Kia EV3 as a Budget EV Option

[DonTom]

By the specs, this seems to be a decent cheap EV,

"Kia EV3 launches as one of America’s cheapest new EVs"​

And use the Tesla Supercharger System—or anything else you can find on the road.

-Don- Richfield, UT

 

[IBTripping]

I also like the new Slate EV truck. Very inexpensive, practical, and easily modified. Won't work for towing an RV. But, if I ever give up the nomad life, I'd like to get one.

Early hands-on reviews and test rides praise its surprisingly peppy rear-wheel-drive performance, clever DIY modularity, and refreshing lack of complex digital clutter. And, only $25,000.

 

[DonTom]

I also like the new Slate EV truck. Very inexpensive, practical, and easily modified. Won't work for towing an RV. But, if I ever give up the nomad life, I'd like to get one.

Early hands-on reviews and test rides praise its surprisingly peppy rear-wheel-drive performance, clever DIY modularity, and refreshing lack of complex digital clutter. And, only $25,000.

The only issue I have with the Slate EV Truck is that it is RWD only. If there is no snow where you live, that will be fine. Won't be good for Reno. Also not good for the very rough unpaved roads. I keep my AWD Tesla in Reno for the winter months.

The Slate charges at 120 KW on DCFC. 9.6 KW using the supplied cable for a home charge from a 14-50R (240 VAC). Or 11KW from a J-1772 or 12KW Tesla Wall Connector. All that is reasonable.

It only has a 65KWH battery so the range on a charge will not be great, perhaps 180 miles at 65 MPH with a full charge.

But that is still a lot more range than most people really need when you leave home with an 80% charge (144 miles at 65 MPH) as often as you want. Range increases at slower speeds. That 80% charge will get you more than 200 city miles.

EVs are the opposite of gas cars for city range. Stop and go traffic gives much better range in EVs than freeway driving.

-Don- Richfield, UT

 

[IBTripping]

My current F250 is 2WD. But it has a positrac rear end. It does fine in snow as long as I have extra weight over the rear wheels. But, I'd never go mud bogging in it.

 

[DonTom]

It does fine in snow as long as I have extra weight over the rear wheels.

I have to do that also, with my Dodge Ram Truck, 2WD. Owned it before I had any houses in Reno and I had no use for 4WD in the SF Bay area.

I put heavy bricks above the rear wheels in the truck bed. Without that, the thing is dangerous to drive in the snow, it will slip around like crazy.

I hardly ever drive the thing these days. I try to go through a tank of gas per year in it. I do not know how well a 2WD Tesla will do in the snow, but the weight is there, so perhaps will be okay. Perhaps the truck will be fine in snow as 2WD. I just don't know, but I would want power on all 4 wheels in the snow regardless.

And it is a requirement in CA during chain controls--if not using tire chains.

-Don- Richfield, UT

 

[John From Detroit]

The only issue I have with the Slate EV Truck is that it is RWD only. If there is no snow where you live, that will be fine. Won't be good for Reno. Also not good for the very rough unpaved roads. I keep my AWD Tesla in Reno for the winter months.

There are some folks on the Slate Truck forums who are suggesting they do a 4WD option.
(I have posted in support)

I think it will happen but likely a model or two "Down the road" to type a pun.