156: Slate is America's Cheapest EV Truck: No One Will Buy the Base

In the podcast context, “Truck” appears to refer to a specific electric truck offering with official pricing and opening orders mentioned alongside other vehicles. Because the name isn’t clearly provided, the key point is that it’s being discussed as a new or newly priced option in the electric truck market. It’s likely raised to compare availability, cost, and timing for buyers.

Here, “reliability” is about whether public chargers are consistently working when drivers arrive. The segment frames early non-Tesla networks as having too few chargers and enough failures to create long waits, and argues that newer deployments reduce that risk.

Tesla is referenced here as the benchmark for EV charging infrastructure, because its network has been in place since early in the company’s EV rollout. The host contrasts Tesla’s “own box” with earlier non-Tesla networks that started with fewer chargers per site.

DC fast charging is a type of EV charging that sends direct current straight to the vehicle (bypassing the car’s onboard AC charger). It’s designed for quicker top-ups than standard Level 2 charging, which is why it’s common at highway stops and public charging sites.

Electrify America is a major U.S. EV fast-charging network. In the segment, the host uses it as an example of early “gen one” deployments that had only a handful of chargers per location, which could lead to long waits when chargers failed or multiple drivers arrived at once.

The “charging experience” refers to the real-world usability of EV charging—things like how many stalls are available, how often chargers are out of service, and how long you might wait. In this segment, the host contrasts early “gen one” public charging setups with newer sites that add more stalls and redundancy.

The “ION network” is a U.S. EV fast-charging network referenced as an example of newer charging sites. The host points out that these sites are opening with a larger minimum number of stalls, improving the odds that at least some chargers are available.

Walmart is mentioned as a common retail location where EV charging sites are being installed. The point in this segment is that these chargers are increasingly deployed at places with predictable foot traffic and larger stall counts.

In EV charging, “stalls” are the individual parking/charging positions at a station (each stall typically has its own connector and power delivery). The number of stalls matters because if multiple stalls are down or occupied, wait times can stretch to an hour or more.

The Dodge Charger is a full-size American sedan that’s known for strong performance and a long-running muscle-car heritage. In a podcast about “charger anxiety,” it’s likely mentioned because people may be thinking about how practical it is to own and drive a Charger in everyday life, including charging or fueling considerations depending on the specific powertrain discussed. It’s a recognizable name that often comes up when talking about modern driving costs and convenience.

“Charger anxiety” is the worry that you won’t find a public charger when you need one, or that the charger will be occupied or unreliable. It’s especially common for EV drivers planning trips where charging options are uncertain.

A “kilowatt hour” (kWh) is the unit of energy. For EV charging, the price is often quoted per kWh, meaning you pay based on how much electrical energy you add to the battery.

“Time of use” pricing means electricity (or charging) costs different amounts depending on the time of day. For EV charging, this can make the same charger cheaper or more expensive at different hours.

The Ford F-150 Lightning is Ford’s electric version of the F-150 pickup. It’s often discussed because it brings EV technology into a truck shape people already associate with towing and work use. In the podcast context, it’s specifically mentioned after a drive down to 10% battery, which highlights real-world range and charging planning.

“10 percent” here refers to the battery state of charge (SOC), meaning the EV is near empty. Charging near low SOC is a common real-world test for how quickly and how expensively you’ll need to charge on the road.

Some public charging pricing uses a time-based rate (e.g., “a dollar a minute”) instead of only charging energy (kWh). Time-based pricing can make costs harder to predict because charging speed can change as the battery fills.

This refers to EV trip planning—choosing which charger to stop at based on navigation and battery needs. The speaker’s point is that you should consider charging price and availability before relying on the route suggestion.

State of charge (SoC) is the percentage of energy currently stored in an EV’s battery. When the speaker says they’re at “two percent state of charge,” it means the battery is nearly empty, which strongly affects charging urgency and available options.

Route planning for EVs isn’t just about distance—it also factors in charging stops and their cost. A good EV route planner can choose between chargers based on price and availability, even if that means driving a little farther to reach cheaper charging.

Gas Buddy is a consumer fuel-price app that crowdsources gas prices and helps drivers find cheaper stations. The host compares it to what could be done for EV charging—using similar data-driven pricing and routing inside EV tools.

Dynamic pricing means the cost to use an EV charging network can change over time, often based on demand, time of day, or grid conditions. Instead of a fixed per-kWh or per-session rate, the price can be higher when many drivers are charging and lower when there’s more capacity.

The Slate truck 24 950 is an EV pickup positioned around an affordable entry price, using a relatively small lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. In this segment the host highlights its usable battery capacity, rear-wheel-drive layout, and charging capability as the key reasons it’s meant to be practical for everyday driving.

An LFP battery pack uses lithium iron phosphate chemistry. It’s commonly chosen for EVs because it’s generally more thermally stable and can be easier to manage for frequent charging, even though it may have lower energy density than some other lithium chemistries.

Rear-wheel drive (RWD) means the electric motors send power to the rear axle. Compared with all-wheel drive, it typically simplifies the drivetrain and can reduce cost and weight, though it may offer less traction in slippery conditions.

120 kW charging refers to the maximum power the EV can accept from a fast charger, which strongly influences how quickly the battery can refill. Higher kW generally means faster charging up to the point where the car’s battery management tapers the current to protect the cells.

An “ACs port” here is almost certainly referring to the EV charging connector standard used by the truck. Connector type matters because it determines which chargers you can use without adapters.

“80 charge in 30 minutes” is a shorthand for a fast-charging target, typically meaning the battery reaches about 80% state of charge in roughly half an hour under ideal conditions. Real-world results vary based on charger power, battery temperature, and how the car limits charging as it fills up.

Pre-orders are an early purchase commitment made before deliveries begin. For EVs, pre-order timing can affect production allocation and when you can realistically expect your vehicle.

This is a metaphor for selling the most attractive, highest-demand versions first—typically the higher-margin or easiest-to-sell configurations. In EV pricing discussions, it often implies the company will start with a more compelling package before broader, lower-margin sales.

In an EV context, customization usually means the buyer can configure certain aspects of the vehicle—often including interior/exterior components or software-enabled features. The key point here is that customization can affect safety ratings and how the vehicle performs in standardized tests.

A fastback is a body style where the roofline slopes continuously down toward the rear, creating a more streamlined profile than a traditional notchback. The transcript contrasts it with a more square-back shape, implying different packaging and aerodynamics.

“Square back” is an informal description of a boxier rear body shape, typically implying a more upright tail. Compared with a fastback, this can affect aerodynamics, interior space, and how the vehicle’s rear packaging works.

Airbags are inflatable safety cushions designed to rapidly deploy in a crash to reduce head and chest injuries. The transcript suggests the airbags are integrated into a modular unit, which matters because deployment timing and mounting locations are tightly controlled for safety compliance.

Regen (short for regenerative braking) is when an EV uses its electric motor as a generator during deceleration. That converts some of the car’s kinetic energy back into electrical energy to recharge the battery.

One-pedal driving is an EV driving style where lifting off the accelerator slows the car using regenerative braking, so the driver can modulate speed mostly with a single pedal. It changes the feel of braking and can reduce brake usage in everyday driving.

The Tesla Model S is a flagship electric sedan from Tesla, known for showing how far battery-electric performance and tech could go. In this segment, it’s used as an example of how Tesla started with a high price and then reduced pricing over time.

A “base model” is the lowest-priced version of a vehicle, typically with fewer features included from the factory. The segment argues that starting with a base price and then adding options later can be a smarter sales strategy for EV trucks.

Lucid is an EV brand that entered the market with higher-priced models and then moved toward more accessible pricing. Here, the host compares Lucid’s pricing strategy to Tesla’s, as a way to argue that “base” versions can make EVs more attainable.

In the context of EV trucks, “3d printers” refers to hobbyists using desktop manufacturing to create custom parts or accessories. The host is predicting an ecosystem of third-party add-ons around the vehicle if it becomes popular.

“Add-ons” are optional accessories or features that can be purchased after the base vehicle is built. The host frames this as Slate’s key strategy: you can start with the essentials and then add items later as your needs change.

A “five foot bed” refers to the length of the truck’s cargo bed, which affects how much you can haul and what kinds of items fit. The host calls it part of the “bare bones” configuration for Slate’s base truck.

The Renault Wind is a small car from Renault that’s known for its compact size and convertible-style design. It’s the kind of vehicle that often comes up when discussing unusual body styles or very small dimensions. In the podcast context, it sounds like the conversation is focused on how small it is and how its doors or layout work.

A trailer receiver is the standardized hitch receiver tube mounted to a vehicle’s frame or bumper area. It’s the part you slide a hitch into, letting you attach accessories like bike racks or towing setups.

A hitch receiver is the standardized mounting interface (the receiver tube) that accepts hitch-mounted accessories. Using the receiver instead of a full hitch can make it easier to swap between towing and cargo-carrying attachments.

Maximum towing capacity is the highest weight the vehicle is rated to tow safely under specified conditions. It’s limited by factors like cooling, drivetrain strength, and braking, and it directly affects what trailers or cargo setups you can use.

Payload is the maximum weight of people and cargo a vehicle can carry in addition to its own weight. It’s often expressed in pounds and is separate from towing capacity—so a vehicle can have limited towing but still carry a lot in the bed.

The Tesla Cybertruck is an electric pickup truck with a distinctive angular design and a focus on battery-electric performance. It’s often discussed because it represents a major shift in what a pickup can be—using electricity instead of a traditional engine. In the podcast context, it’s referenced in relation to size, weight, and pricing comparisons.

“Demand vectors” is a business/market way to describe different groups of buyers with different motivations. Here, it frames the EV truck’s sales as coming from at least two distinct buyer “directions,” such as affordability and novelty.

This phrase is about market positioning: making an electric vehicle “attainable” by lowering the price barrier so more buyers can purchase it new. In the segment, it’s contrasted with the idea that some EVs (like the Cybertruck) launched with higher barriers and demand came from people “stretching” financially.

“Fleet” demand means businesses buying vehicles in quantity for a specific operational purpose (like deliveries or service routes). Fleet buyers often prioritize total cost of ownership and uptime over flashy features, which can strongly influence which EV trims sell.

“Zevo” in the podcast context appears to refer to a vehicle or product being considered as a purchase, with the discussion centered on annual cost and budgeting. Without a clearer model name, the most relevant takeaway is that it’s being compared or evaluated as an option in a broader conversation about what people spend on vehicles. It’s mentioned alongside other purchase ideas and costs.

This phrase contrasts everyday vehicle use with heavy-duty work. The host is implying that for many business use cases, EVs can handle the job without needing the extreme capabilities associated with frequent towing and hauling.

“Level 2” is a common home/office EV charging standard that uses higher power than a typical outlet. It’s usually installed with dedicated electrical wiring and can recharge an EV much faster than Level 1 charging.

The Chevrolet Bolt is an EV built around a practical, mass-market battery-electric layout—meant for everyday driving rather than high-end performance. In fleet talk, the Bolt name usually refers to the affordable EVs that can be deployed in large numbers.

“Bolt-on” parts are components designed to be removed and installed using fasteners (like bolts) rather than complex disassembly or specialized welding. The host is suggesting that if the Slate’s body/trim pieces are truly bolt-on, repairs after minor impacts could be faster and cheaper.

A “front wing” is a body panel at the front of the car—typically the fender/side panel that covers the wheel area. Hosts often discuss it because it’s a common collision repair part and it affects how well the surrounding panels align.

“Panel gaps” are the visible spacing between body panels (like doors, fenders, and front fascia). Tight, even gaps are a sign of good bodywork alignment and manufacturing quality; uneven gaps can make a car look less refined.

Insurance costs refer to what you pay to insure the vehicle, which can rise after a claim or accident. The host is discussing whether doing a simple panel swap yourself (or outside a claim) could avoid increasing premiums.

Repainting is the process of removing damaged paint and applying new paint to restore the car’s finish. Collision repairs often require repainting to match color and blend the surface, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

Silvio Napoli is identified here as Lucid’s new CEO. A CEO change matters because it often signals a shift in strategy, priorities, and cost structure—especially during periods of workforce reductions.

Workforce cuts are a cost-reduction move that can affect EV development timelines, software iteration, and production ramp-up. For EV makers, reducing engineering and production staffing can slow feature updates and increase execution risk.

A chief operating officer (COO) is an executive responsible for day-to-day operations and execution. Eliminating that role can indicate a restructuring of how the EV company manages production, staffing, and operational priorities.

In modern EVs, “software” includes the vehicle’s control systems and user experience (like infotainment and driver-assistance behavior). The host frames Lucid as being “challenged…from a software standpoint,” implying that software maturity and reliability can be as critical as hardware.

Modern EVs rely heavily on in-car software to manage everything from driving functions to infotainment and system updates. When the host mentions “software challenges,” they’re pointing to the risk that bugs, slow fixes, or update issues can hurt the ownership experience.

In this context, “reset” means a strategic restart—scaling back, reorganizing leadership, and rebuilding processes to address problems. It’s a business/operations concept applied to how an automaker might recover from product or software issues.

“Tank in value” refers to a sharp drop in resale value, which is often driven by market perception, incentives, and how well the product holds up over time. For EVs, software reputation and update reliability can influence buyer confidence and therefore residual value.

The hosts are describing how EV startups often rely on continuous funding to cover losses while they develop new platforms and vehicles. The idea is that if sales don’t ramp up, the external funding eventually stops.

The Lucid Air is a premium electric sedan known for its efficiency and strong real-world driving feel. In this segment, the host compares it directly to the Tesla Model S, praising the Air’s driving dynamics and interior.

Fisker is an EV brand referenced here in the context of owner confidence and real-world problem-solving. The host points to Fisker owners forming communities to work out issues, implying that service and support can be a deciding factor for buyers.

This is a buyer-focused concept: “confidence” means believing the car will be supportable after purchase—especially if something breaks. In the segment, the host links confidence to the availability of repair options, parts, and knowledgeable shops.

“Base spec” means the lowest, most stripped-down configuration in a model lineup. In this segment, Rivian discontinued its base spec and then reworked the entry-level R1T/R1S powertrain and battery pairing.

R1T is Rivian’s electric pickup truck. In this segment, the host discusses Rivian adjusting the R1T’s base specification by changing the motor setup and battery/range pairing to move buyers up the lineup.

R1S is Rivian’s electric SUV. The discussion here is about Rivian discontinuing the base spec and then revising the R1S/R1T entry configurations—specifically removing a dual-motor standard setup from the lowest trim.

A dual-motor EV uses two electric motors (typically one per axle) instead of a single motor. The host says Rivian removed the dual-motor standard pairing from the entry level, which changes both performance feel and how the battery/range is packaged.

In EV context, “range” is the estimated distance the vehicle can travel on a full charge under standardized testing. The host uses range numbers (270 miles, then 321 miles) to explain how Rivian’s entry-level changes effectively force buyers into a higher-spec battery/motor combination.

“Differentiated” here means keeping the product lineup distinct so the cheaper model doesn’t feel like a watered-down version of the higher-end one. The host argues Rivian should keep premium trims “premium,” which is why removing dual-motor from the base spec can make the higher trims more meaningfully better.

The Tesla Model 3 is a compact electric sedan that became one of Tesla’s most important mass-market models. It’s frequently discussed in terms of pricing and how accessible an electric car can be, including talk about a lower-cost version. In the podcast context, it sounds like the conversation is about whether the “around $35,000” idea is realistic for most buyers.

The Rivian R2 is Rivian’s smaller, more affordable electric SUV/truck platform compared with the larger R1 models. In this segment, they’re specifically talking about how the R2 performs off-road during early “first drive” events.

Jake Molinowski is Rivian’s VP of vehicle dynamics for the R2. “Vehicle dynamics” is the engineering side of how the car behaves—things like handling balance, stability control behavior, and how the suspension/traction systems respond to different driving conditions.

In this context, “electric braking” means the truck uses its electric drive system and motor control to slow individual wheels quickly. Instead of relying only on traditional friction brakes, the software can apply braking forces in a split-second to help maintain traction on uneven surfaces.

“Routing torque to the wheels” refers to the vehicle’s control system deciding how much twisting force each driven wheel gets. On an EV truck, that can be adjusted rapidly to match traction—sending more torque to wheels with grip and reducing it where traction is poor.

“Maximum traction” is the goal of keeping the tires from slipping while still delivering drive and braking forces effectively. In off-road conditions like ruts and loose gravel, the control system tries to keep each wheel operating near the grip limit so the truck can move without spinning.

This describes the engineering trade-off between on-road ride/handling and off-road capability. The vehicle needs to be stable and predictable at highway speeds while also managing traction, wheel slip, and ground clearance demands on rough terrain—often requiring different control strategies and hardware tuning.

Air suspension uses airbags instead of traditional steel springs. It can automatically adjust ride height and stiffness to improve comfort and handling, especially over uneven roads.

Applying the brakes to the inside wheels in a turn is a stability/traction control strategy used to help the car rotate and track through the corner. By selectively braking one side, the system can reduce unwanted rotation (oversteer) and improve cornering behavior.

In cornering, “rotation” refers to how much the car yaws (turns its nose) relative to the direction of travel. Reducing rotation typically means the car is being kept from over-rotating, which helps prevent instability like oversteer.

Pirelli Scorpion is a tire line commonly associated with performance-oriented all-season and SUV/off-road-capable tires. Tire choice strongly affects grip on pavement and how predictable the vehicle feels when you “carve up” winding roads.

The Wrangler is a rugged off-road-focused SUV known for its capability and customization options. In the podcast context, it’s referenced with a specific trim/value comparison—described as not being a “Rubicon” and tied to a stated price—suggesting the conversation is about what you get at different price points. It’s commonly discussed because people buy Wranglers specifically for off-road use and durability.

“Price class” is a way of judging a vehicle relative to what buyers typically expect at that budget level. The host is arguing the compromises are reasonable for the GV90’s target cost, even if it’s not the most extreme off-road option.

Genesis’ GV90 is positioned as a new flagship electric vehicle, and the host frames it as a major entry in the EV truck conversation. The key details here are the model name (GV90), its planned launch timing, and its intended price point.

The host references the Ioniq Nine as another EV being compared in the same discussion. Here, it’s used to set up a contrast with a Genesis-badged vehicle on a new EV platform.

A modular architecture is a vehicle design strategy where manufacturers build multiple models using shared “modules” like battery packs and electric motors. The goal is to standardize parts across platforms, which can lower manufacturing costs and make it easier to create different vehicle variants.

Battery packs are the assembled battery units in an EV, typically made from many individual cells arranged into modules and protected by a casing. In modular EV platforms, standardizing battery packs helps manufacturers reduce cost and speed up production across multiple models.

Electric motors are the propulsion units that convert electrical energy from the battery into motion. When EV platforms standardize electric motor designs across models, it can reduce complexity and manufacturing cost.

“800 volt architectures” refers to EV electrical systems designed around an 800-volt high-voltage battery and powertrain. Higher voltage can reduce current for the same power, which helps enable faster charging and more efficient power delivery (assuming compatible chargers and components).

The Ford F-150 is a widely sold full-size pickup truck known for being practical, capable, and available in many configurations. It’s significant in EV discussions because Ford also offers an electric version, and the podcast compares what you can buy depending on your needs. The F-150 is likely brought up to frame the broader pickup market and what alternatives exist.