In case you are out there for a brand new truck however can’t cope with the astronomical costs nowadays, the upcoming Slate Truck may be simply the ticket for you. This compact EV pickup is constructed for many who recognize simplicity, rugged performance, and the flexibility to actually make a automobile their very own, permitting them to maintain costs low. And it’s small (comparable in measurement to a 1985 Toyota SR5 Pickup, with solely two seats), since not everybody desires/wants an enormous truck. Nonetheless, it offers you the flexibility to haul stuff every so often due to its modest mattress.
Reportedly backed by Jeff Bezos and loaded with sensible improvements, this minimalist electrical pickup may very well be precisely what immediately’s man wants. So let’s dive into what makes the Slate Truck so thrilling and why everyone seems to be buzzing about it.
Constructed for the Fundamentals, Priced for the Individuals
Slate Auto is a brand new American firm based on a disruptive enterprise mannequin of simplifying the manufacturing course of and eradicating pointless content material to cut back price and enhance reliability. Based with the assumption that the definition of “inexpensive” has been damaged by immediately’s auto trade, Slate is bringing one thing totally different to the desk.
Their new truck is a compact, rear-wheel-drive electrical pickup that begins at just below $27,500 — and after federal tax incentives, you can be driving it house for beneath $20,000. That’s a far cry from the EV truck choices from Ford, GM, or Rivian, which all price at the least 3X as a lot.
Right here’s what you get for the cash:
Motor: Single 150kW (201 hp) motor
Battery choices: 52.7 kWh pack (150-mile vary) or 84.3 kWh pack (240-mile vary)
Payload capability: 1,433 lbs
Towing capability: 1,000 lbs
Mattress measurement: 5-foot mattress customary, as much as 81.6 inches with tailgate down
Charging is made simple due to a North American Charging Customary (NACS) connector. Quick-charging from 20% to 80% takes about half-hour at 120 kW.
The Anti-Tesla: No Screens, No Frills
Bored with huge screens and software program updates simply to regulate your A/C? Slate will get it. The bottom mannequin, known as the “Clean Slate,” comes deliberately stripped down: no touchscreen, no radio or audio system, and crank home windows as an alternative of electrical ones. Bodily HVAC knobs, a common cellphone mount, and USB energy are customary, permitting you to deliver your individual tech if you would like it.
Reasonably than forcing you into costly packages of options you may by no means use, Slate presents over 100 modular equipment you’ll be able to add individually or in bundles — everytime you need. This features a $5,000 flat-pack SUV conversion equipment, which transforms the truck right into a 5-seat SUV with a roll cage, further airbags, and rear seats.
It’s an fascinating idea, getting folks into their vehicles at a low worth level (presumably even at a loss), after which making it up on equipment, since most individuals will need to customise their rides and make it their very own. Solely time will inform if this technique works out for them or not.
Even the outside is DIY-friendly: the Slate Truck is available in unpainted grey polypropylene, making it preferrred for a customized wrap. Whether or not you do it your self or rent a professional, wrapping is an inexpensive solution to create totally different, ingenious seems to be over time.
Security First, All the time
Regardless of its back-to-basics ethos, Slate Auto didn’t skimp on security. Each truck comes customary with:
Lively Emergency Braking
Ahead Collision Warning
As much as 8 airbags
Traction Management
Digital Stability Management
Reversing digicam
They’re designing the Slate Truck to fulfill the very best security scores, so you’ll be able to drive with actual confidence.
Clear Pricing, Made in America
Slate Auto is enjoying it straight with clear pricing — a refreshing change from immediately’s complicated EV panorama. Reservations are open now with a refundable $50 deposit, with the truck slated to hit roads in 2027. Manufacturing will happen at a revitalized manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a Buyer Expertise Heart constructed alongside it.
Gross sales might be direct-to-consumer, letting you order on-line and choose up your new truck close by, with a service community that covers main neighborhoods.
Fast Specs at a Look
Spec
Element
Size
174.6 in.
Wheelbase
108.9 in.
Width (w/o mirrors)
70.6 in.
Top
69.3 in.
Curb Weight
3,602 lb.
Max Payload
1,433 lb.
Max Towing
1,000 lb.
High Velocity
90 mph
0-60 mph
~8 seconds
Mattress Size
5 ft customary / 6.8 ft with tailgate down
*Word: Remaining specs and pricing might change barely as Slate strikes nearer to manufacturing launch.
Remaining Ideas
Proper now, there’s a variety of hype behind the Slate Truck, because it presents an extremely interesting mixture of affordability, utility, customizability, and American-made toughness.
Ford proved that there’s an enormous marketplace for low-cost pickup vehicles with the Ford Maverick, which has been a runaway hit. However these are decently outfitted and are fast & simple to refuel.
Whereas the Slate Truck’s worth is a big promoting level, have they gone TOO minimalistic (metal wheels, crank home windows, no radio/audio system, unpainted physique, and so forth), or is that this precisely what folks have been ready for, a Chipotle on wheels the place you select what you need?
Tell us what you consider the Slate Truck!
