Longing for the day I can buy an EV that's not a smartphone on wheels is like...

It's a skeuomorph!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yeah, I am skeptical about it too. We will have to wait and see I guess.

I'm also wondering how they are going to deal with the requirement for all new cars after 2018 to have a backup camera/screen. Maybe it will just go through the tiny little screen behind the steering wheel?

Edit: I just looked it up. Seems the backup camera will go through the instrument panel screen.

As I understand it, one of the other advantages of the bolt is that it's fairly easy to disconnect. There's a dedicated fuse you can pull which will disable the telemetry as well as the microphone and a lot of the related infotainment system functions like gps. Or for those who want more of those functions, you can open the panel behind the screen, unplug the antenna, and replace it with with a terminator so that it thinks it's intact but has no signal.

Of course, it will still try to send data home through your phone if you let it. Apparently it can do that through android auto and carplay if they are connected via bluetooth but not over USB.

There are guides to disabling OnStar effectively which should assuage those concerns. Well, for the 23 and older models. Not sure about the new stuff.

A quick terminator on the cellular antenna makes it receive no cell signal - the other features that don't rely on cellular all continue working.

They have one drive reduction gear, just one speed, no shifting.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N wowed the cartubers crowd back in 2024/25 because it simulated a lot of the driving feel of gas cars.

Maybe keep an eye on Hyundai.

Edit: although I don't think they have simulated stick shifting

And man, do they go!

We tried to find a small EV everywhere. Bolt was sluggish and had weird controls, leat just hasn't been updated in 10 years, and so we landed on the kona. Definitely larger than we wanted, but batteries are big. At least worth a test drive I'd suggest

I like my Kia EV6. We were in the market for an EV and test drove all of the ones we could try. I liked the KIA because it had a lot of physical buttons for my regular things. There's no real subscriptions except for things we don't use. There's a touchscreen for a lot but I can get by without using it mostly

Yes that's the joke.

Might fine question, and honestly, I don't know. I'm old-school, still riding an acoustic bike. If I were to buy an electric bike, I think I'd spend the money to stick with the long-time brands, mostly for availability of parts and quality battery packs. There are a lot of cheap bikes with obscure brand names, and occasionally, I see news articles about their battery packs starting apartments and houses on fire. But, also, since the battery packs are generally custom-fit to the frame, having a source of replacements available is a good idea. That brings to mind a suggestion: If you have a local bike shop nearby, it's worth stopping in to talk to the mechanics (not the sales staff) about what's good

There are so many issues to consider. Who makes the motor? Who makes the battery? Will you still be able to buy that battery in 5 years? Will it still work if the company that sold it goes out of business? You can get cheap Chinese e-bikes for 1/4 the cost of American-branded e-bikes. But, sometimes the American ones are just Chinese ones with a sticker slapped on that doubles the price.

From what I've been able to figure out, motors made by Bafang and batteries made by Bafang or Samsung are thought to be ones that should still be around in a few years.

Then there are all the other issues to consider: hub drive or mid-drive? Pedal assist or throttle? Rear derailleur, internally geared hub, or continuously variable transmission?

I've been thinking of getting one and am ready to part with my money, but I can't justify the price of some of the North-American / European labelled bikes, but don't want to waste money on a Chinese one that might only work for a few weeks.

That's easy: they are all garbage.

Mostly water.

Mostly coal in the US

I could forgo heated seats before I could a heated steeringwheel

You derived modern EVs by adding a bunch of features I wouldn't want.

Yes. And steering.

You are technically correct. The best kind of correct.

Only in combination with a previous third type of accelerator.

OnStar is the worst for privacy, it tracks everything you do, even your weight.

Yeah but I feel going forward it will be harder to find something like this. At least my 2022 has buttons for all the important things like air conditioner and stuff.

The new bolt gets rid of android auto so you would need to give the car data for any of the functionality, on the older ones using graphene os with sandboxed android auto you can still use sideloaded apps and stuff.

My brother drives an older fiat ev and that is pretty much just a converted old gas car with a key ignition and everything but the range is only like 80 miles

They have physical buttons for just about everything you regularly need to do. Otherwise yeah they're fully connected and have all the sensors for tracking

Okay, but what's the context? Why is Homer on a dress going "gas, break, honk"?

Tesla started this because they oversold EVs for years on the highest profit margins in the industry. They filled the cars with gadgets and screens to add the perception of value because car buyers are morons.