Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

theverge.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

501–510 of 1001 posts

Re: A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

#501

Post by wyager »

taylodl wrote: post #43

I LOVE it! THIS is the kind of truck I'd be looking at to replace my 1998 Ford Ranger. Here is what could be potential deal-breakers: - Lack of a mobile app. Minimalist design is great, but I still want an app to manage charging and be alerted to any vehicle issues. - Lack of good charge management and battery conditioning. Either that, or a cheap and easy to replace battery pack. I'd really like both! - Comparable h…

> I still want an app to manage charging

Consumers with preferences like yours are the #2 reason (after new regulations) that modern cars are terrible

Re: A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

#504

Post by edaemon »

JackC wrote: post #225

> It only seats two yet has a bed big enough to hold a sheet of plywood. Not really the point of the article, but, does it? This[0] says the bed is 60 inches long and 43 wide, and plywood is 96x48 inches. Is it like, any vehicle fits plywood if you cut it to the size of the truck or stack it on top? [0] https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-slate-truck-is-two-feet-sh...

Yeah, it's interesting that their FAQ [1] just says it can fit "full size sheets of plywood" and their specs page [2] also does not list the actual dimensions, only the volume. A 60"x43" bed would technically fit a 96"x48" sheet, but you would have to lean one edge against the side of the bed.

That said, the article you linked appears to list the bed width at the wheel wells. They say the Maverick's bed is 42.6" wide but above the wheel wells it 53" wide or so. You can find plenty of pictures of people hauling plywood with one. I suspect the Slate is similar.

[1]: https://www.slate.auto/en/faq

[2]: https://www.slate.auto/en/specs

Re: A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

#505

Post by palmtree3000 »

anannymoose wrote: post #492
Brybry wrote: post #459

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Electric vehicle tax credits are non-refundable tax credits meaning you can't get a credit for more than you owe. [1][2] Which means no one is getting your tax dollars to buy vehicles (though there may be some infrastructure or manufacturing grants for companies). [1] https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12600 [2] https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-credits-for-individuals-wha...

So, should I wish to purchase a vehicle this tax year, I tell my HR to adjust my income withholding such that I owe 7,500$ come tax time and then reap the rewards? Or is there more to the incentive structure?

Withholding isn't relevant here. Non refundable means it can't cause the government to net pay you money: that is to say, it can't make your refund larger than your withholding.

Re: A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

#506

Post by Brybry »

anannymoose wrote: post #492
Brybry wrote: post #459

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Electric vehicle tax credits are non-refundable tax credits meaning you can't get a credit for more than you owe. [1][2] Which means no one is getting your tax dollars to buy vehicles (though there may be some infrastructure or manufacturing grants for companies). [1] https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12600 [2] https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-credits-for-individuals-wha...

So, should I wish to purchase a vehicle this tax year, I tell my HR to adjust my income withholding such that I owe 7,500$ come tax time and then reap the rewards? Or is there more to the incentive structure?

The government still gives you back your money in a refund if you overpay them.

Though, of course, you don't earn interest on it while the government is holding it.

Re: A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

#507

Post by nwellinghoff »

taylodl wrote: post #43

I LOVE it! THIS is the kind of truck I'd be looking at to replace my 1998 Ford Ranger. Here is what could be potential deal-breakers: - Lack of a mobile app. Minimalist design is great, but I still want an app to manage charging and be alerted to any vehicle issues. - Lack of good charge management and battery conditioning. Either that, or a cheap and easy to replace battery pack. I'd really like both! - Comparable h…

I also Love the direction of this truck. It would be nice if they installed speakers…two door and a small sub and just left a space in the dash for a standard radio of your choice. Or at the very least cut out the spaces and run wire so installing a proper stereo isn’t a nightmare. I don’t need “infotainment” but I do consider a radio with decent sound to enjoy the ride standard equipment.

Re: A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

#508

Post by wswope »

krunck wrote: post #157
water-data-dude wrote: post #75

The fact that it’s so bare bones (no stereo, etc. unless you put one in) makes me really hope that it doesn’t phone home with a firehose of telemetry like pretty much every other new car. If so, they’ve got my interest

Excellent question. Isn't that required by law in the US now?

What gave you that impression?

Re: A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

#509

Post by germinalphrase »

itsoktocry wrote: post #363
hansvm wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Honda Fit is great. You can probably squeeze an extra decade out if you're willing to swap out the motor or transmission (used, 100k miles or so, if you shop around $2k-$3k should be doable), and if you're using it heavily then you have the advantage that most cara on the market take less abuse, so you can maybe grab a decade beyond that by picking up somebody else's used Fit when you're done repairing yours.

> You can probably squeeze an extra decade out if you're willing to swap out the motor or transmission In many parts of the country (I'm Canadian, I assume the same for the US) the body and undercarriage are going to rot before the drivetrain goes.

This is the issue with mine here in Minnesota. Rust is the car killer.

Re: A $20k American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, no screen

#510

Post by AlanYx »

PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #392
rozap wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also love this design and I'm happy that someone is doing it. I think it's unlike anything else on the market. But, they won't necessarily be competing against other new things on the market. My wife also rides horses and we got a $5000 20 year old F250 which is very basic but has been bulletproof, and it can tow. I imagine old, basic trucks, either cheap domestic ones or kei trucks will be what this thing competes…

> Also I'm increasingly convinced that the Honda fit is what peak performance looks like Close. A bit of work on the rear hatch dimensions so that you could get 4'x8' sheet goods in there, as was possible on the 1980s Honda Civic. Also, just a teensy-weensy bit more power, please. Ours struggles even on moderate hills here on the edge of the Sangres de Cristo (southern Rockies). Otherwise, all hail the Fit/Jazz, car…

They're both good in different ways. The advantage of the Fit is largely in cargo height (with the magic seats flipped up), but for some other objects the 80s Civic is better.
Post reply on HN