Slate's big bet - going against the grain

[ucfknights123]

It's really interesting to see the divide between those who get the Slate truck and those who are quick to apply the usual EV evaluation criteria to it.

Honestly this is the first EV I've ever been interested in and I'm excited to see it come to life. It's a cheap appliance that I can drive around town, throw plywood in the back, and generally not worry about maintenance.

 

[BeachHead]

I agree with you. This is the first EV I've seen that actually makes sense, and properly merges existing technology and claimed use case. If it can truly be brought to marked for sub $20K, it becomes useful as an "around town" vehicle, leaving more advanced ICE powered vehicles to operate in their most efficient environment: longer trips where the luxury and refinement they contain will provide the most reward to it's owners.

Here's hoping their dream is realized.

 

[RAZ]

My thoughts exactly. Granted you need the EV rebate for this to be true, but if there is both state and federal rebates available the Slate is an inexpensive tool for most commuting and hauling needs. It does go against the grain in that so many American's egos are wrapped up in their vehicle which is why they don't 'get it.'

 

[Adam W]

Yup. I'm already thinking of this as a tool, not a car. It seems weird to buy a brand new "beater" vehicle, but it's kind of freeing.

 

[LoneWolfo6]

Again, not doom and gloom. But Amazon tried to go against the grain with their Amazon Fire Phone. But it didn’t sell like they planned, they had jump in initial sales. Unfortunately, bad reviews and closed eco system doomed the product.

 

[ucfknights123]

Again, not doom and gloom. But Amazon tried to go against the grain with their Amazon Fire Phone. But it didn’t sell like they planned, they had jump in initial sales. Unfortunately, bad reviews and closed eco system doomed the product.

The Fire Phone would be the equivalent of coming up with a new luxury EV sedan to compete with the Model S and Lucid without any key differentiator.

The Slate is a totally new segment and says "it doesn't matter" to the key EV questions everyone asks.

 

[Marty1000]

I very much hope that this vehicle succeeds, however I keep asking myself, how will it be received 1.5 year's from now when China, Japan and South Korea or India may have a better truck for same money on the global market?

Yes, this is being marketed to a new generation of young folks that missed the VW-Old style Beetle, the Yugo, Fiat500 or other vehicles that failed to attract new buyers by the millions. BTW- The last vehicle that did that was Ford Mustang in 1965.

Is this product focused for the LEGO and IKEA fans or just for Bezos and Amazon as last mile delivery vehicle? Do future buyers want something low cost and highly customizable that needs charging and has marginal payload? I am sure Slate has done a lot of market research in the last few years prior to introduction of this vehicle and I hope this research will still be valid for them one year from now.

Great review in this video:
https://www.slateforums.com/forum/t...ant-to-know-about-that-slate-ev-pickup.12647/

 

[Daley]

t's a cheap appliance that I can drive around town, throw plywood in the back,

I keep seeing images of the Slate hauling around plywood and drywall, and people saying things like the above but I’m over here wondering to myself who are all these carpenters and contractors without a truck, or how often are other people building additions onto your home?

 

[ucfknights123]

I keep seeing images of the Slate hauling around plywood and drywall, and people saying things like the above but I’m over here wondering to myself who are all these carpenters and contractors without a truck, or how often are other people building additions onto your home?

I randomly buy plywood a few times a year in addition to mulch, pipe, and other house stuff that's not great in the back of a car. Maybe I'm the anomaly.

 

[E90400K]

I keep seeing images of the Slate hauling around plywood and drywall, and people saying things like the above but I’m over here wondering to myself who are all these carpenters and contractors without a truck, or how often are other people building additions onto your home?

Interesting question. I'm a decent carpenter and have built several structures and buildings on my property over the years, along with a complete refurb of my 1st house way back in the day before it was cool. I've had a pickup in my fleet nearly 40 years now and went from a single-cab 1987 Ranger with the 7' bed, to an 1999 F-150 single cab 8' bed, and now a 2009 mid-sized 4-dr cab and 5'6" bed. What I learned about large DIY building projects the delivery fee to have all the material delivered at once from the supplier is minimal in the cost of the project. One doesn't really need a pickup truck for large DIY projects. BUT pickups are essential for living a good life. My opinion.

 

[E90400K]

I randomly buy plywood a few times a year in addition to mulch, pipe, and other house stuff that's not great in the back of a car. Maybe I'm the anomaly.

Once you have a pickup in your fleet, you never want to go back to not having one. Mine has probably kept my wife from divorcing me.

 

[<3 Crank Windows]

I keep seeing images of the Slate hauling around plywood and drywall, and people saying things like the above but I’m over here wondering to myself who are all these carpenters and contractors without a truck, or how often are other people building additions onto your home?

I think the incredible # of pickup trucks sold annually (full-size, mid-size, and compact) tells us how useful the average vehicle owner thinks a pickup bed is. Not just useful for carpenters and contractors, but for every day Joe and Jane.

 

[Adam W]

... who are all these carpenters and contractors without a truck, or how often are other people building additions onto your home?

Plywood is an easy stand in for the largest thing I will conceivably need to transport, and having a cargo capacity that's slightly below does me zero good when I do.

The 4x8 size covers way more than just construction grade plywood. If you do any home maintenance at all you'll run into the 4x8 sheet good limitation for sheathing, drywall, insulation board, slatwall panels, pegboard, etc. If you're handy and want to build anything from a new built-in bookshelf in the family room to a workbench for the garage, to a potting bench for the wife, you're going to eventually need to move sheet goods. Even if it's only a few times a year, NOT having that capacity is a project-blocker.

 

[RAZ]

I randomly buy plywood a few times a year in addition to mulch, pipe, and other house stuff that's not great in the back of a car. Maybe I'm the anomaly.

You are the anomaly! When is the last time you saw a pickup with something in the back? But to your original point, the Slate will be perfect for those who need it.

 

[ucfknights123]

You are the anomaly! When is the last time you saw a pickup with something in the back? But to your original point, the Slate will be perfect for those who need it.

It's not really about who needs it, it's about who thinks they need it. You buy a pickup because you think you'll haul stuff, you buy a Subaru because you think you'll be outdoorsy.