$24,950 SLATE Truck News & Info

[Surly Old Bill]

All electric vehicles struggle with towing more than short range; we are way, way off from the energy density being anywhere close to where it needs to be.

These little pickups (Slate and whatever the Ford is) with 2,000 lbs rating and a big disclaimer on that are probably a lot more honest than the Lightning and Cybertruck that were nowhere even remotely close to replacing a 1/2 ton pickup with a gas or diesel engine that is setup to, and happy to tow decent loads.

The light tow rating would be enough for some fun stuff like jet skis, or someone that wanted to run an electric equipment based landscaping business (electric mowers, trimmers, etc on a utility trailer), though.

They CAN tow, but it's not a very good stat for an electric drivetrain. If people tow often (I rarely do), they would be better suited to an ICE or hybrid system vehicle. That said, if they tow maybe 1-2x a year, something like jet skis or a little camper, an EV is capable but will require more charging stops. That sure beats having comparable high operating cost and maintenance of ICE for the other 363 days a year. But yeah, if towing at least once a month, get an ICE/Hybrid.

Right tool for the job.

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[Surly Old Bill]

They aren’t saving money they are buying it as a toy to put at their beach house or give to their kids to mess around with. Especially the wrangler/bronco like configuration.

yep, a kid's first car is highly likely. Also, I'd definitely consider one to have at our house on the Big Island (akin to a "beach house") if/when I need to replace the car we keep there. But as I mentioned, I'm more interested in the Telo for that situation.
But I still think that the price alone will make it a popular vehicle for the poors and mids when they graduate from buying used cars. Heck, it could even have an ICE drivetrain and it would be popular because of the $25k tag.

 

[710-oil-614]

They CAN tow, but it's not a very good stat for an electric drivetrain. If people tow often (I rarely do), they would be better suited to an ICE or hybrid system vehicle. That said, if they tow maybe 1-2x a year, something like jet skis or a little camper, an EV is capable but will require more charging stops. That sure beats having comparable high operating cost and maintenance of ICE for the other 363 days a year. But yeah, if towing at least once a month, get an ICE/Hybrid.

Right tool for the job.

I'm more looking forward to the REO mini truck for $21,500 - gas engine, body on frame, mechanical 4wd able to tow 4,500 lbs

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Someone who was looking at a Ford Lightning wouldn't even glance at a slate.
How many young people bought the Maverick when it was came out at $19,995 or even $22,000?
Our poll numbers don't show a plethora of young people purchasing the cheapest truck in the marketplace.

Here is a more comprehensive older Poll from 2022 back when the price of the Maverick was still in the low $20,000.
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/maverick-demographics-with-poll.22483/

If Slate fails. The EV Fanboys, won't blame it on a inadequate, crappy truck. They'll blame it on Americans who just won't adopt EV tethered leash lifestyle.

 

[Blue_Max]

That could be, but at least I had an answer while you only had a question..

My question regarded your ludicrous assertion.

 

[dalola]

Doubtful - but 3 news articles in the press today that Honda has a new Element HYBRID on the horizon - I slept in my Element (with rear seats removed) many times....My 2 Dobermans loved their Element. If they keep it at about the same size I'd leave a deposit tomorrow. There are dozen of Maverick users on this site that traded in their Element for their Maverick. One can only hope!

We had twins!

 

[710-oil-614]

We had twins!

I will absolutely buy an AWD hybrid element.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

So they can go shopping while virtue signaling and eliminating the risk of their Range Rover being stolen...

I don't think anybody who owns a Range Rover would be caught dead sitting in a slate, much less driving one.
I feel Range Rover owners carry enough insurance they don't care if it gets stolen. They probably even have replacement value insurance.

 

[dalola]

I will absolutely buy an AWD hybrid element.

If it happens (unlikely..) it wouldn't be anything like the original... 🫤

 

[710-oil-614]

If it happens (unlikely..) it wouldn't be anything like the original... 🫤

The reboot never captures the essence that made the original special.

 

[El Kabong]

Lively thread. I'll toss this out there:

If the Bronco Sport was available for 30k - 35k starting price as a hybrid with an AWD 4k tow package I'd probably have one of those instead of my hybrid Maverick right now, and if it was available in the same configuration as an EV it would be on the short list to replace our Golf.

I like the form factor. With 4k (or even just 2k) towing I could get away without an open bed (because I have room to store a trailer) but no hybrid option made me cross the BS off the list when considering a new vehicle.

C'mon Ford, do something cool for the proles and whack this barebones startup thing across the noggin with it.

 

[zen_]

They CAN tow, but it's not a very good stat for an electric drivetrain. If people tow often (I rarely do), they would be better suited to an ICE or hybrid system vehicle. That said, if they tow maybe 1-2x a year, something like jet skis or a little camper, an EV is capable but will require more charging stops. That sure beats having comparable high operating cost and maintenance of ICE for the other 363 days a year. But yeah, if towing at least once a month, get an ICE/Hybrid.

Right tool for the job.

The motors can definitely handle the loads, and are actually better suited for it from a power delivery and reliability standpoint (diesel electric locomotives that are 40, 50 years old and still going).

Really just an energy problem that will only be solved with modular battery packs that can be swapped out faster than you can put fuel in a car at automated stations. I guess the problem there though is that one auto manufacturer doesn't have the pull to change everything. It would take open standards and government subsidies / heavy regulation to re-invent the fuel station.

 

[huunvubu]

Something that has me wondering.

In the videos on the slate they talked about how if you got any damage to an outside panel (example was front driver side panel above the front wheel) it could be removed with just four outside accessible screws.

So what would prevent someone from just taking all the panels off the truck as a prank or worse just to steal them?

 

[cclark]

 

[DS_Ohio]

Something that has me wondering.

In the videos on the slate they talked about how if you got any damage to an outside panel (example was front driver side panel above the front wheel) it could be removed with just four outside accessible screws.

So what would prevent someone from just taking all the panels off the truck as a prank or worse just to steal them?

Hold my beer.....

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