Here comes the electric pickup

[FriskyDingo]

Slate pricing update...

The Slate Truck’s real base price has finally been revealed
A few weeks ago, Slate Auto confirmed the base MSRP of its barebones electric pickup, but it held back an important piece of information: the mandatory destination and delivery charge. That information has now come to light thanks to InsideEVs, which says that Slate's head of public relations and communications, Jeff Jablansky, confirmed that the freight charge has been set at $1,450, which is the lowest destination fee of any pickup on sale in the U.S. Combined with the $24,950 starting price, and the least you'll pay for a new Slate truck is $26,400. At least, unless you find ways of getting the government to help.

Slate Truck's Pricing Swings Depending On Options And Rebates
While the starting MSRP has gone up considerably from the sub-$20k target set when the federal tax credit for EVs was still in place, numerous state incentives allow certain qualifying buyers to get rebates that can bring the overall cost back under $20,000. In California, bundled incentives can bring the price as low as $9,450 if this is your first EV purchase, your earnings are at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty line, and you scrap a running internal combustion vehicle. Other states offer less, and not everyone will qualify for all the rebates, but it's nice to know that affordable transportation can be a reality. For those with far healthier bank accounts, tacking on options can swing the price in the other direction, with a fully-loaded Slate truck costing almost $46,500. For a truck that prioritizes affordability and customization, this gulf in pricing is a pretty good advertisement. But Slate will have to make hay while the sun shines, because it won't have this corner of the market to itself for long.

Alternatives To Slate's Cheap Truck Are Coming

Slate's EV is expected to reach customers before the end of the year, and it will soon thereafter do battle with alternatives from both the old guard and the new on the way. Representing legacy automakers in the blue corner, Ford is working on a more practical four-door electric pickup that will cost under $30,000, while in the red corner, newcomer REO Industries says it will sell a small gas-powered truck called the Runabout, targeting a base MSRP of just $21,500 - no EV incentives necessary. Even after these debut, Slate's small electric truck won't have any direct rivals, but success depends on how many of the hordes of internet fans celebrating this truck's creation put their money where their mouths are and follow through on a purchase. For the sake of increased affordability and competition, we hope both buyers and alternatives grow with each passing year.

[boosten lebaron]

I've pretty much turned away from Slate and my preorders. Despite being a day one deposit holder the earliest I can get my truck would be June of next year. Social media stats are being used to send out the early trucks and I have zero social media presence. Not surprisingly social media stats were used when giving out demo rides. Big car review sites like TFL couldn't actually drive any demos but tik toc stars just down the street with zero car background were given free rein with the trucks. Even jay Leno wasnt allowed to take the truck on his own, he had an engineer with him when he drove it. I saw this sort of thing when I was going to the pop up sites they were doing. You couldn't even open the door to the truck unless you were big on social media.
They also aren't allowing the package I originally put a deposit on to be built either. I had originally wanted the slate cargo which was the base truck with the fast back and a cargo interior. Now to get that package I have to buy the rear seats and air bags and fast back then pull everything out when I get it home. It's an extra $5k for that stuff I'm essentially gonna toss.
Body panels still don't have a supplier either. The vinyl wraps they are pushing to individualize your slate only have a life span of 2 years.
I'm happy about the increased range but again, my original deposit was also for a range extending battery pack that could be removed when not needed. That is no longer an option.
Service centers are still an unknown. Long standing rumors are it's either Meineke or a Firestone tire type of place.

Right now I'm thinking a blow out clearanced polestar with a trailer hitch is the way to go. Or hedge my bets and wait for used lucids to hit $20s and toss a hitch on one of those and have an 800hp AWD 400 mile range beast to haul my dirty bike for less than the price of the slate.

[csmutty]

I was considering the Ranchero EV but just read that it will only come in a rwd flavor with a potentially $15k adder to get awd. I would be fine if it was fwd but rwd is a deal killer for me. It looks like the bed will be smaller than the Maverick bed as well. I wouldn't really want to go much smaller with the paddle boards.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2028...up-future-cars

[nhbubba]

That's really interesting. But I thought Ford was feeling burned by EVs and going EREV instead.
I'm quite interested in that. Although not interested in a full-sizer like the RAM offer.

[RandyO]

my neighbor, Packy, making use of his Cybertruck

[csmutty]

That's really interesting. But I thought Ford was feeling burned by EVs and going EREV instead.
I'm quite interested in that. Although not interested in a full-sizer like the RAM offer.

So I did a little research and it seems like most oems for small pickups are going with rear-wheel drive only. The reasoning seems to be that with a hybrid like the Maverick. You have the combustion engine in the front which gives you some weight and therefore traction. With the electric vehicles. You have the battery which is center Mass and with the weight shift during acceleration to the rear there is a bias in weight and therefore more traction at the rear of the vehicle. So I guess my only concern for a rear-wheel drive vehicle would be the ability to steer in the winter with the front tires. What are the thoughts on this?

[e30addict]

So I did a little research and it seems like most oems for small pickups are going with rear-wheel drive only. The reasoning seems to be that with a hybrid like the Maverick. You have the combustion engine in the front which gives you some weight and therefore traction. With the electric vehicles. You have the battery which is center Mass and with the weight shift during acceleration to the rear there is a bias in weight and therefore more traction at the rear of the vehicle. So I guess my only concern for a rear-wheel drive vehicle would be the ability to steer in the winter with the front tires. What are the thoughts on this?

Snow tires and enjoy.

[OreoGaborio]

So I guess my only concern for a rear-wheel drive vehicle would be the ability to steer in the winter with the front tires. What are the thoughts on this?

If weight distribution is near 50/50, I would rather have RWD over FWD all day, every day, and twice on snow days. Asking the front tires do to both drive and steer while the rears just drag along is a recipe for front wheel traction loss. Front wheels steer, rear wheels drive... that's where fun, maneuverability and control are.

[csmutty]

If weight distribution is near 50/50, I would rather have RWD over FWD all day, every day, and twice on snow days. Asking the front tires do to both drive and steer while the rears just drag along is a recipe for front wheel traction loss. Front wheels steer, rear wheels drive... that's where fun, maneuverability and control are.

This is a good point. Thanks Peetah! Will probably be considering the ranchero when it comes out. The thing I have to figure out is right now I am working on upgrading my service from 100 amp to 200 amp and doing heat pumps, hybrid hot water heater and ground mounted solar. I think the difficult part would be making sure that I get enough panels that I'd be able to charge the vehicle at home without having an electric bill.

[OreoGaborio]

Regarding EV car charging.... Watch this.

https://youtu.be/5NG4hycq8n0?si=0RXx2vp2di4h7-vW

[ZX-12R]

It may be a small pickup, but it's still a pickup. If you do any type of truck work with it that puts weight in the bed or on the hitch, you will want RWD over FWD. RWD vehicles steer just fine in the snow.

Being a hybrid, I'm surprised they wouldn't put in an electric only front axle for those few moments AWD is useful.

[nhbubba]

The enthusiast in me says RWD all day.
The part of me paying the bills honestly doesn't care anymore.
The parent in me says AWD k-thanks.


I have someone who's opinion I trust-a fellow curmudgeon-advising me to give the slate another look. The 2k tow rating would *just* cover my 19' sailboat. Arguably the biggest task I'd ask of it.

[csmutty]

The enthusiast in me says RWD all day.
The part of me paying the bills honestly doesn't care anymore.
The parent in me says AWD k-thanks.


I have someone who's opinion I trust-a fellow curmudgeon-advising me to give the slate another look. The 2k tow rating would *just* cover my 19' sailboat. Arguably the biggest task I'd ask of it.

Slate is basically the same price as the ranchero. I'll wait. Much more for the same price and a brand that has a dealer network and experience.

[breakdirt916]

[noob] I think the truth will be told through real world driving experiences. A central weight distributed EV is new to me.

@smut - did you get the AWD or FWD Mav? How did that do in the snow?

And how much payload and towing do you do max?

[csmutty]

[noob] I think the truth will be told through real world driving experiences. A central weight distributed EV is new to me.

@smut - did you get the AWD or FWD Mav? How did that do in the snow?

And how much payload and towing do you do max?

I have the fwd Maverick with general snow tires on dedicated wheels. It's a beast in the snow.

I've had a 1k pound lathe in the back and it handled it well. Front wheels were light so you had to be careful with the gas pedal lol. I don't really do any towing currently but I have some house projects planned that might require it. Nothing crazy though. If I needed something serious for towing my cousin a mile up the road has a farm and I could steal his stuff, so not really a concern.

[FriskyDingo]

[noob] .... A central weight distributed EV is new to me.....

The Tesla Model 3 features a highly balanced weight distribution, hovering very close to a 50:50 ratio between the front and rear axles.

The Porsche Macan EV features a rear-biased weight distribution of 48% front and 52% rear

super easy to manipulate the weight distribution, and thankfully not only performance oriented MFG see the benefit... Porsche was able to get the new Cayman EV to nearly the same rear biased % as the mid engine gas version maintaining that sweet polar moment..

[TheIglu]

This is a good point. Thanks Peetah! Will probably be considering the ranchero when it comes out. The thing I have to figure out is right now I am working on upgrading my service from 100 amp to 200 amp and doing heat pumps, hybrid hot water heater and ground mounted solar. I think the difficult part would be making sure that I get enough panels that I'd be able to charge the vehicle at home without having an electric bill.

That's generally not difficult, just some math to add your current monthly household usage (look at your bill) to roughly how many miles you drive worth of kWh, which you can estimate from whatever vehicle you plan on buyings mile/kWh rating.

[csmutty]

That's generally not difficult, just some math to add your current monthly household usage (look at your bill) to roughly how many miles you drive worth of kWh, which you can estimate from whatever vehicle you plan on buyings mile/kWh rating.

I mean to get the utility company to allow the extra panels without the demand. They don't like to have extra capacity on the grid in CT with our voucher program. But I want to get in on the 1% financing for green energy projects before they kill that too.

[ZX-12R]

What will be the use case of your EV? Commute to work during the day and charge at night? Use it for occasional errands and it sits home most of the day?

If your EV is gone during the day, the economics of a large solar array to cover EV charging may not make sense unless you also have local battery storage. Without storage, you can still feed power back to the grid and get credit for it, but you only get generation charges, not distribution. Still better than nothing but not always the level of savings people expect.

[TheIglu]

What will be the use case of your EV? Commute to work during the day and charge at night? Use it for occasional errands and it sits home most of the day?

If your EV is gone during the day, the economics of a large solar array to cover EV charging may not make sense unless you also have local battery storage. Without storage, you can still feed power back to the grid and get credit for it, but you only get generation charges, not distribution. Still better than nothing but not always the level of savings people expect.

Try moving to the free state of Massachusetts, where net metering includes all delivery/distribution charges, not just supply. It's quite pro-consumer/pro-solar.

[ZX-12R]

Try moving to the free state of Massachusetts, where net metering includes all delivery/distribution charges, not just supply. It's quite pro-consumer/pro-solar.

We may catch up in the next 10 years or so. From what I understand, NH does partially cover distribution, but only 25%.

I'm in a less than ideal location for solar that would require significant tree removal that I'm not willing to do. Assuming I could put in a decent system, being in MA wouldn't net a big enough difference for me to even remotely approach the income tax savings between the wife and I.

[csmutty]

What will be the use case of your EV? Commute to work during the day and charge at night? Use it for occasional errands and it sits home most of the day?

If your EV is gone during the day, the economics of a large solar array to cover EV charging may not make sense unless you also have local battery storage. Without storage, you can still feed power back to the grid and get credit for it, but you only get generation charges, not distribution. Still better than nothing but not always the level of savings people expect.

I think under netting in the attached image removes that concern.

[ZX-12R]

I think under netting in the attached image removes that concern.

A quick look at CT net metering shows production being credited at the full retail rate, however, as a new participant you would be subject to Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.00402/kWh pushed back on the grid. That's better than what NH offers but it still means that it's cheaper to consume your generated power on-site than to sell it to the grid and consume it later. NH is bad enough that the economics often favor local battery storage if you tend to consume a lot of power outside of daylight hours.

[MUZ720]

Local around town driving I might consider an EV especially at the 30K price point of the new ford if that's a real number delivered? But for me I still need a full-size truck with range until the day comes when I stop driving any distance or hauling my trailer. I think a hybrid car or truck is more practical overall of everyday use since gas is over $4

[loudbeard]

As of now I have my eggs in the Scout Terra basket. I'd love to see something concrete about their real ship dates, rumors have it they may be pushing to 2030 for first deliveries.

My '21 Colorado is just about to hit 100k. There's nothing wrong with it mechanically or cosmetically, I'm happy to continue riding it for several more years - best truck I've owned.