent this for a kayak trip, or to move a couch

 

[ultrarunner]

I don't obsess about ride, but bad seats make for a car I don't want. I know a Lot of people think back fondly on that 1992 F150, or that 89 S10; but in reality, you wouldn't drive it now, with the straight back, vinyl bench seat, 2 speed windshield wipers, ect. Yes, some people still do, but I don't see the cost benefit, when looking at new production. This Slate, give it 16" longer cab, and a bit of seat afjustment and a place for a back pack behind the seat...

Also, I know it's a two seat, buckets, but its width is just under 72". Think about that; that's mighty "cozy" with two adults. The whole truck will fit in a 6 ft box blade path

As a spare vehicle, it seems spot on (if it's cheap enough), but as a daily, nah, keep it. It would be a fine "starter" car for a single guy, working/going to school, until he/she can upgrade. Even still, two people can't bring their back pack or lunch box, unless you leave it in the rain

The Maverick, I know people make fun off, cause it's not a real truck; but around here, the counties/cities are liking them for inspectors, PSAs, meter readers. People that might need to take 2 or 3 people with them sometimes, might have a small tool bag, or a lap top; but also might need a rake, shovel, and the ability to carry a replacement meter box.

We have a couple Mavericks at work, that the guys seem to complain about, but its mostly a status thing. "Nobody is gonna respect you pulling onsite in a glorified station wagon". I dont put much weight on that. I also drive an Explorer for work, and I never felt I carried less authority cause of it; but even a 48" bed would be nice to throw stuff in, instead of inside the Explorer.

Even most contractors, you are having materials dropped off; you just need your tools, and air compressor, and 3 or 4 guys. You don't need to bring 2 pallets of shingles.

My builder friends have all materials delivered unless his gopher wife makes a run for something in a pinch.

I gave my nephew a 96 F150 4wd, long bed extended cab and that overstuffed bench seat and long wheel base made for a great ride… plus sest belts for 6.

It was one owner bought as a retirement gift to himself to go fishing before my nephew got it… not a single ding in the bed…