Extra, Extra....Read All About It!

[THil08]

EV Charging Sucks—Can Ionna’s New “Rechargeries” Fix It?

Ionna, a new EV charging network backed by major automakers, aims to fix what electric car drivers hate most about public charging in the U.S.

www.motortrend.com

I like Ionna, making the transition from Gas to EV or EREV/Hybrid Systems easier for everyone by keeping the retired gas station looking like a gas station, not a futuristic charging station, that makes your head explode when you go to charge.

 

[robothero]

Oooh, Ionna! That's it. They're putting those in at a Wawa near me. Which oddly enough also has Tesla chargers.

 

[dreamweaver]

You're totally right but I'm pretty sure that was the goal from the very beginning. Every detail about this vehicle seems perfectly suited for fleet sales. Also let's not forget Slate continues to show off their cars wrapped in various fictious businesses, some with humor, but still highlighting the fleet-ness of it.
View attachment 12291
View attachment 12292
Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if a hefty chunk of their 150K reservations are actually fleet purchases.

I tend to agree with this. Like you said "I'm pretty sure that was the goal from the very beginning."

 

[chucchinchilla]

I could also see them as campus maintenance vehicles at all levels of schools. Those guys have to haul around all sorts of random stuff and rarely leave the property, hell with them plugging in it might actually remove the main reason. And those vehicles definitely don't need all the bells and whistles.

School districts, universities, counties, municipalities, utilities, auxiliary vehicles for first responders, etc. all would be perfect. They don't cover a lot of daily mileage, they don't need any creature comforts other than AC, going EV would eliminate a lot of maintenance/fuel spend, and of course they could easily equip their storage lots with chargers...if they haven't already. IMO no brainer with the only concern being post sales support from an upstart EV company. That said if Amazon, for example, drops a 20K unit order, that should resolve that objection.

 

[J Alynn]

I have a nagging feeling that the Slate is being positioned by Amazon to fill three very specific niches:
- Last mile deliveries from their warehouses or distributors (instead of a delivery driver using their own vehicle or a truck they either are given a slate or rent a slate, the latter allows them to hire people who may not have their own vehicle at a lower cost)
- Short distance delivery vehicles. Think about medical/auto equipment trucks that deliver stuff from shop to shop or hospital to hospital.
- Trying to fill that uhaul/home depot pickup truck rental segment

Either way, you're looking at something that has to be plugged in almost every day if its going to be a daily driver, so it makes a lot of sense as a short-distance fleet vehicle. But the fact it's a truck really limits the target audience.

Big reason I want to see Scout do the metro concept to fill that same similar segment and with more character and appeal

 

[J Alynn]

Oooh, Ionna! That's it. They're putting those in at a Wawa near me. Which oddly enough also has Tesla chargers.

Interesting. Didn’t know they were adding to established gas stations but great to hear.

 

[BeerParty]

I have a nagging feeling that the Slate is being positioned by Amazon to fill three very specific niches:
- Last mile deliveries from their warehouses or distributors (instead of a delivery driver using their own vehicle or a truck they either are given a slate or rent a slate, the latter allows them to hire people who may not have their own vehicle at a lower cost)
- Short distance delivery vehicles. Think about medical/auto equipment trucks that deliver stuff from shop to shop or hospital to hospital.
- Trying to fill that uhaul/home depot pickup truck rental segment

Either way, you're looking at something that has to be plugged in almost every day if its going to be a daily driver, so it makes a lot of sense as a short-distance fleet vehicle. But the fact it's a truck really limits the target audience.

Amazon isn't related to Slate, they are not even investing in it. The only relation to Amazon is that Jeff Bezos (through his family office, Bezos Expeditions) is one of multiple investors in Slate (quoted from this Newsweek article). I don't know why writers keep linking Amazon to Slate, Jeff Bezon invests in a lot of things, that doesn't mean that Amazon is behind any of those companies.

 

[cyure]

Hyundai is about to unveil its biggest EV yet, but that's not all

Hyundai is gearing up to reveal “its biggest EV yet” at the Brussels Motor Show next month. The new EV...

electrek.co

 

[maynard]

Hyundai is about to unveil its biggest EV yet, but that's not all

Hyundai is gearing up to reveal “its biggest EV yet” at the Brussels Motor Show next month. The new EV...

electrek.co

not really a fan - but I'm sure some families will love it...