Introducing the Slate Truck: A $20,000, 2-Door Electric Pickup Featuring Crank Windows and Lacking a Touchscreen.

      **Slate**

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      Five years back, Ford pledged to offer America its most affordable new vehicle: a pickup truck priced under $20,000. This wasn’t just any pickup; it was a hybrid. Initially, we were doubtful, but then it came to fruition. Unfortunately for Ford, it emerged at an inopportune moment, and now obtaining the same basic pickup without the hybrid system incurs an additional cost of 33%. With that in mind, it’s easy to understand our skepticism about Slate—the new EV startup reportedly supported by Jeff Bezos—and its model named "Truck." This modular, all-electric pickup is intended to sell for under $20,000 after federal incentives.

      Slate doesn’t just stop there. The company aims to introduce one of the most affordable vehicles available, while also asserting that this truck will feature an unprecedented level of modularity in the modern automotive sector. Essentially, Slate intends to allow customers to transform the pickup into an SUV using an accessory kit that includes items like a rear seat, a roll cage, and plug-and-play airbags. Slate claims the installation can be done by the owner, although there’s uncertainty regarding the ease of this process, and dealers will also offer the installation service. You can bet the NHTSA’s crash test experts are concerned.

      Putting that aside, Slate appears to be focusing on the straightforward truck concept that many of us say we desire. While it may not provide a full eight-foot bed, it comes exclusively in a single-cab layout with just one box size. At 60 inches deep and 42.9 inches wide, this pickup won’t accommodate a laid-down 4×4 post, but it’s on par with the Maverick, which has a shorter bed yet is 15 inches longer due to its crew cab design. Plus, this pickup has a front trunk.

      The plan is for it to be affordable, electric, and customizable—a genuinely appealing trio—so what’s the downside? It’s going to be basic; we mean really basic, to the point where it makes the Maverick seem luxurious. What about infotainment? Unfortunately, this is a bring-your-own scenario. Slate offers a universal mount and a USB port, but it's your responsibility to provide the device. The setup is said to accommodate anything from a smartphone to a dedicated tablet, should you choose to use one.

      That simplicity also extends to its powertrain. The standard configuration will feature a 150-kW motor that drives the rear axle, powered by a 52.7-kWh battery pack. That might sound small—because it is—resulting in an expected range of only 150 miles for the base model. An optional accessory battery pack could boost that range to 240 miles, though we suspect it may compromise some of the truck’s otherwise appealing specifications.

      There are bare interiors, and then there’s the Slate Truck.

      To start with, the RWD version is quite lightweight at just 3,602 pounds. The Truck boasts a payload capacity of 1,433 pounds and can tow 1,000 pounds. While the payload is respectable, the towing capacity is somewhat less impressive. Slate aims for 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque for the RWD variant—capabilities that would typically enable it to tow more weight, suggesting the limit here is due to the vehicle's frame or the hitch receiver's attachment.

      Though it may not tow a heavy load, 201 hp is sufficient for the Slate to reach 60 mph in a swift eight seconds, with a maximum speed of 90 mph. It should handle nicely at that speed too, thanks to its MacPherson strut front suspension. The truck supports 3.6-kW Level 1 AC charging, 11-kW Level 2 AC charging, and 120-kW Level 3 DC fast charging. Utilizing a Level 2 charger, the standard battery can be replenished from 20% to 100% in five hours, while a Level 3 charger will recharge it from 20% to 80% in less than 30 minutes.

      Here are some intriguing concept renders that Slate shared alongside the truck’s details, displaying potential future builds using accessories and wraps that may be available.

      So, is there a market for a genuinely electric pickup truck? We’re optimistic, but there’s a crucial caveat that may pose a risk to Slate’s strategy: The company is relying on the $7,500 federal EV tax credit remaining in place to achieve that under-$20,000 starting price. There’s no way to guarantee that, as pre-reveal rumors suggested that the pickup might be priced at $25,000 before incentives. If Slate can meet that target, it might withstand the potential loss of federal aid. Regardless, one thing is clear: nobody has attempted to sell anything quite like this before.

      Deliveries are set to commence in late 2026, and Slate is