Cheap Electric truck with hand crank windows

jethreauxdawg

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Dec 20, 2010
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maroontide06

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$25k. Interesting idea. We’ll see how it works. I like the idea. I’m not interested in a two seat truck, but that is fine for a lot of people. Should’ve at least put a bench seat in there.
Where would people even go to buy the things? Are they planning on using existing dealerships somewhere to sell and service them?
 
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dorndawg

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Sep 10, 2012
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In the real world, that dog ain't gonna hunt.
You're more thank likely right, but I'm curious why you think it can't work? I think carvana would have to figure out the service part, clearly. But otherwise isn't this similar to how tesla/riviaan/etc handle their "dealerships"?
 
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You're more thank likely right, but I'm curious why you think it can't work? I think carvana would have to figure out the service part, clearly. But otherwise isn't this similar to how tesla/riviaan/etc handle their "dealerships"?
I can see a lot of those being used as fleet trucks for different businesses. Theyve just got to have the parts and service in place or some way to get parts and service easily and it could probably work.
 

TheBannerM

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I think if they can figure out the servicing part of it, it will be a good option for a certain segment of the buying public. The trucks are highly modular and customizable. I could see that being popular with the utes.

1782306725480.png

Imagine if Ford had packages in the 90s that allowed you to convert a Ford Ranger into an SUV or open top jeep. Once the aftermarket companies get ahold of them, you could see some real cool mods available.
 
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maroontide06

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You're more thank likely right, but I'm curious why you think it can't work? I think carvana would have to figure out the service part, clearly. But otherwise isn't this similar to how tesla/riviaan/etc handle their "dealerships"?
I have no idea how Tesla and Rivian handle their dealerships. I reckon they have one in New Orleans somewhere, but for this Slate truck to have any level of success they'll have to have either a partnership with current existing dealerships for delivery and service, or they'll need to start building some physical locations that are within respectable driving distances for folks. I think if someone were to buy one of these Slate trucks for personal use, they would want to be able to take it to a physical location for service when it needs maintenance or fixing. After these things have been on the market for a few years, you'll probably start seeing them for sale as used vehicles at traditional dealerships. Then those traditional dealerships will probably have no choice but to service them at that point.
 
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Hugh's Burner Phone

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I think if they can figure out the servicing part of it, it will be a good option for a certain segment of the buying public. The trucks are highly modular and customizable. I could see that being popular with the utes.

View attachment 1338692

Imagine if Ford had packages in the 90s that allowed you to convert a Ford Ranger into an SUV or open top jeep. Once the aftermarket companies get ahold of them, you could see some real cool mods available.
IMG_1734.jpeg
 

The Peeper

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Autopian is trying to be dramatic w/ the "website leak" crap. There are dozens and dozens of articles, YouTube videos, marketing brochures, you name it, that have been saying for over a year the price is going to be $24,950.

I can see the concept of a small electric truck working out for pool cleaning companies w/ 1 service guy, a couple of "rent a maids" going out to clean houses, auto parts store deliveries to mechanics, a night watchman/security company, pharmacy/grocery deliver, etc etc etc. What I can't see is 1. the service department or lack thereof and 2. Having a truck driver delivering it to you and saying sign here and pulling away for the next drop.

'Jay Leno's Garage' YouTube channel did a good review of it w/ the CEO or design engineer one, I can't remember.
 
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QuadrupleOption

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Considering my last used car cost me $23K, I don't think this is a bad option. If it's fully EV, it should be simpler to manufacture anyway and without a lot of extra fluff it could still be cheap and good quality.

This might the the 2026 version of Toyota and Nissan launching their cars in the US in the late 1970s - everyone laughed at how cheap they were, but they WORKED forever.
 

HailStout

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I am happy that they are getting away from all the bells and whistles. Just give me dials and switches. No digital displays.
 
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OopsICroomedmypants

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Toyota is probably going to rewrite the small truck fleet industry as well as provide small businesses with their new gas powered modular truck. We just can't get it in the U.S. easily right now.
 

horshack.sixpack

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Oct 30, 2012
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There aren’t words to describe how smooth I looked in high school when I pulled up to some girl and leaned all the way over to crank my passenger side window down to talk to her.
When I finally sold my old truck, those windows still worked fine!
 

horshack.sixpack

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You're more thank likely right, but I'm curious why you think it can't work? I think carvana would have to figure out the service part, clearly. But otherwise isn't this similar to how tesla/riviaan/etc handle their "dealerships"?
Fear of the unknown is a big reason they would need to articulate a service plan that was compelling.
 
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BoDawg.sixpack

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There's a flood of cheap electric vehicles coming from China that is going to repricw the entire electric market.

There also needs to be a reimagining of how a vehicle is put together so that the common man can easily replace parts when something needs to be changed. Snap off, snap on, when feasible, minimal bolts and screws, easily reachable wiring harnesses and more room in the engine bay to work.
 
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johnson86-1

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There's a flood of cheap electric vehicles coming from China that is going to repriced the entire electric market.

Their also needs to be a reimagining of how a vehicle is put together so that the common man can easily replace parts when something needs to be changed. Snap off, snap on, when feasible, minimal bolts and screws, easily reachable wiring harnesses and more room in the engine bay to work.
I think with ev's that's very doable. I think with ICE cars, all the environmental regulations basically require the engine be so complicated that so much stuff is packed under the hood that changing out a lot of things is going to be complicated because multiple parts will have to be removed.
 
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johnson86-1

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$25k. Interesting idea. We’ll see how it works. I like the idea. I’m not interested in a two seat truck, but that is fine for a lot of people. Should’ve at least put a bench seat in there.
Yea, I think there is a market for a glorified golf cart at a cheap price, but you've got to have 4 or 5 seats I think to make the market a decent size. But I think basic teslas are under $40k now? So if you do probably need to keep it below $30k to be compelling, or you need to start adding features to make it more like a normal car, in which case it doesn't take too many add ons and now you're just competing directly with low end teslas which is probably not where you want to be.

For us personally, a jeep like EV that is barebones would be very attractive when the kids are driving. If we're going to have 3 cars, one of them being a cheap glorified golf cart for running around town sounds great, but it's got to have at least 4 seats and ideally 5.
 

Dawgbite

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Nov 1, 2011
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I’ve seriously researched these things. It checks a lot of boxes for what I need at this point in my life, retirement. If some manufacturer will make an electric vehicle that can be easily flat towed behind a motor home and charge itself while being towed they will tap into a market that Jeep is practically the only player.
 

jethreauxdawg

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Dec 20, 2010
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Yea, I think there is a market for a glorified golf cart at a cheap price, but you've got to have 4 or 5 seats I think to make the market a decent size. But I think basic teslas are under $40k now? So if you do probably need to keep it below $30k to be compelling, or you need to start adding features to make it more like a normal car, in which case it doesn't take too many add ons and now you're just competing directly with low end teslas which is probably not where you want to be.

For us personally, a jeep like EV that is barebones would be very attractive when the kids are driving. If we're going to have 3 cars, one of them being a cheap glorified golf cart for running around town sounds great, but it's got to have at least 4 seats and ideally 5.
Throw the kids in the truck bed.
 

TheBannerM

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I’ve seriously researched these things. It checks a lot of boxes for what I need at this point in my life, retirement. If some manufacturer will make an electric vehicle that can be easily flat towed behind a motor home and charge itself while being towed they will tap into a market that Jeep is practically the only player.
Flat towing an EV seems like a engineering challenge, given the nature of electric vehicles.
 

DoggieDaddy13

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Powered pavement and rail is already here, but it will take a massive Interstate-style public works project and 20 years to build.

And by that time flying cars will probably be a thing.

Or just sitting your assathome with your AI and living virtually.
 

The Peeper

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Feb 26, 2008
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and more room in the engine bay to work.


This is my main beef.

My first vehicle was an old 62 Chevy pickup, "3 on the tree" transmission w/ a pancake 6 cylinder in it. AM radio, manual roll up windows, manual locks. The doors and dash board and panel was solid metal so on a hot South MS day it was about "1Fiddy degrees in the cab minimum. On January mornings Ralphie would get his tongue stuck on that dash if he put it there. You could seat 4 friends (2 across the front end and 1 on each quarter panel) with their feet and legs in the engine compartment and room enough to bend over for elbows and arms to easily wiggle things and turn wrenches. You could have the whole engine out by removing 6 or 8 bolts in 10-15 minutes with an engine hoist. No smog scrubbers, only 4 short hoses (2 radiator and 2 heater) only 1 belt for the fan alternator and generator. I'd love to have it today................

1782316474420.png 1782316493486.png
 
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L4Dawg

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Yea, I think there is a market for a glorified golf cart at a cheap price, but you've got to have 4 or 5 seats I think to make the market a decent size. But I think basic teslas are under $40k now? So if you do probably need to keep it below $30k to be compelling, or you need to start adding features to make it more like a normal car, in which case it doesn't take too many add ons and now you're just competing directly with low end teslas which is probably not where you want to be.

For us personally, a jeep like EV that is barebones would be very attractive when the kids are driving. If we're going to have 3 cars, one of them being a cheap glorified golf cart for running around town sounds great, but it's got to have at least 4 seats and ideally 5.
The SUV version has 5 seats.
 

mstateglfr

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Feb 24, 2008
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1782317791197.png

25 year old me woulda bit on this if 25 year old me had 35 year old me level salary.
35 year old me would have stayed away from it without a second thought.
45 year old me wishes 25 year old me would have bought it even if it would have been a dumb purchase.





22 year old me wanted an early 80s open top Ford Bronco because of this movie...
 

mstateglfr

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Feb 24, 2008
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There's a flood of cheap electric vehicles coming from China that is going to repricw the entire electric market.

There is? I thought the US market was cut off from basically all of the Chinese EV offerings.
Besides Polestar(not cheap at all) being sold in the US because its connected to Volvo or something, I didnt think Chinese EVs were really even in the US at all.

Between tariffs and government bans on hardware and software in the EVs...that seems like a tough hill to climb.

Have I missed news on this?
 
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Dawgbite

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This is my main beef.

My first vehicle was an old 62 Chevy pickup, "3 on the tree" transmission w/ a pancake 6 cylinder in it. AM radio, manual roll up windows, manual locks. The doors and dash board and panel was solid metal so on a hot South MS day it was about "1Fiddy degrees in the cab minimum. On January mornings Ralphie would get his tongue stuck on that dash if he put it there. You could seat 4 friends (2 across the front end and 1 on each quarter panel) with their feet and legs in the engine compartment and room enough to bend over for elbows and arms to easily wiggle things and turn wrenches. You could have the whole engine out by removing 6 or 8 bolts in 10-15 minutes with an engine hoist. No smog scrubbers, only 4 short hoses (2 radiator and 2 heater) only 1 belt for the fan alternator and generator. I'd love to have it today................

View attachment 1338932 View attachment 1338933
Buddy in high school had a Ford F100 with a straight six and three on the tree. Two people could literally stand on the ground between the engine and front fender well to work on it. Hit my shin on that I Beam front axle many a time.
 

o_Hot Rock

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Jan 2, 2010
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Maintenance on these is practically nothing but it's not nothing.

I have had and EV since Dec of 2022 and have 92,000 miles on it. Best car I ever owned and it's not close. Cost to drive is equivalent to about 110-130mpg per mile as my last car, a Camry. It is much quicker 0-80 than my '88 V8 Camaro with IROC performance package with posi trac. EV is way quicker off the line.

The only maintenance that has been done on it is:

1) Rotating tires which I do myself after the warranty went out for mileage
2) Cabin filter changed/ cleaned which I do myself after the warranty went out for mileage
3) Software issue that wasn't recharging the 12volt battery that runs the computers and accessories. Same type battery you have on your car and mine went bad because the software was not recharging it properly. I got a jump starter and once it started the drive batteries recharged it after the reset. It took 3 visits and a national recall to get it right. Hyundai had a problem with it.

Issues will arise, they need to have a plan to address problems without me having go through undo stress or I would not buy it either.... unless the price point and value are truly worth it.
 
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johnson86-1

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May be harder than it seems but all a generator is is an electric motor spun mechanically to produce a charge.
You just have to be able to uncouple the motors from the wheels essentially. I assume that would not be that difficult of an engineering problem to figure out, but at the expense of a lot of the things that make electric motors desirable (relative simplicity; fewer points of failure and fewer systems to maintain). So you could do that for your cars when most people won't be towing their vehicle flat, or you can just let the people that would prefer to two it flat spend the extra money on a tow set up that gets two wheels off the ground one way or another.