Slate’s $24,950 Electric Truck Offers Increased Range, Enhanced Towing Capacity, and an Additional 450 Pounds.

      Slate

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      Earlier this month, the final pricing strategy for Slate was inadvertently revealed on the company's website (in the public metadata that had a prominent message essentially saying, “HEY, YOU! DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT LOOKING HERE!”). As expected, the Bezos-backed company formally announced on Wednesday morning that its new basic electric truck will have a starting price of $24,950, while the “Squareback” and “Fastback” SUVs will begin at $29,950.

      If you’ve been following this development from the start, you already know that Slate initially claimed its truck would be priced below $20,000, a figure that included electric vehicle incentives which are no longer applicable. Therefore, inflation alone cannot be entirely blamed this time.

      On the topic of inflation, there is positive news regarding range. Instead of the previously promised 150 miles, Slate now states that its compact truck will offer 205 miles of range from its 65-kilowatt-hour (63 kWh usable) battery pack; a range estimate for the SUV wasn’t provided, but we anticipate it won't be too different. Slate also improved the towing and payload capacity from the platform. The pickup can now tow 2,000 pounds and carry 1,550 pounds in the bed. With a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 5,689 lbs and a curb weight of 4,048 lbs, a lighter operator will be needed to remain under the pickup’s maximum rated weight with a full load.

      As the SUV is heavier from the start, it is rated to tow 1,824 lbs or carry 1,263 lbs of payload. After the adjustments, the cargo-to-human weight ratio remains consistent with that of the pickup.

      Slate Pickup and “Squareback” SUV -Slate

      However, there are no free rides, and Slate’s enhancements come with certain compromises. The pickup’s curb weight is approximately 450 lbs heavier than Slate’s original target (around 3,600 lbs). Its power output has also seen a slight decrease, falling from 201 to about 181 (135 kW). Nevertheless, Slate still predicts the truck will reach 60 mph in 8.0 seconds—similar to what you would expect from a vehicle in the “subcompact or similar” category at the airport rental counter. Unfortunately, even the most tired Nissan Versa can outpace the Slate’s top speed of 90 mph.

      Additionally, there is no mention of the earlier proposed battery extender; it appears the larger battery (previously suggested to have around 53 kWh of usable capacity) is being presented as a universal solution.

      Slate has the chance to position itself in the lower segment of the electric truck market while Ford continues to develop a more feature-rich truck planned for sale at only a slightly higher price. Keep in mind that Slate is offering something without screens and roll-up windows; even Ford’s relatively basic Maverick pickup surpasses that specification.

      In addition to its new-market rivals, Slate will also face competition from the increasing number of off-lease used EVs that are gradually entering the secondhand market. Still, despite not yet revealing the truck’s enhanced specifications, Slate has claimed to secure 180,000 reservations for its compact trucks. Perhaps its challenges aren’t as daunting as they seem?

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