Slate Electric Truck

[StingerZ16]

Yes, and only a couple years before delivery.

[OnTheReel]

 

3 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

https://reotrucks.com/

This is exactly what everyone here claims they want, so we’ll see if it comes to be. Skeptical but for $25 I’ll take a flyer…

Edited July 18 by OnTheReel

[Grumpy Bear]

https://reotrucks.com/the-case

 

The WHY, answered. 

[asilverblazer]

On 7/17/2026 at 7:11 PM, OnTheReel said:

 

This is exactly what everyone here claims they want, so we’ll see if it comes to be. Skeptical but for $25 I’ll take a flyer…

I like the idea. 

I would pick diesel if I had a choice.

I need pictures though.

[KARNUT]

[Atlas]

The Charger EV was stillborn. Wrong car at the wrong price for Dodge's intended audience. Now at a good price with fire-sale discounts, and still not selling, it's still very much the wrong car. Again, Dodge's intended audience. I believe a lot of Stellantis' EV blunders were all under Tavares' regime at Stellantis...the board convinced him to move on. Neat car, just wasn't received on the level that would sustain mass production.

 

Dodge is headed in a better direction for its core business. I didn't think there was anything left to get excited about re: the Durango after its 15 year run, but they're just now releasing a 392 version that should price out in the low 40's. Nicely done. I'm not sure I would touch anything Stellantis makes with a 10' pole these days, but the Durango is still mostly parts designed like 3 parent companies ago so maybe it's still OK?

[Grumpy Bear]

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

 

Interesting pivot.  

[Atlas]

Let's pivot this back. Someone said they wanted pictures.

 

Even better, there's already video. Pre-prod prototypes are already on the road and they're letting the press drive them.

 

JerryRigEverything did a good review. I really enjoy his content and EV adventures, so I was thrilled when he had the chance to review a Slate:

 

 

[KARNUT]

Back in the day people would buy cars based on performance. The charger posted does 0-60 in 3.3 seconds. And it’s fully loaded.  It has a decent warranty and will fit most anyone’s needs. Remember the original Hemi? 90 day warranty. 25K mini truck or that car? I’d go with the car. It wouldn’t fit my perimeter. If I could just talk my wife out of her Genesis. It would be perfect for her.

[Grumpy Bear]

I have thought an EV might have some practical value in extending the life of the ICE members of ones fleet. Now....I'm convinced of it. I've been letting my better half access Raven (Mitsubishi Mirage) for her needs while Dizzy has been in the shop. Being the fuel freak I am and given the fact Raven is capable of over 60 mpg in clean air on a warm day I was taken back by the wife's ability to take a car that had used a half a tank of gas that to that point had returned a value of 57 mpg and return in with a decimating 51 mpg for that same tank in that same day in a 15 mile round trip of short hop errands and a stop in the drive through at Micky D's.  

 

Trust me on this. It would take the remainder of that tank driven on the highway to return that tank to just 54 mpg. This is not a Mitsubishi issue. This is an ICE issue that is magnified in vehicles capable of such high fuel economy values. On a percentage basis your 1500 does the same thing. Short hopping an ICE consumes a good deal more fuel and in doing so provides zero additional useable outputs. That entire volume of fuel is wasted in diluting the cylinder walls oil films, creating crankcase moisture and acid content and the resultant wear. 

 

Enter the SLATE. All of that is avoided and the ICE's advantage in range and made useful at reduced wear for your ICE!

 

Kind'a cool. 

[StingerZ16]

Great video. I almost want to reserve one now.

[Atlas]

1 hour ago, Grumpy Bear said:

I have thought an EV might have some practical value in extending the life of the ICE members of ones fleet. Now....I'm convinced of it. I've been letting my better half access Raven (Mitsubishi Mirage) for her needs while Dizzy has been in the shop. Being the fuel freak I am and given the fact Raven is capable of over 60 mpg in clean air on a warm day I was taken back by the wife's ability to take a car that had used a half a tank of gas that to that point had returned a value of 57 mpg and return in with a decimating 51 mpg for that same tank in that same day in a 15 mile round trip of short hop errands and a stop in the drive through at Micky D's.  

 

Trust me on this. It would take the remainder of that tank driven on the highway to return that tank to just 54 mpg. This is not a Mitsubishi issue. This is an ICE issue that is magnified in vehicles capable of such high fuel economy values. On a percentage basis your 1500 does the same thing. Short hopping an ICE consumes a good deal more fuel and in doing so provides zero additional useable outputs. That entire volume of fuel is wasted in diluting the cylinder walls oil films, creating crankcase moisture and acid content and the resultant wear. 

 

Enter the SLATE. All of that is avoided and the ICE's advantage in range and made useful at reduced wear for your ICE!

 

Kind'a cool. 

 

This is exactly the reason our EV has consumed so much of my driving. I don't want to fire up a cold diesel or gas engine just to drive 2 miles up to the store. It's arguably terrible for an engine. If I'm not driving at least 10 miles and don't need to do truck things, the truck stays parked.

 

Enter the EV. It's immediately heating or cooling the cabin as needed (heat pump). An engine doesn't need to warm up or be driven gently. I can tear off in it with ZERO guilt. Move the car 1/4 mile from store to store and not think "gee, I'm short-cycling a lukewarm engine".

 

It doesn't idle in a drive-through. Doesn't idle at stop lights. (OK, neither would the diesel, if I let stop-start have its way, but I don't).

 

Even moving it out of the garage to wash it... HA! It doesn't need to be started just to move 40 feet. I have cars that I will actually put in neutral and push (no start) in/out of the garage or shop if they absolutely HAVE to be moved. My nice Camaros.

[asilverblazer]

3 hours ago, Atlas said:

I don't want to fire up a cold diesel or gas engine just to drive 2 miles up to the store. It's arguably terrible for an engine. If I'm not driving at least 10 miles

 

Move further away.

 

Benefit of living out - none of our cars get short cycled, plenty of warm up time.

 

Curious how much time/temperature it takes to drive moisture/condensation out of the engine?

[Grumpy Bear]

3 hours ago, Atlas said:

 

This is exactly the reason our EV has consumed so much of my driving. I don't want to fire up a cold diesel or gas engine just to drive 2 miles up to the store. It's arguably terrible for an engine.

 

Most say the oil temperature needs to above the boiling point of water to rid it of moisture and long enough to dry it. Many think that is about a hour at 212 F or more. Those people have never line dried cloths in a Midwest winter. Leave a pan of water sitting on the counter and eventually it all evaporates. So heat drives the time it takes. Water in oil under 175 F, the Nitration initiation temperature, is a minimum then for temperature and samples I've done that use Karl Fisher method say about a hour (in a healthy well tuned motor) over 175 F will dry it to under 800 ppm. Low enough to not be much of a factor. Motors with weak rings will take longer and the colder the air temperature the longer it takes.

 

On a cold motor there is also the condensation temperature. Blowby gases that contain moisture are subject to that cold cylinder wall, like sweat on a glass of ice tea. But also subject to the Law of Partial Pressures. Wear studies by GM and the DOD  indicate wear is a real issue below 85 F and a concern to 140 F but doesn't become a minimal factor until about 160 F. You know this intuitively when you see water vapor exit the exhaust pipe until the system gets above the dew point. It isn't magic, it's physics and it fascinates me. I know you didn't ask but....I over share sometimes.  

 

You keep the Camaro's high and tight.  

[KARNUT]

It’s never dry here but it gets hot. My 4 vehicles I keep at home drive an 18 mile loop. One 6 days a week. Two about 3 days each and one once a month. Only one goes on trips about 4 times a year 1000 to 2000 miles each time. One 26 years old gets driven once a month for 22 years. One 14 years old goes 6 days a week. The other two are recent at 2 and 4 years. All are performing normal no extra service other than that would be half of recommended or severe service in the maintenance manual. No extra water or steam out the exhaust or premature plug wear. I would consider an 18 mile loop would be enough. So apparently once a month at 18 miles for 22 years has kept the collector car running well. About 45 minutes a month.