SLATE Truck debuts as a modular SUV & Pickup

[Administrator]

Engineering deep dive: Slate EV chassis, body, battery, safety, suspension

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[Fremont Kid]

This looks like a buyer's remorse vehicle.

I agree. Evaluate all of the accessories and features that need to work. Air bags that are part of additional body panels. Ratchet-down or screw-down body panels that better not rattle. Lights which fuses better power them w/o issues. Headers that better not sag. Fit and finish that better not let air flow through at 70+ mph. One of my favorite potential problems - and I don't know anything about vinyl wraps - is whether the base paint could bubble and rust under the vinyl. Also, I'm surprised it is rear wheel drive. Fishtail anyone? And many others.

That said, I hope the engineers are able to resolve every potential problem. Competition is the core of innovation and improved quality.

 

[Snakebitten]

I don't think there is a base paint.

 

[Ford_orr]

An electric car with manual crank windows? Wth?

I agree. Evaluate all of the accessories and features that need to work. Air bags that are part of additional body panels. Ratchet-down or screw-down body panels that better not rattle. Lights which fuses better power them w/o issues. Headers that better not sag. Fit and finish that better not let air flow through at 70+ mph. One of my favorite potential problems - and I don't know anything about vinyl wraps - is whether the base paint could bubble and rust under the vinyl. Also, I'm surprised it is rear wheel drive. Fishtail anyone? And many others.

That said, I hope the engineers are able to resolve every potential problem. Competition is the core of innovation and improved quality.

Yeah, I agree. Even if they figure out all those engineering and fitment considerations, it's still an aggressively stripped-down vehicle. Crank windows? Are those even made anymore? And I can't figure out who the target demographic would be. Obviously the price is the focal point, so is it college students or recent grads and fixed income seniors? But even for them, they would be able to get a decent used vehicle with modern technology and amenities for around the same amount. Maybe it's more for car customization enthusiasts offering a wide-ranging palate allowing all sorts of configurations. Kind of like to old Toyota Scion line. I mean, I don't know.

 

[Fremont Kid]

I don't think there is a base paint.

The gray color is primer? If so then vinyl wraps are REQUIRED. Interesting.

 

[Sikkun]

I for one think it’s time for small trucks to make a comeback and for people to stop dropping 100 grand plus on a truck they then won’t even haul some dirt in because it might get dirty.

 

[Snakebitten]

I thought in the reveal they mentioned the native color was the natural color of the composit panel itself?

 

[Snakebitten]

Quote from Motor Trend (Googled)

Most of its body panels are made of a molded-in-color Slate Gray (of course) dent-resistant composite.

 

[markw314]

The Telo has more personality
https://www.telotrucks.com/

 

[Billyk24]

Service centers have to be patt of the equation.

 

[Mach1E]

Marketwise, It is in its own lane which is really hard to do. I wish them success.

It's real competition is not new two row EVs... its 5 year old used EVs. Think 5 year old MME, or Ioniq5.

Maybe not 5 year old, but 1-2 year old ones for sure.

Not many people cross shop 5 year old used cars with brand new ones, even if they’re the same price.

But a low mileage 1-2 year old car still under full warranty? Yeah, that’ll get cross shopped a lot with a new car.

The regular cab pickup is for sure unique. But the midsize EV SUV space? SUPER crowded. It’s like every car manufacturer had the same idea at the same time. And that’s bad.

 

[Mach1E]

The Telo has more personality
https://www.telotrucks.com/

Personality? Yes.

But the lack of a forward crumple zone makes this a hard pass for me.

Will be interesting to see how they’ll pass a crash test.

 

[YeOldeTraveller]

Personality? Yes.

But the lack of a forward crumple zone makes this a hard pass for me.

Will be interesting to see how they’ll pass a crash test.

I think I saw them address this in one of their videos. I think they mentioned 14" of crumple space, and that is why nothing else is in that space.

That said, I am interested in the results from crash tests.

 

[Mach1E]

I think I saw them address this in one of their videos. I think they mentioned 14" of crumple space, and that is why nothing else is in that space.

That said, I am interested in the results from crash tests.

They “theoretically” address it with simulations.

Things get real when you crash the actual vehicle into a wall or another vehicle.

14” doesn’t make me feel safe.

And how you FEEL is every bit as important as how safe something actually IS when it comes to people spending their money.

And even if it is safe, if it doesn’t look safe? That’s a HUGE problem.

Fun fact- the Smart car has a 4 star crash rating. So does the Chevy Silverado.

Which one do you feel safer driving?

 

[YeOldeTraveller]

They “theoretically” address it with simulations.

Things get real when you crash the actual vehicle into a wall or another vehicle.

14” doesn’t make me feel safe.

And how you FEEL is every bit as important as how safe something actually IS when it comes to people spending their money.

And even if it is safe, if it doesn’t look safe? That’s a HUGE problem.

Fun fact- the Smart car has a 4 star crash rating. So does the Chevy Silverado.

Which one do you feel safer driving?

I get your point, but by this argument, we should all be driving Hummers. Neither are an option for me as neither the Hummer nor the Silverado will fit in my garage.

As I stated above, I will be interested in the crash test results. My real objection to your earlier statement the claim of NO crumple zone. Whether there is suffient has yet to be determined, and is ultimately up to the buyer.

For the intended use case of city driving, the Telo fits better than the Silverado. That may also help them with sales outside North America.

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