Slate Is It Vapourware?

I've heard it said that power windows don't end up costing any more than roll-ups. At what point does keeping things simple not make sense?

I hope this kind of thing gets off the ground. I'm a fan of minimalist vehicles, so this fits the bill. The SUV attachment would be on my wish list, especially if it's available with out seating, just a nice big electric hatchback.

In reply to Kreb (Forum Supporter) :

I know Jeep still has roll up windows on some Wrangler models, supposedly to help facilitate taking the doors off

Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:

I've heard it said that power windows don't end up costing any more than roll-ups. At what point does keeping things simple not make sense?

I've been wondering about this too. It seems to at best be sacrificing functionality for symbolism, or at worst trying to boost profitability by charging extra for something that ultimately doesn't end up costing them more... And may eventually end up actually costing them less.

Since they will offer a power windows upgrade/option I'm sure it will have a very high take rate, making the manual windows just for the sake of manual windows a miss IMO. It has power locks, so it's not like there isn't any wiring to disconnect before door removal anyway. I would expect that once they spool down manual window production and spool up their power window production to follow demand, they'll find themselves where the rest of the industry ended up years ago. It will cost more than it's worth to develop and maintain manual window availability, relegating it to a regretful red line on the balance sheet with power windows subsequently becoming standard equipment... Perhaps even before the first production units are sold.

Needing to lean across a new vehicle to hand crank the passenger window down on a nice day with no apparent cost or functional benefits isn't nostalgic or radtro, it's dumb.

In reply to Driven5 :

I happen to like my tiny truck with no frills and manual windows.

I could see this being a fantastic commuter-mobile for my use case- I'm moving this summer and looking at a ~40-ish mile trip every day. Get home, plug in, go wrench on big truck. what's not to like?

In reply to Recon1342 :

For no-frills, why not curtain windows instead?

In reply to Recon1342 :

Yeah, honestly, this vehicle would be perfect for 90 percent of the driving that I do. I'm very tempted to leave a deposit, except that I'm very reticent to buy a first generation product of a new company.

In reply to Driven5 :

We'll just make it a speedster at that point. Windows? We don't need no steenkin windows!

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

CyberEric said:

Another start up company is making a shorter nosed small EV truck, it's called the Telo MT1. There was a thread about it here a month ago. 

It's clear at least a few folks think there is a market for this kind of thing. 

Yeah, it's ugly and I don't want to think about where my legs would be in a crash...

Someone has been listening to my thoughts! I have been raging about my want for a small, cabover pickup with normal length bed for a decade now! In my mind it is a single cab with an 8 foot bed, but this is pretty close. Ideally, no silly knobby tires or lifted "Off Road" ride height, low bed "load in" level is paramount. I want the utility of a full size with the maneuverability of a mini truck.

Q: Who in the world would try to sell a tiny truck that was all utility, in a tiny package...they'll never sell?

A:

John Welsh said:

Q: Who in the world would try to sell a tiny truck that was all utility, in a tiny package...they'll never sell?

None of which they'd be allowed to sell here today due to crash test requirements.

In reply to John Welsh :

I actually see this as kind of a mishmash of kei truck and Honda Element

In reply to John Welsh :

I'd totally rock a Kei truck but my state is one of the few that has outright banned them from all public roads and will not allow them to be registered :(

Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:

I've heard it said that power windows don't end up costing any more than roll-ups. At what point does keeping things simple not make sense?

For most modern vehicles that already have harnesses, controls, power mirrors, illumination, etc. running into the door, that may be true... where having multiple wiring harnesses and configurations increases costs/complexities to remove something, but in this case it may be the rare case where it's so simple to begin with it's truly more simple to be manual as base.  This might also encourage the upsell for power windows which could be priced to actually become a profit source as an option (i.e. if power windows and manual cost the manufacturer effectively the same), and it has a marketing effect of truly standing out as a stripped down "minimalist" vehicle which is on trend for their brand.

Random thought... do any vehicles run the door locks on the vehicle side of the latch instead of the door?  I was thinking you could do a centrally located power lock switch that way so as not to duplicate switches on each door, and you could get away with zero wires going into the doors that way.  Manual unlock activation would be slightly trickier, but could likely still be mechanically unlocked by pulling the door handle from the interior side by design.  

If it was a small gas engine instead of EV id probably be a buyer, and id take one with manual windows.

I would get a simple two tone wrap, and maybe a rollbar in the bed with a couple KC lights 

I like this a lot. Did you know you can share your build? Just click the box in the upper right of the configurator and click "Copy Link".

https://www.slate.auto/share/3BFCBP

Apparently the fleet version has an optional "Cargo Kit" that turns the pickup into a van:

https://www.slate.auto/en/fleet

Want!!!

I don't know why, but I get the feeling some of us might be driving these one day. 

CyberEric said:

I don't know why, but I get the feeling some of us might be driving these one day. 

I already put down a 50$ deposit. Its refundable so its not like its gonna hurt me in the short term. This has the capability to be a nice beater/daily/errand runner.

Despite being barely a month away with only a date and 'more info coming soon', I might actually considering taking the day off to head down and check out what they've got if their 'road show' actually happens.