I find this minimalism strangely appealing. Unfortunately, I do not live on a farm. I hope this thing is useful to those who do, though.
I pretty much do and I’m kinda stoked, cautiously
If I can have a Linux truck that works and can tow something if need be… I’m dowm
I live in a rural area and need to do truck stuff frequently (ex. We have no trash pickup and have to haul it ourselves to the dump). Something like this is very appealing to me. I could also see this being useful as a fleet vehicle that doesn’t really leave campus grounds (think facilities/grounds/maintenance).
I hate that Bezos backed them
No stereo is fine if it has ports for me to just buy my own car stereo kit and add it afterwards. I don’t see the point of no paint, like don’t you need it to protect the metal from the environment
Because a decafe old TN panel touchscreen and a lick of paint was what made cars 70k.
Gross. Cars are a dead end for humanity.
While I’m with you it’s far too late. We’ve got decades if not centuries of infrastructure construction to get anywhere else. There are needs for trucks, and a barebones electric one is real good thing
We need hover boards. Though I’ve been told they don’t work on water.
Just the “value” brands.
Yes, because the ability to move yourself and useful things over large parts of the world is so detrimental.
And no buyers
Hell yes, take my money. As long as it’s not a limit and manages to keep its range and I can get parts fuck yes
You know, I like the design. If I can take a wrench to it and customise it or repair broken stuff easily and for cheap, even better.
The range is kinda meh, but for working in remote sites, bringing a diesel generator is already par for the course, and that bed looks like it fits a lot of stuff.
No stereo sucks though.
I often drive long distances for work, and I NEVER listen to the radio. All my listening is through headphones off my phone. I even keep a spare pair charging at all times. Not only does it sound a million times better than any crappy car system, it’s far easier to take phone calls. I hate holding my phone while driving. It’s also easier to hear the map navigation lady.
All my listening [in my car] is through headphones off my phone.
This is unsafe at best. Illegal at worst.
Nonsense, how is it either?
Too loud? I’m a musician, I value my hearing, so I don’t play anything too loud. I always use earbuds, so I can always hear emergency vehicles. Besides, I’ve heard plenty of car speaker systems that were loud enough to block out sirens easily.
Illegal? In what way? In states that have banned holding phones, they encourage hands-free phone calls. If speaking on the phone is considered a distraction, then why isn’t speaking to another passenger, or listening to music? Both would be just as distracting as a hands free call. Modern cars all connect to a cell phone automatically, and take calls through the speaker system. If it’s illegal, then why are car companies allowed to install them as standard equipment? I don’t use that system only because I like the audio quality of my ear buds far more.
By your logic, sound systems and phones in cars should just be totally illegal.
Headphones are considered like ear plugs. A tendency to block out surrounding noises like horns and sirens.
In most states that don’t have specific laws about them its considered distracted driving. I wouldn’t wear them because it opens you up to legal scrutiny if you do fuck up while driving. Insurance will throw you under the bus the moment they can prove you had headphones on.
It’s often illegal to have headphones on both ears.
I don’t know why you’re trying to claim it shouldn’t be illegal to a random internet stranger. Most things that are illegal shouldn’t be, but the HOA types that care about rules are also the ones who want to fuck rules so bad they get into positions of power. So if you want to fix it, go be a rule fucker. Or Luigi the rule fuckers.
It’s a lot easier to block out emergency sirens at normal volume levels vs the stereo where you have to have already lost your hearing before it’s loud enough to block a siren. The counterpoint to this is when the siren is actually in the music, which is why I don’t listen to certain rap while driving anymore.
Your car just has a shitty sound system in it. That experience is in no way representative of most vehicles. I drive almost 200 miles a day.
I’d build a mount for my DeWalt speaker that I’m already taking to my job sites who cares about a stereo
This will never come to market. Perhaps in a different timeline, but not this one.
Why not?
The past is prologue. If this startup was happening in any other country I would give it a chance. But it has zero chance of success here because of… checks notes… greed, corruption, weaponization of venture capital, weaponization of regulatory state and many many more.
Weaponisation of venture capital?
Agree. Elon… Err Doge will change regulatory rules until they run out of money.
I am excited, this is what my husband and I have been waiting for - a regular vehicle with no bells and whistles just to raise the price
Fun fact, this isn’t $20K but that’s what it takes to get people, to share the article. The actual arrival says that it’s $20K after government rebates in the US. So it’s actually expensive without tax dollars.
I wonder how much petrol/diesel would cost if the government didn’t subsidise it. And if they were actually held liable for oil spills.
I’m at least glad it’s not yet another bigger truck. I just want a vehicle to get from A to B that can actually fit things in the bed
Yup! And hopefully starts a new thing that other makers get behind!
Definitely interested…
Please make a 4x4 model I will definitely buy one.
(after federal incentives)
:|
That’s 25-27k for a new electric truck, that’s not bad.
BRUH
Damn, an electric truck I might actually want. It’s a shame it’s made in America
My exact thought! I wish a Canadian startup did exactly that, I’d buy one immediately
Eddison? They aren’t making a truck but hybrid kits to re fit into existing platforms. Using cummins 4 cylinder diesels. Plus they got topsy to hit the market soon.
I will buy this immediately if it’s even close to this price point.
There’s no radio, no Bluetooth, and no speakers of any kind beyond for those required to play basic warning chimes.
Many will consider this a cost-cutting step too far, but the interior was designed for ease of upgrading, with easy mounting space for anything from a simple soundbar to a full sound system.
There’s an integrated phone mount right on the dashboard, but there’s nothing stopping you from bringing something even larger. I expect the low-cost Android tablet and 3D-printing communities to have a field day coming up with in-car media streaming solutions.
This is 100% it.
All I want is a modular car system. Everything modular. Dashboard. Body panels. Whatever. I want 3+ cars possible on one frame, and to not need anything more than basic tools to swap parts around.
You wanna drive a FOSS OmniMech and so do I
Gm said they’d build a sled drivetrain that they could just plop bodies on top of but that never happened sadly.
Wonder why? Seems to me like a money printing machine for them, the factory and non- factory repair shops and the aftermarket.
Unless it’s seen as a way to hide your car from illegal activities, which well now that I think about it is probably the reason they didn’t follow through with the idea.
Probably a balance between it would make it cheap for them to produce, but also bring down the barrier to entry for third party manufacturers to compete with them.
framework truck😭
If only that money wouldn’t be partially going into the pockets of Bezos, it would be amazing.
And while easily replacable panels and such are a good thing. Having the mounting screws exposed like that is a horrendus idea. Because I suspect I know what much younger and very drunk people would do, based on the Mercedes hood ornaments I have in a box somewhere.
As an FYI, (In the United States) all modern cars will have to have some kind of screen (whether built in the mirror, on the dash, or as part of the gauge system) as all cars are required to have backup cameras as of 2018.
Starting in 2029 all cars will be required to have automatic braking technology as well.
We’re never going to be able to purchase new cars that are completely dumbed down ever again, but with how many lives it will save I’d say it’s worth it.
I’m glad that there are some companies that are willing to offer cars with the bare minimum of features at least. I personally would prefer having automatic windows over crank, but if someone wants to save money more power(har har) to them!
EDIT: weather vs whether Braking vs breaking
It is a legal requirement now to have back up cameras. This thing also doesn’t have any airbags, or seatbelts in the back when converted. There is nothing connected to the HVAC controls, you would need a heater box. They haven’t even bothered with a plywood mock interrior is all just 3D printed garbage, literally falling apart in the reviewers hands.
The Chinese have tried this approach for low volume projects with a space frame and bonded plastic and carbon fibre panels, but its just too labour intensive to be practical for any sort of volume. The space frame still has to be painted, so you don’t save any money in a painting setup.
A mandatory part of today’s safety features is a digital rear-view camera. Typically, this view pops up on a modern car’s central infotainment screen, but the Slate doesn’t have one of those. It makes do with just a small display behind the steering wheel as a gauge cluster, which is where that rearview camera will feed.
Need room for more than two passengers? Slate has an SUV upgrade kit that will bolt onto the back of the truck, adding extra rollover crash protection and rear seats with seat belts to match, all in a package that’s easy to install at home.
They aren’t mentioned in this article, but it does evidently have airbags. Where are you getting this info?
Way over-thinking it.
Europe and Japan 10-15 years ago all had radios with 4x6 inch no-touch displays for pre-loaded GPS with no internet connection. They switch to backup cameras when in reverse.
America doesn’t need to invent anything here, this is old technology widely used by large parts of the rest is the world.
Can we get another edit for braking instead of breaking, please? Surely all this fancy new-fangled tech never breaks? 😉
Dammit! Lol
all modern cars will have to have some kind of screen (whether built in the mirror, on the dash, or as part of the gauge system)
Starting in 2029 all cars will be required to have automatic breaking
As an FYI, they mention both of these in the article
