Slate has stated that they will not have a cellular or other type of connection. It does need some type of connection to do software updates, and that will be from your phone using their app to the truck via USB.
They’ve also stated they won’t track your driving data. You can opt in to share data about the truck’s health through the app for servicing purposes, but that’s all. They’ve also promised not to sell any kind of data to third parties.
That could always change, but I’m on the wait list for one and there are people on the slate forums who are serious about privacy and are watching this and seem pretty happy for now.
Given they stopped making them before smart phones were a thing I imagine not, but that’s also why your SiriusXM no longer works if you’re not a brokie and got a level 3 trim.
There’s a reason I said ‘current industry standard,’ things from almost the last century barely qualify as vehicles by modern standards, and your car couldn’t pass a safety inspect for sale in almost any country today.
Think I’d be driving a car that’s old enough to smoke if I wasn’t a brokie?
I was more poking fun at the idea of a car needing software updates in general. It’s like a toaster or a television needing an update. It’s a machine that should be able to perform its functions entirely offline
Pretending that any software is 100% accurate in a capitalist setting is a ridiculous thing to do; and every television and car since the 1970s has some software involved.
With cars it generally works well enough long enough in enough cases that that direct ECU or other computer patching isn’t needed, because who cares if you have a misfire in every 100,000 cycles as long as the car still runs.
I was originally referring to the same thing in ICE cars that are in EVs, i.e. the infotainment and gauge display systems which are the majority of software updates in either case study, but let’s not pretend this is the 1950s for ICE cars; yes your ECU on your shitbox probably does legitimately have a software update that has better tuning, especially if the same engine was used in two separate production years. Guess what they updated to get more performance despite it having the same engine in order to justify the next year release? The fucking software. Also many recalls are software based these days for all the things that aren’t directly mechanical, like airbag, or lane assist, or backup cameras, or fuel systems, or the ABS controller. All of those things will inevitably have a software flaw. All of those things can be updated, and are updated at least once during the production cycle if only to add additional hardware support when new hardware is swapped into the same model.
EVs, because they are so much more simple than ICE cars in every single possible way, lean harder on software since that’s the only thing that can really be effectively separated into distinct packages and models until solid state batteries come about.
I’m quite excited for the Slate to be released. Electric truck, optional SUV conversion, decent price, minimum frills, customize it yourself if that’s your thing. That sounds so much better than wheeled tank with built-in privacy concerns.
Yeah, I’ve been watching that. It is supposed to start fulfilling orders this year (last I read anyway), but it’ll be at least next year before I can probably look into one. And even then, I’d want to let some other/braver people test them out for reliability and repair-ability.
This exactly. Slate sounds nice until you realize they’re asking $30K for a vehicle with manual locks/windows, no fucking radio, and 150 miles of range.
I don’t like the idea of not having a decent screen for Carplay but I think the upside of this one compared to many other vehicles is that it won’t depreciate as badly. No infotainment to go out of date, etc.
Here you go.
https://abcnews.com/Business/new-automaker-slate-unveils-frills-stripped-electric-truck/story?id=121051962
Backed by amazon? LOL if you think it won’t still have a cellular radio and full tracking suite installed.
Slate has stated that they will not have a cellular or other type of connection. It does need some type of connection to do software updates, and that will be from your phone using their app to the truck via USB.
They’ve also stated they won’t track your driving data. You can opt in to share data about the truck’s health through the app for servicing purposes, but that’s all. They’ve also promised not to sell any kind of data to third parties.
That could always change, but I’m on the wait list for one and there are people on the slate forums who are serious about privacy and are watching this and seem pretty happy for now.
Software updates via the phone app 😒
That’s better than ICE cars having to go to the dealer to update their software, which is the current industry standard.
I don’t recall the last time my Saturn Ion needed a software update
Given they stopped making them before smart phones were a thing I imagine not, but that’s also why your SiriusXM no longer works if you’re not a brokie and got a level 3 trim.
There’s a reason I said ‘current industry standard,’ things from almost the last century barely qualify as vehicles by modern standards, and your car couldn’t pass a safety inspect for sale in almost any country today.
Think I’d be driving a car that’s old enough to smoke if I wasn’t a brokie?
I was more poking fun at the idea of a car needing software updates in general. It’s like a toaster or a television needing an update. It’s a machine that should be able to perform its functions entirely offline
Pretending that any software is 100% accurate in a capitalist setting is a ridiculous thing to do; and every television and car since the 1970s has some software involved.
With cars it generally works well enough long enough in enough cases that that direct ECU or other computer patching isn’t needed, because who cares if you have a misfire in every 100,000 cycles as long as the car still runs.
I was originally referring to the same thing in ICE cars that are in EVs, i.e. the infotainment and gauge display systems which are the majority of software updates in either case study, but let’s not pretend this is the 1950s for ICE cars; yes your ECU on your shitbox probably does legitimately have a software update that has better tuning, especially if the same engine was used in two separate production years. Guess what they updated to get more performance despite it having the same engine in order to justify the next year release? The fucking software. Also many recalls are software based these days for all the things that aren’t directly mechanical, like airbag, or lane assist, or backup cameras, or fuel systems, or the ABS controller. All of those things will inevitably have a software flaw. All of those things can be updated, and are updated at least once during the production cycle if only to add additional hardware support when new hardware is swapped into the same model.
EVs, because they are so much more simple than ICE cars in every single possible way, lean harder on software since that’s the only thing that can really be effectively separated into distinct packages and models until solid state batteries come about.
Slate is the 2nd best choice rn.
First best is buying an older car for cheap and spending some money to repair/upgrade
Not exactly a choice, they don’t actually exist yet.
I’m quite excited for the Slate to be released. Electric truck, optional SUV conversion, decent price, minimum frills, customize it yourself if that’s your thing. That sounds so much better than wheeled tank with built-in privacy concerns.
I just wish there was a version with a full size bed. Not that any of the other light truck options are any better in that regard.
Yeah, I’ve been watching that. It is supposed to start fulfilling orders this year (last I read anyway), but it’ll be at least next year before I can probably look into one. And even then, I’d want to let some other/braver people test them out for reliability and repair-ability.
Cars also need to be smaller for the sustainable transition. We need to disconnect ego from car. Consider it’s spending about 95% of its life parked.
Smaller cars or busses. Or trains. Or trams. Or electric bikes. Or push bikes.
Basically there’s lots of options that don’t make it look like you’re going to war.
And it’s only
$20,000…$25000…$30000. soon I’ll have one parked next to my Aptera, and Tesla Roadster.This exactly. Slate sounds nice until you realize they’re asking $30K for a vehicle with manual locks/windows, no fucking radio, and 150 miles of range.
I don’t like the idea of not having a decent screen for Carplay but I think the upside of this one compared to many other vehicles is that it won’t depreciate as badly. No infotainment to go out of date, etc.