Late Start And Stormy Setup

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Welcome back, everyone, to another swing shift. I'm your host, Rob, joined by my co-host and brother RJ.

SPEAKER_02 0:20

Oh what's up, man? Again. See, I'm trying to get good about the huh. I'm checking in here. But uh I not well, here's what I'll say. Take three. Here's what I'll say with regard to what's up. Uh we are uh by my watch about I don't know, an hour and 40 minutes now starting uh past uh the time that we um scheduled late set. Yeah, but I have to say, um this is the first time where we both got on exactly on the dot, and boom, the audio was good. We were talking to each other right away. Uh uh, but then your air conditioner stopped working in Arizona. And then once, you know, we kind of I kind of helped you a little bit with that, and you got it worked out, and then uh a little tropical cyclone rolled in here in Texas. I had to go uh scurry around and batten some hatches. And here we are. Batten some astrophotography hatches. Yes, my telescope was out in the elements. Uh but it's it's a game day player. It it knows.

SPEAKER_00 1:26

So what's uh what's new in your world?

SPEAKER_02 1:29

Uh, you know, uh a lot of things. I what the the telescope? That's not new, no. Um I looked into getting a whole like upgrading to the next sort of level of rig, and uh yeah, that's not gonna happen anytime soon. Might as well what's what's the investment look like? For I would say like uh I'm gonna say entry level, and I'm assuming that in air quotes, but you know, entry level at the at the uh at that level of for real astrophotography, three to five thousand.

Astrophotography Gear Costs Get Real

SPEAKER_02 2:11

Good God. You know how many Pokemon cards you could buy with that kind of money? I know. I was like, geez, man. Like, you know how many you know how many cars I've bought for like way less than that money? I mean a lot. And I'm like, you know, how much do I really like the horse head nebula? Uh I mean, not much. Oh I have a long way to go. Yeah, uh, I have a long way to go. Um, I have a lot of runway with my current equipment, even though, even though it really is on the amateur, like the very entry-entry side things. Like, I have a long way to go to um learn and whatever. But yeah, uh I I want to uh speaking of cars and stuff, um I do have some updates on the suburban I'd rather not talk about. So let's talk about something else.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

Um uh no, we're definitely talking about that.

SPEAKER_02 3:04

Really?

SPEAKER_00 3:04

All right. So O2 sensors uh was the last we we talked.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

Yeah, yeah. And then we talked about, you know, I hadn't scanned it and I was, you know, gonna scan it, whatever. And uh so I scanned it and I used the launch computer, so I got the and the check engine light was off at this point, right? But I scanned it anyway and um got the report. And uh so interestingly, um, even though the check engine light came on briefly and it was for uh uh a bank one downstream O2, what was in the actual diagnostics was um it was it was yelling about both downstream O2s and a couple other things, and the intake manifold, manifold intake, manifold air pressure, yeah. Uh so like five different things all related. Um, but they just didn't hit the threshold to trigger the check engine lights. So I was like, okay, it's probably not that O2 sensor. And uh I'm like, well, I think the the map on these these ones at higher mileage can maybe get a little gunked up, I think I've heard. So I'll maybe go pop that out and clean it. So I uh popped the hood earlier this evening. Um uh I it has a cold air intake on it, right? So uh pop the hood and I'm looking at and oh look, the the air filter, the comb filter, had just fallen off. I mean, not just right then, but it had fallen off, is what I mean. So she's been sucking in fucking ranch dirt, just air air, unfiltered air from God knows how long. And I'm just like, oh my god, I'm such an idiot.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

Which for the listeners, it's probably important to let it's probably important to let them know that uh I mean when you're going to town, you got about what five to ten miles of dirt road that you're driving on before you hit asphalt.

SPEAKER_02 5:08

Uh I think it's about five miles, yeah. It's it's like a 10 10 minute stretch, yeah, unless dirt, dirt road. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

Okay, I gotta we gotta pause. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:20

And oh, do I got you? Can you hear me now, bud? Yeah, yeah. Okay, yeah. All right, well, we're we're back. I have a little glitch there. You know, I gotta tell you something that's really funny that has occurred

The Suburban’s Codes And Dirt Intake

SPEAKER_02 5:30

to me a few times. Um, you live in a major city and have access to the best internet possible, and it just cracks me up that sometimes we have connectivity issues, and there's ne it's never been on my side where, just for the listeners, um it has to go from my computer wirelessly jump to this router in my house, which has to wirelessly laser beam itself down to the fucking barn, which shoots a fucking internet laser into fucking space, and that laser beam goes down to like somewhere in Dallas, probably over to your city. And yet you're the one.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

Yeah, it's it's me. That's funny. Well, I would actually argue that being in a uh high populous area is actually a negative for quality internet because the amount of uh strain that a large population puts on a network.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

So okay, that's an interesting argument. Um, having lived in uh some big cities myself and knowing just how good the internet can be.

SPEAKER_00 6:33

Um but have you ever ran a podcast from the big city? I haven't.

SPEAKER_02 6:41

That's a good point. Yeah, so I think where we got cut off, I was we're talking about the the poor suburban. And yeah, it's like five miles on dirt road, um, you know, each way. And that's yeah, and it got like I said, God knows how long it's been off. So it's just been sucking this crap in there. I'm like, oh my god. Uh so uh I'll I'll just pull the whole intake off and shit and clean it all up. But how'd your throttle body look? I haven't done it yet.

SPEAKER_00 7:13

Okay, yeah. Well, I'll I'll do it. What I'm gonna say is uh I was technically right. Um about what? Well, I believe when we were talking about it, and I said the diagnostician in me uh wants to kind of break this one down, and I said more often than not, the issues stemming from an O2 uh code are usually on the intake side.

SPEAKER_02 7:42

Shh shh shh yeah, you're breaking up. I think I'm going into a tunnel.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

Damn my damn internet again.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Yeah, you were right. Um, and I'll say this that I if it had if it had tri if if the if the check engine light had trip for both downstream mode, like more than just the one, I probably would have been more inclined to agree with you. Um turns out the computer was like, yeah, I don't like either one of them, but it just only hit the threshold. And you know what now I think about it, it may have just been that fucking piece of shit, that cheap scanner I was using that I told you about. Um yeah, it could be maybe there's more than one code, whatever. But yeah, I'm an idiot because uh that that cone filter that came on the cold air intake, it like it doesn't fit well and it never had it's a not a very good kit. And so when I first put it on, it was like it wanted to fall off all the time, and so I like over the first few months I've I was really like careful about it and I did some stuff to make sure it would stay on, and then I'd some point I just stopped checking it. Um great.

SPEAKER_00 8:50

Oh but yeah, well that could have been worse, could have been a lot worse because O2s can be a real bitch. Oh yeah, yeah, you're right about that.

SPEAKER_02 8:57

So I mean, yeah, I'll ever all all you know, that being said, whatever, like it's it's good news because the truck's still running fine, which means it hasn't sucked in enough shit to to you know fuck it up. That's great. Uh and also a pretty clear answer on what's really you know, why it's throwing the codes and crap. And by the way, it's still getting 17 miles a gallon. So looking forward to a nice bump on the fuel economy. Oh yeah. Like, oh, ooh, I'm hitting, I'm about to hit the 20s. Yeah, yeah. Uh actually there's something I wanted I wanna uh something I want to talk to you about. Speaking of gallons and or miles. Uh if you are you familiar with this uh uh slate automotive? Vaguely. Okay, so uh I'm actually really curious to hear what you think about this. Um so let me give you some background on it. So Slate Auto. Um it's uh they were founded like just you know about uh four years ago, maybe five years, but like they only went only sort of unveiled themselves like a year or two ago. They were kind of working in secret to develop a new vehicle. Um, so this is a new vehicle brand um called Slate.

SPEAKER_00 10:13

And I'm on their website right now.

SPEAKER_02 10:15

Well, let me tell you the background. I know I'm gonna link it to poke around. Um, and so they uh basically and really it it's notable whenever there's a new vehicle manufacturer that starts in the United States, uh which in the days of uh EVs it's coming is becoming more common, but I mean for decades and decades, it just didn't happen. So it's notable when that happens. But the interesting thing about Slate, and I want to know what you think about it, is you know, I would argue that they're sort of they're trying to start more of a paradigm than just a new uh auto brand. And so basically their premise is uh no frills, very basic uh vehicle for cheap. And with that comes two things. First thing is um very high custom customizable customizability, uh, including DIY. So they're making it very DIY friendly down to the body panels all have uh you know screw heads or whatever that you can just Allen keys or something like that, yeah, that are visible, whatever. Um DIY customization, and then on the manufacturing side, um they only manufacture one vehicle, there are no different trim one chassis, one vehicle. There are no different trim levels, there are no different option sets. Um, it's called the blank slate, and it's a compact pickup, compact two-door pickup. So when they manufacture it, everyone that comes off the line is exactly the same. Now it and and that their thought process is simplify production, of course, but then also make it as basic as possible so it can be as cheap as possible, and then let people customize it. And so it comes off the line, it's a little two-door pickup in gray. Okay, so you can then they don't do paint, they don't paint it at all, doesn't need paint. Um, so you can get uh wraps, you can get a full body wrap, whatever color or pattern you want, and get a partial wrap, have the hood wrap, have the tail, you know, the bed wrapped. Um just called me a hood rat.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

Yeah, I did. I'll hood wrap.

SPEAKER_02 12:34

Um and then it and that's it, it runs the gamut um all the way down to like the in-car entertainment. Like it doesn't have a stereo, uh, and it doesn't have a nav system, and it has crank windows, and it has you know, and basically all these things, like they don't really classify them as options. They basically are like these are all the things you can get and add to your truck if you want, but you don't need them. Um and uh up to you know, all the way from like, yeah, they have a you can get a stereo or like that you can get from them, you can bring your own stereo speakers, um, and then everything, all the stuff that they sell, like the accessories, are DIY a bowl. So like you can just order the blank slate truck, and you know, if you want to just use your phone in there for audio, and then three months later you're like, you know, I'd like that, I'd like their stereo. You can just order it this on too, you can put it in. It's mayor, you can put it in. Uh, all the way up to the you can reconfigure it as a five C SUV uh or a fastback or an open air with no doors, open air roof, all the stuff. Um, and so and you can do all these different things, and their philosophy is like, you know, there's no inexpensive cheap vehicles out there. Um, this is a vehicle that's really inexpensive, but you don't have to be tied into anything. So, like if you're say in college, you buy this inexpensive vehicle, and then you know, maybe three years later you get married and you have a kid. You're like, okay, so now you order the SUV package, and they send you the fucking SUV package, and just and you go with the wrench and you turn your truck into a SUV. Um, and that's sort of the the the premise behind it. Now, it is an EV, um it's a rear-wheel drive range of like 200 miles, I think. And to get the blank slate, to get the the full vehicle with all the modern safety features and all the stuff, but no frills, but $24,990.

SPEAKER_00 15:11

Yeah, that's a pretty good price, considering what vehicles go for nowadays.

SPEAKER_02 15:17

There's I mean, there's nothing. I don't think you can get I don't think you can get anything. Uh you're probably right. Yeah, and I'm pretty sure I'm pretty sure that's before any of the government rebates. I in fact I know it is because that's just their sales price, it's 24.9. Um and that gets you the blank slate. And it's a really cute little truck, by the way. Uh it is just adorable. Um and so they're kind of banking on this is kind of what I where I know want to know what you think about it. Like, they're sort of banking on this idea that like because things have gotten so expensive, like uh it's just really hard to find a quality new car for a reasonable price. And then if you do, then you're sort of boxed into it, right? Um whereas you know, their their thing is this is a car that is cheap to start with, but it can grow with you, uh, it can grow with your family, it can change roles. I mean, you can get it as a you know, five, you know, five C SUV if you want, and then maybe you buy a ranch and you move to the country and uh you get you know a different truck, and you know what, I'll like I get the open air option, I'll turn it into like an open air ranch truck or whatever. Um and and uh it's it's a really interesting premise, and I it is I I don't know, like what do you think? I guess one one of my things is like I think that they're I think they're really on to something, but I also am a little I'm a little pessimistic because I feel like there is such a market for this, but like people, especially the younger generation, are so fucking spoiled with you know they want all the things and like oh they don't want to uh attract his rollout windows, like to I'm not saying the word be a deal breaker, but more like I I just wonder if the message is lost, like the if the compelling case for this thing is lost before it even starts with the market that it really is intended for.

SPEAKER_00 17:44

Well, I mean here's kind of the way I'm looking at this is it's kind of comparable to when Scion came to market. Because Scion had not the exact kind of uh mentality, but it was comparable where it's just like, hey, you know, there's not a an affordable entry-level vehicle option out there, and they just kind of did like super stripped down. Um there was a lot of add-ons that you could select, but it was like you, you know, like this, it's very customizable. Um, and it's something that you know, it's like, hey, you can get a little four-door hatchback for 20 grand, and it'll last you a fucking lifetime if you take care of it, right? It's a Toyota product. Yeah. I kind of look at it

Slate Auto’s One-Truck Philosophy

SPEAKER_00 18:40

the same way, except it's an EV and it's a lot more stripped down. But I mean, yeah, it's a it's a really cool concept. I mean, the way I'm looking at this, this is like as you know, two different demographics. The parent that's buying their their child the first car, like the car that they're buying them to start them off in life when they're going off to college, or young adults that, you know, are having a really tough time being able to afford a vehicle, but you know, maybe their Jalopi took a dump on them and they're they're priced out between rent and everything else being so expensive right now, it's like they can't afford a $750 average car payment and something like this would be able to provide them an option for a new vehicle.

SPEAKER_02 19:29

Yeah, yeah, that's a good point. Um, and I think like uh one one thing that uh I think it this hasn't going for it, like if you talk about the demographic, let's say that you know they can't afford like they get it because it's the cheapest uh good vehicle a vehicle out there, or whatever. It's like it kind of comes along with like you you also don't like you're not stuck with that, right? So like if yeah, versatility, you know, you're saving money and you get this car, but then also like you know, a few months in, you know, I'm gonna get a I'm gonna get a wrap for it, or I'm gonna get like some uh a roll bar or like this, I'm gonna change the interior color or whatever. Like and I think part of what they're banking on is like the DIY crowd, and all then also like uh people like you know being enthusiastic about their vehicle and making it their own. Um which I think that's sort of you know, I think they're I think that like the kids these days, like they don't seem to be as into cars and stuff as we always were, but um you know, maybe it gives them that opportunity to, yeah. I mean it yeah, uh if if they want it to be, and um, you know, price-wise, like you can't beat it. Uh now it is of course an untested thing, blah blah blah. Um, but like, you know, that's uh they're not slouching. I mean, if you do some research and watch some videos and stuff, interviews they do, I mean, they've put a lot into um the RD, um, the quality control and everything. I mean, it's uh uh and you know, at the end of the day, it's an EV, so it's like wildly more uh less complex. Um you're gonna expect you're gonna expect it's gonna be more reliable anyway. Um, and at that price point, I mean, like four um say like a family like yours, a family of four or whatever, like it's I almost see a use case where it's like at that price point it could be like a third vehicle, like you know, uh a weekend vehicle or fun vehicle or whatever that sort of transitions into you know Robbie's first car or whatever. Right. Um and there's I think there's potential appeal to where you know it's not like you're Yeah, that's right, son. When you turn 16, you you get the old jalopy in the back. You know. It's and I just I thought of this aspect of it. It almost can be like a thing where it's like, yeah, you know, you got three, four years. Like, what do you you know what do you want to what do you want to do to your slate, you know, when you take it over? You want to get details, you want to get different lighting, blah, blah, blah. And um, I don't know. That's uh it's a gamble, I'll say that.

SPEAKER_00 22:29

For them. Really cool concept. Yeah. I I like it. It's it's neat. I think that it's definitely a very niche market that they're targeting, but yeah, you know, I never thought that sign, you know, using the comparison that I did earlier, I don't I never thought that sign was gonna take off and it it actually held its own for quite a while. So there's definitely, I'm sure, a target market for this that uh it can almost create like a cult following, you know, where people are just almost map their identities around these vehicles.

SPEAKER_02 23:01

Yeah, I I totally I think so too. Um, I think there definitely could be. Um uh and I and I kind of feel like it's one of those things, like I don't I feel like it's one of those things too that uh I think I I don't think anybody knows about it. And um, you know, if they did I mean if they sell enough of them in the beginning and people start seeing them out there um in different configurations and blah blah blah, I mean the interest is gonna grow organically, probably really fast. Because I I do think this is something that's really compelling, a lot of people would be interested in. But also sort of on paper, or if you look at it, you're like, um, well, I mean, crank windows, or you know, because like you kind of gotta get the whole thing. Um and uh yeah, and they're so they're gonna start deliveries, um, I think Q4, maybe maybe Q1 next year. Um Wow. Yeah. Holy shit. And they haven't because they're taking pre-orders and whatever, and they haven't said how many they have or anything. But what they have said, which I think is interesting, is that uh they're despite the low cost of the vehicle, they've they've gotten that the manufacturing process, whatever, like they're they'll they will be profitable per vehicle, um, you know, after whatever, like I think a year and a half or something, you know. It's not a thing where like they're selling it cheap as a loss leader and they're losing money on every vehicle, like it'll be per vehicle profitable, which is also really impressive considering the price.

SPEAKER_00 24:41

Yeah. Um, that's interesting. So it looks like another thing that they're looking at doing is offering up 3D files so you can potentially print 3D print use a 3D printer at home to build your own add-ons to the vehicles to sp their they match to spec. That's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_02 25:04

Yeah, yeah, that's one of the I mean, and I think there's still some questions there as to what to what extent, but I I believe that what they're that's one of the things with the with the DIY is like, yeah, like open source open sourcing their um, you know, the CAD models. Another thing that they're gonna do, um it's basically like the OBD2 stuff and all the onboard diagnostics that every well, I guess it's actually optional for EVs. I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

Did you know that? OBD2? Really?

SPEAKER_02 25:36

Yeah, and I could well let's just say I'm wrong right or whatever. Like it's not the point, but like I was gonna say, I thought that that was a like a federal requirement. Yeah, I guess maybe it doesn't apply to EVs. I don't know, but basically it is. Let's just go with that. Like every vehicle in the in the United States and and well, North America, I think, um, with a with a model year of 1996 or later has to have this OBD2 system, and that's the thing that triggers your check engine light, and that's the thing you gotta get the scanner for, blah, blah, blah. Um, they're actually going to um make all the OBD2 and diagnostic stuff, like just you can get to it through your slate app.

SPEAKER_00 26:13

That's pretty cool. Yeah, I guess the one thing that I would be concerned about with that is though most EVs have uh you have two different power systems. So you have your auxiliary power system that's charged by or powered by a normal 12-volt battery, yep. And then you have your powertrain that's powered by the lithium ion battery, right? So neither of the so lithium ion does not I don't believe that the lithium ion charges the 12 volt and vice versa. So if one system goes down, the whole vehicle could potentially lock up. Um so like um Tesla's a good example of this. Yeah. If you if you run the lithium ion battery out of juice, you can't get access into the vehicle.

SPEAKER_02 27:08

Um I believe I believe it's the other way around. Um I believe the which it doesn't matter, but I think we what you're saying. The cyclone must have hit because he's gone. Am I gone? Oh motherfucker. God damn it. I muted it. God damn it. Um yeah, you get a notification. No, I I heard you say it and he's gone. Well, I I'd hit a button. Um Yeah, so uh you said uh if the if the lithium battery die, I think it's the other way around because the the two the two I I think of them as high voltage, low voltage. So the battery that runs the motors that moves the car and the thing you plug into the big charger, that's a high voltage battery. Um the rest of it is low voltage, runs on a normal 12-volt car battery, and those are that's basically things like the uh the onboard system, you know, the lights and all the crap, the power door locks. Um now with I don't know about Tesla specifically, but basically my my understanding is that generally EVs in terms of door locks, in terms of you know, power windows, in terms of lights and all the stuff that we normally think about, those all run off of the low voltage 12 volt battery. And so yeah, if that and also I'm pretty sure that you can't start an EV. You can't really do anything with an EV if the 12 volt battery, the normal car battery is dead. Um because and because I mean that's the thing that's running powering all the systems. It's you know, I think it's best to think of the other battery, and I know you know this, and for the listeners, the high voltage batteries, you really all do is turn the wheels. Uh that's probably the best way to think of it. Um but to your point, um EVs they the chart the charging of the high voltage battery, uh it it keeps the low voltage battery charged.

SPEAKER_00 29:08

You're right. Yeah, I just looked it up.

SPEAKER_02 29:11

Yeah, that's uh so I mean I've never had an EV or whatever, but yeah. And so I yeah, I think it's it's a concern with any of them. I was I was gonna say there's an article that came out just the other day, I think, maybe the Wall Street Journal actually actually that uh they're talking about EV batteries. Basically they're saying like EV batteries, again, the big high voltage batteries, uh turns out they're lasting a lot longer than you know anybody thought they would. Um and that's good news.

SPEAKER_00 29:46

Well, the other thing too is that uh I think it was uh God, what's that there's a callet, I think it's in Michigan. MIT. They have been working on developing a solid state battery, and that's supposed to be kind of like the next wave of uh of storing energy compared to lithium ion, so it requires less rare earth minerals, uh, a much more stable system, so they are quicker

DIY Mods Apps And Battery Talk

SPEAKER_00 30:20

to charge, they hold a better charge, so they have a better coefficiency compared to a lithium ion, and then um they are more stable, so like you know, you have that thermal runner runaway if uh you have a damaged cell on a lithium ion battery, where these don't have that issue. So the problem has been the for a while is that uh production they can't fit, they've been having a tough time figuring out a way to be able to mass produce at scale and also to make it where it's affordable and makes sense for economic reasons. And I guess apparently recently they cracked the code. So that's potentially the next wave for EVs is solid state batteries.

SPEAKER_02 31:06

Yeah, yeah. Um, you told me about that before, and I don't know anything about the science of batteries. Uh, and that's it, I mean that's really compelling. And I mean if that I mean that solves a lot of problems. If that if that technology that can be scaled is around the corner, I mean that's that's huge. I mean, that's big news for for you know EVs and early everybody. Um I think the uh the so and I don't know if this is related at all, but the there was some buzz about because it just I think like within the last month or so, Slate announced, well, their price, it was only recently that they announced the actual price, but uh also that they were gonna use an LFP battery, which I don't know what that means, but there was some talk about that. Like, I don't know, good good battery otherwise, but um I think maybe the my takeaway is like you get uh maybe you get like a lower range, you know, but you get it you know less expensive, more reliable. I don't know. Do you think about that LFP?

SPEAKER_00 32:15

No, I'm looking into it right now.

SPEAKER_02 32:17

Yeah, uh but like 205 miles of range on this bad boy, that's the other thing. I mean, that's nothing to sneeze at.

SPEAKER_00 32:24

I mean it's not, but I think that's also something to factor in though. You know, like I think that a lot of people that again, it's it's it's gonna be a very narrow market that they're gonna be targeting because you don't you're not gonna have teenagers or even you know young adults that are um struggling financially driving long distances because they're probably not travel, they're not going on vacation, right? So it makes sense in that regard, but I mean for the average purchaser when they're looking at converting to EV or buying their next EV, range is a huge factor.

SPEAKER_02 33:08

Yeah, it is it is that's a really good point. It's that's something that um I've actually started thinking totally differently about recently because I've always thought the same thing. I'm like, well, you know, 200 miles range, like that's not a lot, and that but like the thing is that uh well let's just take like my trip to you know when I go to town to run errands and stuff. Well, I think it's uh I'll just call it a 45 mile round trip, right? Um that's uh it's like oh geez, you know, only 200 miles. But the thing is that you when I drive those 45 miles, I lose 45 miles of range in my tank of gas, right?

SPEAKER_00 33:52

Right.

SPEAKER_02 33:53

I'm not stressed about that. I'm not like oh god, I only have X, right? I don't think about it like that with regard to a gas vehicle. Um and the other thing too is that it unless you're driving over like that range every day, or I mean, kind of like every day, every other it doesn't matter because the other big difference is you're charging it every night.

SPEAKER_00 34:24

True. Yeah, yeah. Well the other the other thing too is like I I personally kind of uh especially these like new to market EVs, whether it's a you know well-established OE or new to market OE. Original OE kind of their for the for the yeah, yeah, for the for the layman. But I always kind of take their range with a grain of salt because there's so many factors when you're talking about the EVs that that can play into um the true range that you'll get. So, like Arizona being a good example right now, when it's 116 degrees outside, the battery's working overtime just to keep itself cool enough so it doesn't have um any issues, right? So you're in in the opposite end of the spectrum is when it's super cold, like when you're past freezing temperatures, it does the same thing to keep the battery warm so it maintains stability. So those things are gonna affect the range on the vehicle. There's also other factors at play too. So like if it's 116 degrees outside, you're gonna be running the AC. Um you're also simultaneously, sorry, timer went off, simultaneously um keeping the battery in a stable condition. So that's gonna have a massive draw on your battery. So you're not gonna get that 205 miles that that they're estimating. That's why they I don't know if you knew about this, but Arizona has a lot of proving grounds for uh manufactured vehicles, like new uh vehicles that they're testing out to see how they perform in extreme climates.

SPEAKER_02 36:11

Yeah, I did know that. Um yeah, and you make a good point about about climate and temperature, and and really what's even worse for UVs is cold. Um just uh it really it really tanks the range and stuff, and yeah, I mean, yeah, that's that's consideration, and like kind of back to the the way I I've been thinking about it recently is like um so if like it's not too often that I drive, you know, say more than 200 miles in one shot, um because you know, people that drive like say for work and they're driving like all over a big city every day, that yeah, that's not gonna work for them. But like, you know, me if I'm driving 200 miles because I'm going somewhere like Houston or Dallas or something, and I'm like fully expecting, you know, to fuel my truck when I do that, right? And so it's like yeah, it takes I think it's you know, I think the 20% to 80% whatever charge on EV these days, you know, I think 15-20 minutes is not bad at all, but um and probably less time than my normal gas station, take a piss, get you know, have a smoke, get a soda, you know. Anyway, but it does add something to your like, oh god, well, I'm gonna have to stop for 20 minutes and wait through the stupid thing charge. But uh, but that's sort of the edge case. I think that's the thing that's the thing that uh I think a lot of people miss, including me till recently, is like, so if I have 205 miles of range, uh A, I'm always gonna every time I get in it, I'm gonna have 200 miles of range, right? Which back to my truck. But between Phillips, it's always less than it was before. Um but then the other thing is you know, I I don't have to plug it in every day, but I probably would. But you know, I I could I can make like four of those 45 mil mile round trips before I had to plug it in. Um which I've kind of got off your point.

Range Anxiety Versus Real Life Driving

SPEAKER_02 38:20

Let me go back to your point about um what your point about uh the geez, my brain just went book. Um oh, about reduct reduced range, right? So like and I know like extreme cold, extreme heat really does it really can have an impact on the range, but like in in the case of me, my 45 mile round trip, like that's the thing that I need to be concerned about, and I always need to be able to do that any given time.

SPEAKER_00 38:51

So, like that's not a factor for someone like you.

SPEAKER_02 38:56

Well, again, first a question like if it's extremely cold here, like when we had that ice storm here at the beginning of the year, um am I looking at a four-fold reduction in the battery, like let's say it's fully charged, right? I mean, is it gonna go from 200 to 40, or is it like more 200 to 150? Um and I mean probably not, but but then you said uh, you know, for my situation, but my situation is very I think very comparable to most people's situation. Yeah, not in the middle of nowhere at a ranch. But if you look at like the average person's commute, right? I mean uh I would say if you're living in a big city and commuting, I would 25 minutes commute, I would guess might even be average. It sounds a little long, but you gotta figure it's at least 15-20 minutes, right? Average.

SPEAKER_00 39:56

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 39:57

Yeah, and you know, for so it's a similar situation. Um and and for me being remote and you know, like literal remote, not working remote, but like I'm remote here. Uh like it on the face when I first started thinking about EVs, I'm like, it doesn't really make sense for my thing, but actually it makes a lot of sense because uh I mean you factor in the range and all kind of stuff, but then factor in the the the bidirectional charging, right? So like right generator on wheels. Yeah. I mean, on the one hand, the car's always got full range and fully topped up when it's on charge, but on the other hand, I think off you know, off the top of my head right now, I could run my whole house for probably two days on a fully charged slate. I mean, that's that's pretty convinced though.

SPEAKER_00 40:52

Let me ask you, let me let me pose a counter argument to that though. So when you had that really bad ice storm, how long were you without power?

SPEAKER_02 41:04

Um, that was well, one thing, uh, just to be clear, I lived in DFW at the time. Um so I was in the city not here. Uh we were out of power for about we were out of power for four days. Okay. Here's my counterpoint to your counterpoint. And I mean this seriously, like anybody who is listening and lived through that 2021 uh winter storm in Texas knows it was fucking brutal. Um I would have given my left fucking arm for two out of those four days to have power. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 41:48

But yeah, but but think about it, put put yourself in the situ this in this situation. So day two is starting to wind down, and there's no there's no light at the end of the tunnel as far as when power's gonna get restored, and now you're looking at the degradation of your battery on your EV. And so you now you have to make the decision do I disconnect my vehicle from my home and freeze so that way I have a means to get the get to wherever I need to go if I need to get out of Dodge, right? Or do I let this thing just run itself out and then try to pray that powers restored in a reasonable amount of time to where I can charge it back up, right? Yeah. Because now you're let leaving yourself stranded. Let I mean your situation is a little bit different because you had multiple vehicles, but I'm I'm just saying, like, if this was your only means of transportation, that would be a really difficult position to put yourself into. I think it could be. And it's an extreme example.

SPEAKER_02 42:53

Well, granted, it's worth talking about. And I think it could be. I think the um let me let me talk to that from two perspectives. So from the perspective of somebody who's not kind of in my situation, let's say who lives in the city, but you know, had like the four-day power outage. It's like I think the thing is you never very few people are gonna invest in like generators and stuff when they live in the big city. Because it just things don't happen that much. So I I think I'm in that context, I'm more looking at like this is a really great thing to have sitting in your driveway, two days worth of power just in case. Um not but then for my for my situation, um, it's like uh it's kind of the same thing, right? It's like if 'cause it's not it's not it's not uncommon for the power to go out for half a day. I mean, we get a get a good cyclone roll in. Uh you know, living out here, all it takes is a big tree branch going down. Somewhere along the way. And like uh but for me, I would never I wouldn't be like, well, I've got this slate truck, so I'm getting rid of my generators. And like if anything happens, I'm good.

SPEAKER_00 44:11

Uh I think I think the argument could also be made that just because you have that slate truck doesn't mean you're gonna get rid of other gas-powered motors too.

SPEAKER_02 44:20

Well, yeah, exactly right. Um and I you know, going back to your example, like if if the power went out tomorrow and I had a slate truck, okay, boom. You know, like the house is I think I'm pretty sure you can I know you can set it up to where like the charger for the car or whatever is just you can fill up a switch. It's like, oh boom, got power, whole house is powered. And then let's say a whole day goes by, it's 24 hours, and the slate's down to 50%. It's like, well, um, maybe it's gonna go on for a little while longer. Uh so maybe maybe uh get out the generators and do that. Um, but like at least for me and people who have you know people who have semi-regular power outages, not on the order of days, but more on the order of hours to half days. Like, what a great thing. Because one of the things here is like I have enough technically enough generator power to run everything, right? But you know, when the power does go out, I don't run every like I hook up one generator, 120, so I've got lights and I've got spans and TV. But I'm gonna have to get a couple generators and some, you know, creative wiring and shit to get the 220 to get the AC on if I want it, or the heat on if I want it. Um and those are things that you could have very very easily just by sucking off the slate, but uh, that wasn't a good turn of phrase. Um I was gonna say No, I think uh like it's it it's it it it would never be like uh uh well I never would have uh just one vehicle out here. I just can't. Like oh, but how about this? Let me add another layer. If you if you then fold in the solar power generation that I have out here, um, and so now you're always the the slate's always charged

EVs As Backup Power In Outages

SPEAKER_02 46:20

and for free. And so you always have transportation, you always have this vehicle ready to go. Also, you know, the power goes out for a day or two. You can just sit there and do nothing and have everything powered and whatever. Um and I think again the rural the rural situation is one I didn't really think was a good fit for EVs, but the more I think about it, because solar is something that um I guess a lot of people in the city have it, but it's you know they don't have direct access to it. Yeah, there you go. And control over it and like that, you know. And so like an Eevee for me, potentially, if I did, you know, if I just set up a solar panel, whatever, did a little bit of thinking ahead, you know, I would have a vehicle with infinitely free fuel, right?

SPEAKER_00 47:16

So basically the last 45, 46 minutes of this conversation, we've been able to dis decide that the slate is a good fit for you, but we just don't know if it's a good fit for everybody else.

SPEAKER_02 47:34

Uh I I think it's uh yeah, that's funny. You know, it's not a good fit for me though, because if you if you kind of cut if you get back to the it's a good fit if you're just talking like you can make it work well with everything that you've got going on. In a sense, but here's the thing. Um, if you're talking about just running around the ranch and or you know commuting to town, blah blah blah, that it's a great fit. But uh there's a reason why um when I got a second vehicle, the LR3, um, I got uh you know a fully four-wheel drive, high clearance, blah blah blah. Because that's the other side of the coin in my situation, is a two-wheel drive EV, just you know, with low clearance, just it there's gonna be plenty of days just situationally where it's just fucking useless. Yeah. So that's the other piece of the pie for me. And then, you know, uh, I think it's like I think uh I'm thinking I'm saying that EVs in general are probably a good fit for my situation, more so than I thought. The slee in particular probably wouldn't be as good of a fit compared to like maybe a Silverado EV, you know, or a lightning or something. But yeah, I think it's I think it's a cool I think it's a cool thing. I you know, I I hope it's successful enough to either prove or disprove the concept. Like I hope there's at least enough buy-in initially that they sell, you know, a critical mass of them, right? Um and don't just fold, you know, after building like 600 of them.

SPEAKER_00 49:18

Yeah, I agree. I I I would love to see that they uh that they succeed, but you know, it's just you d you it's anybody's guess with with the new entry entry to market for EVs, because I mean um there's been several that have had a really uh really strong start and they just fell apart. And usually it's because that they're trying to appease shareholders. So see how this one pans out.

SPEAKER_02 49:47

Yeah, well, uh interesting. Well, I have two thoughts on that. One, um, this is a private it's a private company, it does have some big capital behind it. Jeff Bezos, for example. Um so on the one hand, it's not a publicly traded company, um, so whatever. But then you make I think you make a really good point just with EVs in general and these new brands, is like it's it's uh it's kind of a gamble all the time. Because like with Lucid and Fisker, um and there's probably ten other ones, right? That like if you you you bought in, bought a vehicle and they just don't fucking exist anymore. Right. I mean, and I think as that's happened more and more, people are like people are gonna be reluctant about it. Uh but anyhow it.

SPEAKER_00 50:46

Yeah, I think I think yeah, you're right. People are gonna kind of hold back to see if there's any longevity to the company, and that's in and of itself the the biggest problem with these these new companies. They need a lot of to generate a lot of interest right out of the chute, so that way they have the capital to be able to keep going, right?

SPEAKER_02 51:06

Right. So, yeah. Um and and that's a tough thing. I mean, there's and I don't know how you do it, I guess, in today's world, because it's like we live in a world that is, you know, I think 'cause a lot because of the algorithms and stuff, people don't really watch TV per se, or like local whatever. It's like uh there's just whole things that people don't know about, right? Like back when we were growing up, uh uh it's like if there was a new movie or a new show or a new car coming out, like everybody knew about it because like we're all getting our information from the radio or the TV or magazine, you know, newspaper. And so it's just really seems really hard to get the word out on certain things, but it's a good point. Yeah, I don't know, man. But I'll keep you posted on it. I've been following them. I'm gonna f I I did put down a deposit like when I first was researching this 50 bucks. I really don't think I'm gonna get one. I think it's a super compelling thing. I just I uh I just I don't think it's I think given the terrain and the situations out here, it's just not gonna work for me, but I think whatever.

SPEAKER_00 52:16

Yeah, yeah, it's a cool, cool concept. I like it a lot. Let's I I hope it has some legs. God damn you. Unlike the robots. Oh, hey, look at the time. And on that bombshell, thanks everyone for joining us for another swing shift. I'm Rob. That's that's out cue.

SPEAKER_02 52:43

Oh no, I oh I know I have an out cue.

unknown 52:45

Shit.

SPEAKER_00 52:46

Well, I and then I'll wrap it up. Oh, okay. And I'm RJ. Sexy. Um thanks for joining us, and we'll catch you on the next one.

SPEAKER_04 53:07

One root talks, the other jump stand, and we're off again. Big weird

Startup Risk Funding And Closing Thoughts

SPEAKER_04 53:20

facts.

SPEAKER_03 53:27

Nobody knows.