$24,950 SLATE Truck News & Info

[Surly Old Bill]

Another potential EV competitor for the Slate could be the Aptera..
It's a two seat three wheeled "car" rather than a truck, but it's in the same ballpark price range.
Aptera EV with Solar Panels
Interesting looking vehicle...

The aptera used to be the Sparrow (or very similar). I thought Aptera was already available? Small company, and it's 3 wheel because that way it doesn't have to meet crash test standards. Perfect little around town vehicle, and almost drives for "free" with the solar module on top charging the battery pack. Depending on how far you drive it per day.

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[El Kabong]

Another potential EV competitor for the Slate could be the Aptera..
It's a two seat three wheeled "car" rather than a truck, but it's in the same ballpark price range.
Aptera EV with Solar Panels
Interesting looking vehicle...

I have doubt that a three-wheeled two seater is going to go mainstream any time soon, even if it has plug-in charging capabilities to assist with it's solar charging (which would be needed if one lives in a place where it rains for months on end like I do).

 

[Surly Old Bill]

@babytruk -
Ah yes, the days of prevalent living room couches on wheels is now in the rear view mirror.

I was a passenger in my brother's Ford Cortina, when he went around a corner, not paying attention, and hit the driver's side rear of a parked Chrysler Land Yacht.

Damage to the Cortina - Total loss - DOA - Trashed the front end and engine.
Damage to the Chrysler - Cracked tail light lens.

The owner said it was the second time it happened.
The prior event as similar - He had a cracked tail light and the other vehicle was towed.

They don't make 'em like they used to...

I wonder how the Slate would do in similar circumstances... Haven't seen any crash data yet...

front ends of cars sold in Merkuh are designed to crumple for passenger safety, the sides and rear, not so much. The car doing the head-on will always be much worse off regarding repair cost than the car it hit in the side or back. My suggestion is to always drive in reverse, like a demolition derby driver, so when you hit something your car will be fine.

 

[MaverickDragon]

The Cortina was a 1965 English import. Nice little car.
Crumple zones were something that wasn't on the radar yet..

In the case noted, the issue wasn't the Cortina as much as it was the LAND MASS that it ran into..

 

[Chops]

I have doubt that a three-wheeled two seater is going to go mainstream any time soon, even if it has plug-in charging capabilities to assist with it's solar charging (which would be needed if one lives in a place where it rains for months on end like I do).

A “reverse trike” (2 front wheels) is more stable than a traditional trike (2 rear wheels) - but I would feel much safer in a body on frame 4 wheeled REO pickup truck

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Aptera is right out of a futurist movie. In appearance.
I knew a guy who was on the Cornell solar car team in the 90's. There is an annual competition between schools to develop the fastest solar powered car over a series of different courses for a week or more. The Aptera looks a lot like what they were coming up with back then. The wind tunnel is a cruel taskmaster.

Sure not for everyone, or even a significant number of people. But I'm sure there are a number of enthusiasts who can't wait to get one. Personally I'd worry about it getting beat up, what with all those pointy carbon fiber parts sticking out. When you look at what people do with their cars 99% of the time; travel alone by themselves to work or the store and back, it's perfectly fine.

Of course there are the stick in the mud types who wouldn't consider it because it "looks different" than what they're used to. These people also let us know they would never buy a CyberTruck, and often let the world know they will not buy an EV (even if it looks exactly like what they are already driving). It's important to them to tell other people what they will not be buying or driving. I wonder if they also post endlessly and without prompt about what they won't eat for breakfast?

Appears to have a "bed" about the same size as a Maverick

 

[Chops]

Aptera is right out of a futurist movie. In appearance.
I knew a guy who was on the Cornell solar car team in the 90's. There is an annual competition between schools to develop the fastest solar powered car over a series of different courses for a week or more. The Aptera looks a lot like what they were coming up with back then. The wind tunnel is a cruel taskmaster.

Sure not for everyone, or even a significant number of people. But I'm sure there are a number of enthusiasts who can't wait to get one. Personally I'd worry about it getting beat up, what with all those pointy carbon fiber parts sticking out. When you look at what people do with their cars 99% of the time; travel alone by themselves to work or the store and back, it's perfectly fine.

Of course there are the stick in the mud types who wouldn't consider it because it "looks different" than what they're used to. These people also let us know they would never buy a CyberTruck, and often let the world know they will not buy an EV (even if it looks exactly like what they are already driving). It's important to them to tell other people what they will not be buying or driving. I wonder if they also post endlessly and without prompt about what they won't eat for breakfast?

Appears to have a "bed" about the same size as a Maverick

Changing a tire is out of the question. Fix-a-flat kit will be included I’m sure. Back tire is bigger & wider I hope

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

2018 the United States had an safe electric car perfect for going back and forth to work and getting groceries. but nobody was buying it.

 

[commadorebob]

Slate will sell a bunch to HVAC and plumbing businesses. But a feature-for-feature match ends up with the Maverick still being cheaper.

 

[Finnster]

Slate revealed the price. Here's how Monroe helped!

 

[Blue_Max]

A “reverse trike” (2 front wheels) is more stable than a traditional trike (2 rear wheels) - but I would feel much safer in a body on frame 4 wheeled REO pickup truck

Well, if we're talking fantasy vehicles, I'd feel safer in Mad Max's V8 Interceptor.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Changing a tire is out of the question. Fix-a-flat kit will be included I’m sure. Back tire is bigger & wider I hope

I'll bet the panels pop off easy, or perhaps they are using run-flat or airless tires. Airless would make sense since it's so light, but also airless are heavier, and thus cause more drag on the vehicle.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

2018 the United States had an safe electric car perfect for going back and forth to work and getting groceries. but nobody was buying it.

yeppers.
There are still a few driving around in my neck of the woods.
I think the timing was wrong; this was an era when gas was more reasonably expensive, and the trend in Merkuh is to go as big as possible with vehicles because of "safety" or something. The main modifier is cost of operation; I was alive when the gas crunch of the 70's happened (dependent on foreign oil), and all the car companies started coming out with economy cars because that was in HUGE demand due to the gas prices and threat of it happening again. That was when the Maverick was born, as well as the Vega, Luv, and Courier.
Side note, my family had one of only two gas stations in town, a Chevron, and citizens could only get gas every other day, based on the odd/even last number on their license plate. AND were limited to 10 gallons! The line would be easily over a mile long, all those giant 60's and 70's cars idling for over an hour in line to get their 10 gallons...a few gallons of which had been burned up idling in line. Can you imagine the RAGE at such an inconvenience imposed today?! Gassers keep mentioning how excruciatingly awful it would be to have to wait 20-30 minutes for an EV to charge...so much so that EVs should be BANNED.

 

[Prickly Pear]

When that rationing happened in 79 we had three 4 bangers - a 61 Beetle, a Toyota long bed pickup, and a Honda 750. I remember waiting in line and thinking I was glad my Dad taught me to love economy cars!

 

[MaverickDragon]

I thought Aptera was already available? Small company, and it's 3 wheel because that way it doesn't have to meet crash test standards. Perfect little around town vehicle, and almost drives for "free" with the solar module on top charging the battery pack. Depending on how far you drive it per day.

I've been following the Aptera for a few years now, and currently, just like in prior years, it will be available "soon".. Perhaps in July.. of some year in the future...

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