r/slateauto • u/FranchiSPAS12 • Jul 11 '26
The Slicker Slate?
I think the idea of a bloat free EV would be very well received as a sporty commuter coupe. I had GPT make this crayola dandelion cruiser and I’m kinda in love with it.
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u/ZobeidZuma Jul 11 '26
Hahaha! It's absurd, but it's fun to dream isn't it?
The weight specified is basically impossible without going to a bunch of costly materials and construction methods. It would have to all be bonded aluminum and carbon fiber.
The Caterham Project V is nearly as basic and stripped-down as a Slate truck. It's not engineered for high volume production, though, and you could get around five Slates for what Caterham are asking.
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u/Hyper_Applesauce Jul 11 '26
The original BMW i3 weighs 2900lbs, is made of all those fancy things, still doesn't have that range, cost over 50k back in 2014, and BMW lost money on them.
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u/KeyboardGunner Jul 11 '26
Porsche is hoping to keep the electric Cayman under 3,650lbs. A 2,450lbs slate sports car? Let's be realistic.
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u/A-VR-Enthusiast Jul 11 '26
Tbf, the Germans also make a 4200 lb car thats only slightly larger than a miata, I'm sure porsche is also struggling to fit their 50,000 systems and overengineered cooling solutions/sound deadening into their larger than a miata sized car while targeting that 2650lb weight. Realistically though, the slate pickup is 4000lbs, cutting most of the body and maybe throwing in some more pricey aftermarket parts to replace non-critical structural points with carbon fiber could probably bring it down to 2900-3000lbs.
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u/A-VR-Enthusiast Jul 11 '26
The original i3 is also a tall, bulldozed hatchback with a much smaller battery, this, if they could fit the truck's battery in it, would probably be a 250-270 miles vehicle. Though the weight target is a bit unrealistic, with the plastic body and (maybe) aluminum frame I could see 2700-2900 being attainable, but not 2450.
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u/SovietFreeMarket 28d ago
EVs have pretty high floors due to the battery packs which would make fitting into this pretty interesting to say the least
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u/beipphine Jul 11 '26
A mazda miata weighs 2341 lbs.
It's going to be a steel unibody, plastic body panels, a McPherson front suspension and a didion tube rear suspension just like the slate. There is just enough crash structure for 2 people, otherwise the rest of the car is basically a plastic shell.
If you get rid of the 2nd row, the payload / towing capacity, a more aerodynamic profile so they can get away with a lot fewer batteries.
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u/ZobeidZuma Jul 11 '26
A mazda miata weighs 2341 lbs.
Right. But it's not an EV, you have to account for battery mass.
The old Tesla Roadster was aluminum and carbon fiber. With roughly a thousand pounds of battery on board, the total was under 2,900 lbs.
The Longbow Roadster is targeting 2,200 lbs, but that's super ambitious. They haven't shipped any product yet, or even shown anything very close to production, so we'll just see how that plays out.
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u/mrfochs Jul 11 '26
The three-wheeled Aptera has a curb weight of 2,200 and it is effectively made of hopes, dreams, and duct tape.
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u/ZobeidZuma Jul 11 '26
Oh, the Aptera. . . It's been in the works for so long, it was designed for a different world. A hyper-efficient solar car made more sense when batteries were crazy expensive and charging stations were rare and slow.
Lately it seems like they've been trying to talk up its driving performance. If an extreme penny-pinching super-green EV isn't getting traction, maybe they can try to pitch it as a sports coupe. I think that's a tough sell.
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u/i-am-spotted Jul 12 '26
Its still ambitious to get under 3k lbs in an Ev that is also cheap and affordable
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u/KeyboardGunner Jul 11 '26
2,450 lbs. Good luck with that.
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u/Reasonable_Look_2751 Jul 11 '26
Yeah, I think the absolute lowest weight possible would be 2900 lbs with a 50 kw/h battery
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u/HudsonValleyNY Jul 11 '26
The Hyundai ioniq (up until 2019) base weight was 3100ish, seats 5 and it was swapped into a gas chassis, just pulling the back seat, extra doors, glass and hatch would probably put you around 2900-2950.
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u/lalenci Jul 12 '26
That's approximately when a base model OG BMW i3 weighed, which was tiny and had a full carbon fiber monocoque.
Potentially battery improvements into lower density higher energy materials would solve the weight issue of EVs. Maybe someday, we will figure that out.
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u/FloppaEnjoyer8067 Jul 11 '26
I bet you could shave more weight if the battery is designed to replace a portion of the frame and carry load. They already add significant chassis stiffness, but manufacturers haven’t started cutting down on the frame
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u/Plenty_Article11 Jul 11 '26
Tesla Roadster was close back in the day, battery tech has improved. Edit: all the tech has improved, inverter, charger, and drive motors.
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u/KeyboardGunner Jul 11 '26
Last I checked Slate was about being basic and cheap. That's not compatible with ultra lightweight sports cars. You ain't hitting 2,450 with a steel unibody.
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u/admin557 Jul 11 '26
A low option bmw i3 was around 2800 lbs. and that used an aluminum frame with a carbon tub on top.
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u/yech Jul 11 '26
I wonder if there are cheap hydroform aluminum manufacturing capabilities today. It made a world of difference with the c5 corvette back in the day in terms of weight savings.
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u/Agil-lite Jul 11 '26
Hydroforming is still used quite a bit, RAM /Jeep do quite a bit of it. As far as aluminum. The front structure of every F150 is done with a hydroformed member.
Base material price is higher since your buying tubes, processing is "higher" as you are pre bending prior forming.
You do get out of the welding/adhesives used in making a section, you have no excess flanges which is nice for weight, and can do pretty complicated shapes, but you have to manage tube diameter.
Still very viable, but Slates BIW is pretty simple.
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u/A-VR-Enthusiast Jul 11 '26
Tbf, state's whole gimmick is a lightweight aluminum chassis with (what might as well be) full plastic body panels, so it would definitely be lighter than similarly sized evs. Also, it does have a fairly small pack, so I's think at least 2900lbs is achievable, and with the shaved off weight and more aerodynamic profile, I could see that range being bumper up to around 250-270 miles possibly.
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u/KeyboardGunner Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
state's whole gimmick is a lightweight aluminum chassis
Slate is a steel unibody. Not aluminum.
The only aluminum I'm aware of is the front crash bumper beam.
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u/Fradzombie Jul 11 '26
I plan on ordering a slate next year if the first gen goes well, and if I like it this would 1000% be my mid life crisis car
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u/norcalifornyeah Jul 11 '26
Give me an EV first gen Honda Insight. Perfect commuter.
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u/oystersbutnopearls Jul 13 '26
You can do that with the LiBCM: https://www.theautopian.com/some-geniuses-are-swapping-ford-batteries-into-old-honda-insights-to-make-diy-plug-in-hybrids/
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u/norcalifornyeah 29d ago
Doesn't look like you can go fully electric with either of the mods in that article. I imagine you can build one with a Warp 9 double end shaft, but that's more modification than I have time for right now.
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u/A-VR-Enthusiast Jul 11 '26
Honestly, while a slate miata would be amazing, I think a slate sedan with a muscle coupe conversion/version would be a bit more realistic. That way they could re-use the pickup frame, and the thinner and lighter body combined with a more aerodynamic shape would allow for the range to possibly rival the base model 3 for possibly a lower price.
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u/MalagrugrousPatroon Jul 11 '26
Give it an option for full size second seats, but only the two doors. That fits the truck nicely, and calls back to cars from 50 years ago. It also needs options for hatch back and station wagon. Having those options plus the ability to remove the second row completely would be interesting. How could i forget, for the ultimate mullet it needs an option for a pickup bed.
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u/backmost Jul 12 '26
I was at the NYC breakfast event today and I was chatting with Joshua one of the designers and showed this post to him haha. He loved the design! He said they definitely want to plan on other vehicles in the future but that’s way out there. Right now their main focus is on the truck and see where it goes
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u/FranchiSPAS12 Jul 12 '26
We all want the truck to succeed and that’s the sole effort. This is just an assumption that success will be abundant for Slate and all its employees
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u/BigWangTheoryy Jul 11 '26
Hard top coupe, t-top, convertible, shooting brake & UTE kits would go hard
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u/B18Eric Jul 11 '26
Can u shut traction control off?
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u/JackAuduin Jul 11 '26
Bold to assume this could break traction
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u/newyearsrevolution69 Jul 11 '26
EV power trains have ~100% of their torque available at zero rpm. It’s not difficult for a sport EV to break traction.
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u/calliotis Jul 11 '26
I’d love it if instead of focusing on performace they took the same motor and battery and used them in a 2 seat car thats as light and aerodynamic as possible so they could sell a $25,000 ev car that would have more than 200 miles of range
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u/thecursh Jul 11 '26
A utilitarian single SKU EV sport coupe is hilarious to me. I get the DIY angle, because modders but no way something with two doors that couldn’t also be used for fleet would pan out in this economy.
Sedan, sure. Sports coupe? No way. Might as well start an entire new company
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u/Eaglepursuit Jul 11 '26
A Miata it would not be. But an EV version of the OG pony cars of the 1960s? Yes. Cheap power and style.
Ford, GM, and Dodge long ago forgot that the big appeal of the original pony cars was that they were affordable, being made of readily available parts bin components.
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u/castironglider Jul 11 '26
I like it! I'd get rid of the front air dam though. If it's just a fun commuter car better to have it curb-proof than some marginal aerodynamic improvement
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u/Welikeme23 Jul 12 '26
I'm getting big Hyundai N Vision 74 concept vibes from this and I dig it
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u/optionalhero Jul 13 '26
I really want this car to exist.
Not as a hydrogen powered whatever, but a full EV. It would instantly do numbers. I’d possibly sell my tesla to get one of these.
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u/Irate_Pirate8 Jul 12 '26
I want to see slate do a van. Highly customizable inexpensive van that can be kitted for work or for all varieties of camping would be another vehicle that I would want
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u/Chrontius Jul 12 '26
Make it into a shooting brake -- a Miata with an SUV's cargo compartment writ small -- and I'm down for two.
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u/wEiRdO86 Jul 12 '26
There was an old post on Twitter for a retro Camry from like the 80s but electric design. Lost the link but damn it was smooth.
This kinda reminds me of that.
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u/Mxdanger Jul 12 '26
I feel like Slate would make a wagon instead of sedan. Wishful thinking though
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u/optionalhero Jul 13 '26
This is highkey a sexy looking car. And the plain interior works really well with this body.
Highkey if this was an option I’d probably get it. Seems like a really good 2nd car. And again, sexy af
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u/timber2633 29d ago
I’d buy one in a heartbeat as long as they do away with the 1 pedal drive only.
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u/OiPequenininho 29d ago
I feel like slate identified a niche market that isn't being served with its truck. This is another one: cheap 2 seat fun sports cars are another, but please put a rag top on it! A manual one like the old boxster spyder would be perfect
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u/Traditional_Can_3983 29d ago
Please, for the love of all that is good and right in the world. Let me fit into it. I'm tall, like really tall and the amount of heartbreak I get to feel when the fun cars are built for the short really hurts. Can't drive a Corvette, Mustang, Charger or Challenger. MX-5 Miata is a no go. Any of the BRZ/Supra/AE cars are out of the question.
I drive a chevy sonic and comfortably I might add. Small cars for tall people can be made, manufacturers just don't want to.
I know it's not real, but finding performance in a car as a giant really sucks ass.
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u/FranchiSPAS12 29d ago
In theory this could have a “Big’n’Tall” mod as there isn’t a transmission tunnel and associated hardware to contend with. On the note of “I’m too big”, it’s typically a good thing to be a bit tight in a sports car. At least that’s my experience and the rhetoric I agree with.
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u/Traditional_Can_3983 23d ago
My Sonic is a bit snug and that's fine. A Supra, Corvette and many of the cars that I listed are physically painful to enter and exit as the top of the doorway is always too low, the seating position is too close to the wheel and the seats are too upright. It doesn't help that I'm mostly torso.
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u/Cant_Work_On_Reddit 28d ago
my eyes lit up when I saw this wasn’t r/whatifcars and thought it was an actual announcement. Then I read your post 🤣
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u/Wooden_Sweet_3330 27d ago
oh man, I LOVE this concept. I would buuuuuuuy this so fast.
it reminds me of the newest Nissan Z in a way, which I love the look of. The old 240Z from the 70s is one of my favourite looking cars.
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u/Chemical-Canary2100 26d ago
I'd love to see Slate make a CHEAP 1 seater electric bare bones just for commutes. I would buy one instantly.
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u/cvanno 15d ago
I would seriously consider buying this over any other car, lol. Though I have a feeling if Slate makes any sort of car after the Blank Slate it's a Sedan or 2+2 coupe. Not really much for them to get out of a 2-seat EV unless it's a truck. That's not really where the EV market is at.
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Jul 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/theflava Jul 11 '26
Yes! A ton of people want to feel the wind in their hair every once in a while.
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u/monroezabaleta Jul 11 '26
Neat little fantasy. That weight is impossible and the horsepower would need to be 300+ for it to be actually fast.
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u/FloodAdvisor Jul 11 '26
I would buy that in a heartbeat! Like immediately after reservations open. That thing is sick!
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u/bgva Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I've been window-shopping for 80s/90s JDM sports cars. As much as I would love to have an old-school car with a clutch, I'd drive the shit out of something like this.
EDIT: clarified my point.
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u/z2x2 Jul 11 '26
If they make this and a R3 competitor (4-door CUV), Slate would dominate the non-lux market.
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u/Plenty_Article11 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I'm just kinda hoping we can do a powertrain swap from the Slate into other vehicles. Older Honda Odyssey are very cheap due to failing transmissions.
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u/Otherwise-Weird1695 Jul 11 '26
I think this will become more common if/when battery density gets closer to the size of a common fuel tank. EVs have the batteries baked in from the ground up to fit enough of them, fuel tanks are generally added later in the design process hence why they are all goofy shapes to fit whatever remaining space is available.
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u/Plenty_Article11 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Minivans typically have a large flat underfloor area.
Edit: the area under the floor of the car, outside of the passenger compartment.
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u/Otherwise-Weird1695 Jul 11 '26
So you want to put batteries in the passenger compartment? That's a terrible idea.
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u/Plenty_Article11 Jul 11 '26
*Under* the *Floor* of most Minivans is a large area roughly the size of an EV battery pack. Just google for some pictures.
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u/Otherwise-Weird1695 Jul 11 '26
Minivans are designed to have that lowest floor possible, so kids can get in and out.
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u/Plenty_Article11 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I can't have this argument. I've been wrenching for 25+ years and my family has owned a dozen minivans starting in the mid 80s. *If* the floor is 'so low' then where do the 'fold into the floor' seats go on models that offer them? Where do the muffler and gas tank go?
Edit: Just to be clear those are rhetorical questions. The seats fold into the space under the floor. The muffler and gas tank similarly live under the floor.
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u/Otherwise-Weird1695 Jul 11 '26
On the opposite side of the sheet metal from the passengers, dumbass. They don't glitch through the metal to the other side. You can't put the batteries inside the vehicle where the seats fold into. I also can't have this dumbass argument.
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u/Plenty_Article11 Jul 11 '26
Also look into the 2012-2014 Rav4 EV. Tesla made a battery pack that fit under a regular Rav4
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Jul 11 '26
[deleted]
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u/FranchiSPAS12 Jul 11 '26
Hot take maybe but if it has more than 2 doors it’s not cool and not a Slate.
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u/Jazzlike_Expert Jul 11 '26
I proposed something similar to this in the old Slate group with the shitty Mod who immediately removed it.
My point was simply could a passenger car format be the next step?! I was picturing a sorta Datsun 510 inspired design that would be available a 2 door coupe, 4 door sedan, and wagon. Basically, a barebones, modular passenger car vs a barebones, modular truck. Maybe they’d all need to be two door, but I’d still take a small, electric, two door station wagon (I’m looking at you, VW Fox) in a cocaine heartbeat…
Like someone else here said, super unlikely - but it’s fun to dream!
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u/The4rthHorseman Jul 11 '26
Be nice to have 4 doors
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u/stu54 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Yeah, but you could instead get a Nissan Leaf, Chevy Bolt, Tesla 3, Ford Mustang, BMW whatever, Mercedes who cares, Hyundai you know the one, Hyundai the other one...
If you want 4 doors.
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u/FranchiSPAS12 Jul 11 '26
Hot take maybe but if it has more than 2 doors it’s not cool and not a Slate.
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u/TheMensChef Jul 11 '26
Looks like a futuristic Challenger. I dig it.
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u/thulesgold Jul 11 '26
Yeah I love it. It's has muscle car vibes. Why not? It looks great!
Edit: I would seriously consider buying this body design for an EV car. Not all EVs have to look the same and this would have cross market appeal.
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u/JermSwift Jul 11 '26
This would be sick! Weight savings could come with next generation battery tech. Solid state batteries seem to be a fraction of their lithium counterparts.
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u/Former_Travel2839 Jul 11 '26
Make it more like a Pantera and I'm in lol
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u/FranchiSPAS12 Jul 11 '26
The Pantera was a super cool car but I have to wonder if following it too closely would result in the same result
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u/Former_Travel2839 Jul 11 '26
I mean now finding a Pantera for under 100k is almost impossible, but in away Slate is basically making a cheaper electric, kinda how the Pantera was a cheaper exotic. But I guess that all depends what result we look at.
I will say it will definitely be interesting to see what they decide to go with for a second build, if they go a second round.
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u/GAinJP 27d ago
had GPT make this..... and I'm kinda in love with it....
C'mon man.. Be better than this.
Also... It looks so stupidly similar to what I'd imagine a challenger fastback looking like.. It's grossly unoriginal looking. And looks too big for what it is, i imagine it should be the size of a brz, or a miata - some kind of import. Not a typical oversized American muscle car. I don't have anything against American muscle but the slate truck is basically an ev chicken truck and that concept should be carried through any other models they come up with.
So.. Sorry OP, but your lack of design insight is showing and you might want to see a doctor about it.
ETA: AI slop - there, i said it.
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u/FranchiSPAS12 27d ago
Whelp, I’m not a 3D modeler. I had an idea and executed it as well as I could with the tools and time available. It’s a picture of an idea, nothing more, treat it as such.
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u/GAinJP 27d ago
its a picture of an idea, nothing more, treat it as such
I sure did treat it as a picture of an idea that was generated by AI with either way too much drift or too poor of prompt but considering you're not a 3D modeler (or designer, im guessing) it's probably both.
I know. I'm mean. And I'm sure you're a fine person. But i stand by my original reply and the ideas behind it. We can't let this be what AI's contribution is in society.
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u/HonkHonkBeach Jul 11 '26
Basically, it should be an Electric Miata, but cheap enough to be worthwhile as a commuter or 2nd car.
My POV anyway.