I did an image search for “European utility van” and everything I saw had a front engine compartment as a crumple zone. So I’m not sure what point you’re taking to make here.

They can’t legally make an ice version of this truck because of how emissions laws work in the US.

Exactly, you can usually tell someone actually needs a truck if it’s got a stainless box behind the cab. Obviously there’s still people who cosplay as truck drivers that will have them too, but there are other signs you can use to tell them apart.

Yeah, it would be nice to not need cars. I feel like this is a step towards function and away from vanity. Which is a good thing, even if it’s not the end goal.

Are you saying that because a heavy duty, highly specialized, utility vehicle, doesn’t have a crumple zone that the Slate truck is a bad design?

In my view the Slate truck is designed as a work vehicle. It’s for people who need to both hual things, and have a place to store tools. It’s trunk is perfect for that.

The Kei, and box trucks that we have in the US (which would have been a way better example for you to use.), are great for delivery vehicles. Jobs where you load things up and come back with an empty truck.

There’s a place for both form factors. The Slate is not a bad design, it just doesn’t fit what you think the use case for a small truck is.

The front trunk is a safety feature called a crumple zone and is objectively safer to be in a crash with.

Look up Saturn plastic body panels. The hood, roof, and top of the trunk we’re still metal.

I had one as my first car. I got rear ended once, and the plastic parts were mostly fine (a little paint chipped off), but the metal top got bent. The trunk itself worked and I never fixed the metal.

Edit to add: the car was made in 1999, I think I bought it in 2008 and had it for about ten years. I got rid of it because the electronics were getting gremlins. Neither the paint on the plastic or metal panels had issues except for the mentioned fender bender.

It’s no paint because the body is plastic. It’s not even black plastic coated grey. Just grey plastic.

Section. 2. (a) From the link above says that responsibilities of the DoE will be transferred to the states in a way that maintains the services Americans rely on.

I’m doubtful that they are going to do it in an organized fashion though.