this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
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I just want an electric car that can do exactly this.
Modular components on an option of 3 frames. Reparable to a degree. Bare bones functionality. Physical buttons, no screens. Open source software. Upgrade not the whole car, but components as you go. Literally what video games taught us.
If I had Mark Cuban money, it's the first thing I would do.
The Slate truck looks interesting and is exactly what you describe. Time will tell if it pans out.
It's not quite what I'm saying, but it's a starting point. It also isn't really a thing yet. They're expected to be available in 2027, so with EV incentives being eliminated, the now $27,500 basic model is already 30%+ more expensive before even appearing IRL.
I have a bike I put together with this mindset and it's pretty awesome. If any component dies I can replace it individually, even if it's not made by the same company. No reason an electric car couldn't have the same benefits except that the average consumer doesn't care about planning ahead
Do you have any resources or documentation of your build? It sounds like a cool project.
I think that has more to do with safety laws and emission standards than anything else. How can you properly crash test a fully modular car?
I'd love it if cars were more repairable, but modular would be a really tough design problem.
Heck, you NEED a screen in the US on any car due to backup cameras being mandatory. If you need a screen, I can see why companies would just use it for the infotainment system.
Yes and no. There's a YT video of some guy fixing anything on any car. The catch is that for components for easy things are getting harder and harder to reach. I always used to change my oil myself because it takes 20 minutes and I know the filter got replaced. Harder and harder to do every car I have. So even basic maintenance I can't do myself anymore.
Modular components could be workable in terms of you pick frame 1, 2, or 3 with batteries. Then you pick wheels/motors packs A, B, or C. Then you pick more and more options. If you own the A and C options, it's a 45 minute swap out with a system that confirms things are plugged in right. Not every configuration would work together. Toyota uses a lot of interchangeable parts between cars. I mean do this with a whole back end or front end. So like 5 swappable zones that work in maybe 15 possible configurations per frame.
Maybe you want a battle wagon. And want to grow out of that to a pickup. Or start with compact car and expand to a compact SUV.
Sounds a bit like the Slate truck to me.
Imagine Slate without Bezos
Would be so exciting
I have. Then I realize Slate doesn't get a chance to change vehicular design without him.
Intriguing, care to say more?
With out Bezo's name recognition very, very few would have heard about Slate and their little pickup/SUV. That's a level of advertisement that money simply can't buy as a startup. We certainly wouldn't be talking about them without Bezos' name being attached to them. And they certainly wouldn't have access to the investors and financial doors his name can easily open.
I would guess he’s thinking money. Design, production line, and legal are all going to be extremely expensive. Bezos is a name and face but if you replace his name with JP Morgan Chase, BNY Mellon , Blackrock, etc is there really that big of a difference. The large financial institutions have done far more for far longer to people all around the world
I know!!
I really wish it wouldn't benefit Lex Luthor. If it makes waves, hopefully other similar types of cars will come along by the time my civic needs to be replaced.
Hey there we go, now I can be excited about their future… Nice
Yeah, has that gotten off the ground yet? Or is it still just investor stage pipe dream?
I thought it was further along that a pipe dream with the demos and videos I've seen. I think I'm cautiously optimistic until it officially comes out and I see reviews.
It has the modularity I like at a reasonable price.. We'll have to see if it can deliver.
I think EV battery cells should be standardized and modular to reduce difficulty of replacement and make replacements cheaper and more available so that it could extend the useful lifespan of the car. If you could replace your battery with an off the shelf equivalent used EVs would hold a lot more value.
That's batteries of the past. The rate of change in batteries has been so dramatic it has left people's understanding behind.
Batteries will far outlive when a ICE car would have been scrapped.
I see 80s 90s era cars and trucks running around my town all day every day.
Try again.
Averages are much better than edge cases in this sort of comparison.
20 years vs 14
https://insideevs.com/news/763231/ev-battery-degradation-life-gas-car-comparison-age/
"There are three types of lies. Lies, damned lies, and statistics." - Mark Twain.
You're right, nothing compares to one man's anecdotal evidence.
My right? Indeed.
Cells pretty much are one of 3 or 4 standard sizes. Getting down to the cell level is pretty tough on a lot of cars though.
I think the issue there is the tech in EV batteries is constantly changing due to miniaturization, battery chemistry advancements, etc. There has to be some point where the cells are "good enough" to become a standard though. I just don't think we're there quite yet.
true but we figured out things before like this when computer tech was rapidly changing so I do think it's possible while definitely having its challenges.
we need an alternative to needing a manufacturer specific part that costs nearly $15,000 and weighing in a ton and requiring a crane to replace.
This is a fantastic idea. If anyone ever does this then you should ask them for a cut of the profits 😏