AD #4325 - Slate Prices Electric Pickup At $24,950; Honda Revives the Element; Automakers Threaten to Halt California Sales
About this episode
Slate sets the bar for an electric modular pickup/SUV kit, pricing it at $24,950 before destination charges and detailing a 65 kWh LFP pack with a 205-mile estimate. The show then shifts to California’s connected-vehicle tracking/access law, where automakers warn they could stop selling in the state. Volkswagen’s bi-directional charging plans and earnings potential are also discussed, alongside Honda’s Element comeback after 18 years and battery-cost pressures driving EV economics.
Slate
"EV startup Slate revealed pricing for its pickup truck. Sticking to its word, it starts at twenty four nine fifty dollars... If you opt for the kit that converts the truck into a five seat suv..."
Slate is a new company making an electric pickup. They’re selling it in a basic form first, and you can pay extra to add parts that change it into a different kind of vehicle.
Slate is an EV startup that announced pricing and configuration details for its pickup truck. The episode focuses on how the truck is sold in a very stripped “base” form and then optionally converted into a different body style via an add-on kit.
LFP battery pack
"The truck features a sixty five kilowatt hour LFP battery pack and a one hundred and thirty five kilowatt rear mounted motor, with the setup providing an estimated two hundred and five miles of range."
LFP is a type of EV battery chemistry. It’s generally considered safer and long-lasting, which is why some EV makers choose it.
LFP stands for lithium iron phosphate, a battery chemistry known for strong thermal stability and typically longer cycle life. In EVs, LFP packs are often chosen for durability and safety, though they can have different energy density compared with other chemistries.
kilowatt hour
"The truck features a sixty five kilowatt hour LFP battery pack..."
Kilowatt-hours (kWh) tell you how much energy is stored in the EV battery. Bigger numbers usually mean more potential driving range.
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy used to describe the size of an EV’s battery. More kWh usually means more potential energy for driving, though real-world range also depends on efficiency and vehicle weight.
Ford Maverick
"...ge. Wise, it's about two feet shorter than a Ford Maverick, but the truck weighs just over four thousand pou..."
The Ford Maverick is a small pickup truck. It’s meant for everyday driving but still has a bed you can use to carry items. In the podcast, it’s mentioned to help compare how big and heavy something else is.
The Ford Maverick is a compact pickup truck designed to be smaller and easier to live with than full-size trucks, while still offering a truck bed for hauling and everyday utility. It often comes up in discussions because its size and practicality make it a common choice for people who want “truck capability” without the bulk and cost of larger pickups. In your excerpt, it’s being used as a reference point for comparing overall dimensions and weight.
vehicle tracking
"Automakers are threatening to stop selling cars in California over a new law that aims to prevent vehicle tracking, mainly for domestic violence survivors."
Vehicle tracking means using the car’s electronics to figure out where it is. The episode says California is trying to limit tracking to protect people in domestic violence situations.
Vehicle tracking is the use of a car’s connectivity (like GPS/telematics) to monitor location and movement. The episode ties it to a California law aimed at preventing tracking in situations involving domestic violence survivors.
California sales
"Automakers are threatening to stop selling cars in California over a new law... The Alliance for Automotive Innovation... says... automakers will be forced to stop selling both new and use vehicles in the state on July first."
This segment is about automakers threatening to halt sales in California due to a new connected-car privacy/safety law. It’s framed as a major business risk because California is described as the largest car market in the US.
remote access to connected vehicle services
"The law requires automakers to set up an online process that allows a person to seek termination of another person's remote access to connected vehicle services..."
Connected vehicle services are the internet/app features in a modern car. The law discussed would let someone request that another person’s remote access to those features be turned off.
This refers to the ability to control or manage connected-car functions remotely through a vehicle’s telematics and app services. The episode frames it as the target of a California law that would allow a person to request termination of another person’s remote access.
bi directional charging
"Volkswagen is gauging customer interest in Germany for its bi directional charging package that basically turns an EV into a storage device that the grid can tap into."
Bi-directional charging lets an EV send electricity back to the grid (or to a home) instead of only charging from the grid. This turns the vehicle into a kind of energy storage resource, which can be used to balance demand and potentially earn money for the owner.
Volkswagen
"Volkswagen is gauging customer interest in Germany for its bi directional charging package... VW expects to launch its charging package in Germany in the fourth quarter of this year..."
Volkswagen is testing a bi-directional charging offering in Germany and plans to expand it to other models and markets. The episode also mentions expected launch timing and how the program could aggregate EV storage capacity at the grid level.
WLTP test cycle
"Two battery sizes are available fifty nine and eighty six kiloot hours, the latter providing up to six hundred and thirty kilometers or about three hundred and ninety miles of range on the WLTP test cycle."
WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure) is a standardized testing method used in Europe to estimate EV range. It’s intended to be more realistic than older test cycles, but real-world range can still vary with weather, speed, and driving style.
Scota
"In the UK, speaking of the VW group, Scota revealed its new top of the line model and all electric suv called the Peak."
Scota is the company behind a new electric SUV called the Peak. The episode explains what kind of SUV it is and what battery/range options it will offer.
Scota is introduced as the company revealing a new all-electric SUV called the Peak. The episode focuses on its positioning, platform basis, battery options, and range figures.
MEB platform
"This is meant to be like the electric alternative to the large Kodiak suv and is based on the stretched version of VW's MEB platform..."
MEB is Volkswagen’s electric-car “platform,” meaning the shared design underneath the car. It helps the company build different EV models more efficiently using common parts.
Volkswagen’s MEB platform is an EV-specific vehicle architecture designed to standardize battery placement and electric drivetrain packaging across multiple models. Using MEB helps automakers scale EV production and share components across different brands and body styles.
kilowats
"all wheel drive version makes two hundred and twenty kilowats or roughly two hundred and ninety five horse power."
Kilowatts are a way to measure how much power a motor makes. It’s the EV version of horsepower, just using different units.
Kilowatts (kW) are a unit of power commonly used for electric motors and EV performance. Converting to horsepower is just a different way of expressing the same power output.
all wheel drive
"all wheel drive version makes two hundred and twenty kilowats or roughly two hundred and ninety five horse power."
All-wheel drive means the car can send power to all four wheels. That usually helps it grip better on wet, snowy, or rough roads.
All-wheel drive (AWD) is a drivetrain setup that sends power to both the front and rear axles. That typically improves traction and stability, especially on slippery or uneven surfaces, compared with driving only one axle.
diagnostic trouble codes
"Ad Intrepid we produce network hardware and software solutions... NEOVI cloud platform helps manufacturers quickly identify diagnostic trouble codes and defects by pinpointing which vehicles have specific software versions."
Diagnostic trouble codes are like a car’s error messages stored in its computer. They tell a mechanic what system is having a problem so the fix is faster.
Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) are standardized identifiers stored by a vehicle’s onboard computer when it detects a fault. They help technicians pinpoint what system is malfunctioning and guide repairs.
Ad Intrepid
"Speaker 2: Ad Intrepid we produce network hardware and software solutions, enabling vehicle manufacturers to innovate and design the next generation of modern mobility, delivering scalable next generation solutions requires thorough testing and validation of vehicle platforms"
Ad Intrepid is a company that makes software and systems that help car makers test vehicles. They use cloud tools to find car error codes and defects so problems can be caught before cars go into production.
Ad Intrepid is described as providing network hardware and software for vehicle manufacturers, aimed at testing and validating vehicle platforms. In this segment, the company’s NEOVI cloud platform is used to identify diagnostic trouble codes and defects tied to specific software versions.
DTCs
"non compliant vehicles in real time using analytics, part numbers, DTCs, and organized secure cloud based data."
DTCs is the acronym for diagnostic trouble codes. In vehicle testing and production, manufacturers use them to detect which cars have faults and to verify that software and hardware changes didn’t introduce new issues.
Honda Element
"A Honda model that was beloved by owners is making a comeback. Sources tell Automotive News that the element will return to the automaker's lineup after eighteen years of being away, slotting between the HRV and CRV."
The Honda Element is a quirky, box-shaped Honda that was known for being practical and easy to use. This episode says Honda plans to restart the model after many years, and it’ll sit between two other Honda crossovers.
The Honda Element is a boxy, utility-focused compact SUV/crossover that became popular for its flexible interior and easy access. In this segment, Autoline Daily says Honda will bring the Element back after an 18-year absence, positioning it between the HR-V and CR-V.
Honda Hrv
"...ighteen years of being away, slotting between the HRV and CRV. Production is expected to start in the s..."
The Honda HR-V is a small SUV-style vehicle. It’s designed to be practical for daily driving and to carry people and cargo. The podcast mentions it to show where another vehicle will fit in the lineup compared to the HR-V and CR-V.
The Honda HR-V is a compact crossover SUV, positioned in Honda’s lineup between smaller and larger models. It’s significant because it’s built for people who want an SUV-like driving position and cargo space without moving up to a full-size SUV. In the podcast context, it’s referenced as a point in the lineup—specifically noting where an upcoming model is expected to sit relative to the HR-V and CR-V.
Jaguar land Rover
"Jaguar land Rover is showcasing a new concept vehicle to demonstrate its progress and sustainability. The automaker partnered with more than forty suppliers to create forty nine components"
Jaguar Land Rover is the car company mentioned here. They’re showing a sustainability concept that uses recycled materials and is designed so parts can be taken apart for reuse and recycling.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is the automaker behind the Cornerstone project described here. The segment says JLR partnered with suppliers to create components using recycled or bio-based materials designed to be disassembled for recycling and repair.
CO two equivalent
"The project, called Cornerstone, has delivered more more than a metric ton of CO two equivalent savings and increase the amount of recycled material in a vehicle by one hundred and forty kilograms"
CO2 equivalent is a single number that lets you compare different greenhouse gases using carbon dioxide as the reference. It’s used to estimate how much climate impact a project has overall.
“CO2 equivalent” (often written as CO₂e) is a way to compare greenhouse gas impacts by converting different gases into the amount of carbon dioxide that would create the same warming effect. It’s commonly used in sustainability reporting to combine multiple emissions sources into one number.
Cornerstone
"The project, called Cornerstone, has delivered more more than a metric ton of CO two equivalent savings and increase the amount of recycled material in a vehicle"
Cornerstone is a named sustainability project by Jaguar Land Rover. It’s about making car parts from more recycled materials and designing them so they can be taken apart for recycling and fixing.
Cornerstone is the name of Jaguar Land Rover’s project focused on sustainability. It emphasizes using recycled or bio-based materials and designing components to be taken apart for recycling and repair.
lithium iron phosphate
"The cost of lithium iron phosphate or LFP batteries is skyrocketing in China due to higher raw material costs and growing demand."
Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is a type of EV battery. It’s generally considered safer and more stable, and this episode says the price of LFP batteries is going up.
Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is a lithium-ion battery chemistry that’s known for being relatively safer and more thermally stable than some other lithium chemistries. In this segment, the hosts discuss how LFP battery costs are rising due to raw material costs and demand.
LFP batteries
"The cost of lithium iron phosphate or LFP batteries is skyrocketing in China due to higher raw material costs and growing demand."
LFP batteries are a specific kind of lithium battery used in some EVs. This episode says their prices are rising because of higher material costs and strong demand.
LFP batteries are lithium iron phosphate batteries, a specific EV battery chemistry. They’re often chosen for their stability and cost advantages, and here the segment focuses on how LFP pricing is being pressured upward in China.
sodium ion batteries
"China COATL, the largest EVY battery maker in the world, says it's sodium ion batteries will be used in ten to twenty thousand vehicles this year."
Sodium-ion batteries are another type of rechargeable battery that doesn’t use lithium. This episode says they can work in very cold weather and may be safer, but they store less energy than lithium batteries.
Sodium-ion batteries are an alternative to lithium-ion that use sodium instead of lithium for charge storage. The segment highlights two key points: they can operate in very cold temperatures, and they’re claimed to be less prone to thermal runaway, though they have lower energy density.
China COATL
"And speaking of batteries, China COATL, the largest EVY battery maker in the world, says it's sodium ion batteries will be used in ten to twenty thousand vehicles this year."
China COATL is a battery company mentioned in the episode. They’re saying their sodium-ion batteries will go into tens of thousands of vehicles and can work in very cold temperatures.
China COATL is presented as the largest EV battery maker in the world in this segment. The company claims its sodium-ion batteries will be used in a specific number of vehicles this year and highlights cold-weather capability.
energy dense
"While sodium batteries aren't as energy dense as lithium ion, they're less prone to thermal runaway"
Energy density is how much “battery power” you get for the battery’s size and weight. If it’s lower, you usually need a bigger battery to get the same range.
Energy density is how much energy a battery can store for a given weight or volume. The segment says sodium-ion batteries are less energy dense than lithium-ion, which generally means less range for the same battery size.
thermal runaway
"While sodium batteries aren't as energy dense as lithium ion, they're less prone to thermal runaway, and they're more affordable because of the abundance of sodium."
Thermal runaway is when a battery gets too hot and the heat keeps making it worse. The episode says sodium-ion batteries are less likely to get into that dangerous runaway situation.
Thermal runaway is a battery failure mode where overheating triggers a self-reinforcing chain reaction, potentially leading to fire. The segment contrasts sodium-ion batteries with lithium-ion by claiming sodium is less prone to thermal runaway.
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