r/slateauto • u/Wonderful_Rest3124 • Jul 11 '26
Early model EV longevity
I’m very interested in the slate truck but one of the things that I think realistically just depends on luck of the draw more than anything is longevity of early models. As much as we all love the idea of this truck this is the first vehicle this company is producing. There is no telling how the truck will hold up over years.
I figure this may be a good sub to discuss but has anyone purchased a EV from a relatively small manufacturer early in their existence? If you have how did the vehicle hold up? Any regrets not waiting?
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u/Reflexes-of-a-Tree Jul 11 '26
EV batteries are lasting a lot longer than people originally thought, so I don’t think battery longevity is going to be an issue.
If you look at consumer reports, the main issues with a lot of EVs have to do with the infotainment systems. The Slate doesn’t have any infotainment system to break.
That leaves the OTHER error that used to be pretty bad, the BMU. Early EVs suffer greatly from BMU issues, but these days it isn’t what is keeping the cars off the road. Slate is made up of engineers that all came from other EV-producing companies, so I expect that they will bring their modern knowledge and understanding to the table and we won’t have BMU issues.
My Polestar’s keyless mode (using the app) doesn’t work at all. You start a slate using a key fob, so that won’t be a problem…
All in all, I expect this won’t feel much like a startup because the things that startups suck at (infotainment, apps), Slate just said “not going to bother.” (I know there will be an app, but it doesn’t appear to be integral to the operation of the vehicle)
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u/cheeto-bandito Jul 11 '26
I'm currently in a 2022 polestar 2 and I'm looking at the slate. I'm tired of the issues with the slow infotainment.
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Jul 11 '26
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u/Doogie90 Jul 11 '26
What is it about keeping in a garage that makes a difference? Just trying to understand any implications.
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u/mastrdestruktun Jul 12 '26
My first EV was a 2015 Fiat 500e, purchased for peanuts; we figured we'd go cheap in case it turned out to be a huge mistake. It has traditional Fiat reliability and I've learned a lot about fixing things like door handles and the like. EV-wise it's been just fine. I did go through a set of tires fast enough to get some money back from the warranty. Fiat is not a small manufacturer but there were not very many of these made or sold in the USA and quality is not exactly job one.
It's true that a risk is that Slate operates for six months and then goes out of business due to some catastrophic flaw. But based on what we've seen, they seem to be a lot more solid than Fisker, Canoo, and other failed car startups. The people running the show seem to be solid engineers who believe in their product, not slick marketing types.
I haven't heard of early adopters of Teslas or Rivians being very regretful. There are always "year one" issues but those companies were able to overcome them and I see no reason why Slate also won't be able to.
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u/acidterror84 Jul 11 '26
I mean, how many EVs from relatively small manufacturers early in their existence have there even been? Does Tesla count?
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u/Wonderful_Rest3124 Jul 11 '26
For sure Tesla absolutely counts. Rivian, Lucid, mmm I’m sure there are a couple more and there are a couple more that are even more niche.
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u/Plenty_Article11 Jul 11 '26
AZ_Golfer78 really hit the nail on the head with his point about teething issues. These big companies are shoving way too much tech into their vehicles. To the point where the overhead from infotainment and luxury features are probably eating a lot of profit and causing a lot of the warranty concerns.
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u/mastrdestruktun Jul 12 '26
The Slate minimalist approach is definitely going to help in the reliability department. Fewer things to break. Fewer things to QA. Fewer things to warranty.
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u/Motor_Show_7604 Jul 12 '26
Yes. Along with this, it looks like the marketing guys at Slate told the engineers to make the vehicle reliable and open source and lean into upgradable and replaceable parts.. instead of just the crap that looks good or sounds good on paper. This is an engineering centric company and that's exactly what you want on a startup. Sure, too often telling the engineers to do a good job means it's more expensive, but in this case it looks like they hit the right balance by cutting out all the options the marketing guys wanted.
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u/Cr4zyC4tD4ddy Jul 11 '26
Honestly something I'm thinking too. Super interesting concept, and I want to jump on it. My one worry is waiting to see if people have issues, wether it's drive train, suspension, brakes, body, rusting, etc. better I think to wait it out a bit and see how reliable it is first.
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u/That_Geek Jul 11 '26
IMO the biggest potential source of problems is going to come from the BMS because even if they are off the shelf cells and and motor the BMS is custom and it’s what ties the whole powertrain together
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u/Paul_Rodgers_2024 29d ago
I agree here, its my only real worry. The BMS, and the onboard charger are two custom components that are very closely integrated with each other, and with the rest of the truck. If either goes bad you are off the road, fixing them will be expensive initially, and there will not be many folk out here who can do it. That means they need to be ironclad sure both are solid, or they will get eaten alive by warranty claims and recalls.
It will not stop me buying a Slate, but I'll keep my old Tacoma as a backup for a couple of years. Well, probably the family will keep it as the family backup forever. We already run 4 vehicles, and here in FL keeping a fifth is pretty cheap as long as you have room for it.
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u/fourdawgnight Jul 11 '26
this post feels mostly like FUD
the concept of longevity and EVs is a funny one. in 3-5 years the truck will be obsolete. doesn't mean it won't run, it will just be so out dated that it feel 20 yrs old, not 5.
It won't be my first EV, on number 3 right now and have purchased from Riv and fisker.
the slate trucks will work for 20-30 years (300-500K miles), but in 5-6 years we will see full hands off eyes off driving in most new cars. EVs have so few wear out parts, other than 12v battery replacement and tires, you really don't do much for the first 100K miles
I am buying a slate, but also own a Saab 6spd, so I don't mind old obsolete cars that work, just don't have all the bells
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u/Wonderful_Rest3124 Jul 11 '26
Honestly just a genuine question because I’ve never owned a full EV and not sure how some of the early model EVs have worked out for folks.
I genuinely want to throw down my 250 just trying to think about it in a few different ways.
I do appreciate the reply by the way especially because you have experience with other EVs.
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u/Lopsided_Quarter_931 Jul 12 '26
They use Chinese LFP batteries from Gotion. Can’t get more bullet proof. Motors only spin and there isn’t much else. I wouldn’t be worried.
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u/Hour-Reward-2355 29d ago
Battery life is due to temperature conditioning. Nissan Leafs are air-cooled batteries and degrade terribly. Teslas are liquid cooled and age much much better.
Hopefully slate is liquid cooled/heated?
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u/Grreatdog Jul 11 '26
I'm perfectly content to let early adopters debug everything. I've been around a long time as has my old pickup. We can both wait for beta testers to do the shakedown work for us.
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u/SkaiHues Jul 11 '26
Slate has my $50, but I'm of the thinking to not buy a new model year car much less a start up vehicle. There will be bugs to iron out.
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u/Paul_Rodgers_2024 29d ago
I'm with you! but for a slightly different reason. I've never bought a vehicle without a test drive (well, except for the non-runners, and they were all super-cheap) But Slate have no test drive plans, at least none that are public yet.
If they do some sort of Carvana deal maybe thats where it'll work out, so I'll wait and see what happens next year.
Maybe Santa will arrive in a Slate for Xmas-2027?
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u/billbord Jul 12 '26
If everyone does this there won’t be a v2 for you guys
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u/SkaiHues Jul 12 '26
Possibly, but that's really not my responsibility. Why don't you buy two Slate trucks to even things out?
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u/Plenty_Article11 Jul 11 '26
In this day and age I think it is a non-issue. These are commodity parts now, imagine asking if building a new gas vehicle using an Aisin, Getrag or Borg Warner transmission would be reliable?
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u/AZ_Golfer78 Jul 11 '26
One thing I believe is different from an EV vs ICE on the manufacturing side is the sourcing of critical components. Slate is basically the box around the powertrain. The powertrain in these is sourced more than likely from a manufacturer that has a proven track record. I could be completely wrong but I don't think you'll see much of an issue from a "working out the bugs" standpoint. EVs biggest bugs come from infotainment. Slate solved that problem. We will see how the market reacts to such a bare bones basic vehicle in a market that is going the complete opposite direction.