{"id":62267,"date":"2025-04-25T02:18:06","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T06:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/affordable-innovation-slate-unveils-game-changing-240-mile-electric-truck\/"},"modified":"2025-04-25T02:18:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T06:18:06","slug":"affordable-innovation-slate-unveils-game-changing-240-mile-electric-truck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/affordable-innovation-slate-unveils-game-changing-240-mile-electric-truck\/","title":{"rendered":"Affordable Innovation: Slate Unveils Game-Changing 240-Mile Electric Truck"},"content":{"rendered":"

The electric vehicle (EV) landscape is evolving rapidly, and one of the latest entrants is Slate, a Michigan-based start-up that\u2019s making waves with its new compact pick-up truck. Backed by none other than Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Slate is positioning itself to offer a no-frills, utilitarian vehicle aimed at making electric driving accessible and appealing to a broader audience. With a starting price of around $27,000, this truck is designed to cater to those who need functionality without the frills.<\/p>\n

What Makes Slate\u2019s Truck Stand Out?<\/p>\n

At first glance, the Slate Truck is all about simplicity. Its design is refreshingly straightforward, featuring a monolithic silhouette that eschews chrome embellishments and unnecessary decorations. This minimalist approach not only helps keep costs down but also aligns with the growing trend of practicality over luxury in the automotive world. The truck is equipped with manual windows and a smartphone mount instead of a traditional touchscreen, reminiscent of the Citro\u00ebn Ami\u2019s no-nonsense design. While it may lack some of the high-tech features found in more expensive models, it includes essential amenities like a USB port, central locking, and cruise control.<\/p>\n

Customization is another key aspect of the Slate Truck. Buyers can choose from a variety of colors and accessories, and the truck can even be transformed into a five-seat SUV or a fastback crossover using bolt-on kits. This versatility makes it appealing not just for work but also for family use or leisure activities.<\/p>\n

How Does It Perform?<\/p>\n

Under the hood, the Slate Truck offers two battery options: a 52.7 kWh battery for a range of about 150 miles and a larger 84.3 kWh battery that can achieve up to 240 miles on a single charge. Both batteries can be fast-charged from 20% to 100% in under 30 minutes, making it convenient for users who may need to recharge during the day. Powering the truck is a single motor located on the rear axle, delivering 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This setup allows for a respectable 0-60 mph time of 8 seconds, with a top speed of 90 mph\u2014adequate for both city driving and highway cruising.<\/p>\n

Where Will It Be Built?<\/p>\n

One of the strategic advantages for Slate is its production location in the Midwest. By manufacturing the Truck in the U.S., it avoids the 25% import tariffs on foreign-made vehicles, which can significantly increase the cost of EVs. While the exact production site hasn\u2019t been disclosed, this move could give Slate a competitive edge in pricing, especially as the market for electric vehicles continues to grow.<\/p>\n

The Role of Jeff Bezos and Future Prospects<\/p>\n

Slate\u2019s backing by Jeff Bezos not only provides financial support but also raises questions about potential partnerships, especially given Amazon\u2019s existing relationship with Rivian, another electric vehicle manufacturer. While it remains uncertain whether Amazon will collaborate with Slate, the association with such a high-profile figure adds a layer of credibility to the start-up.<\/p>\n

As the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles, Slate\u2019s approach of creating a functional, affordable truck could resonate well with consumers who are looking for practical solutions. With reservations already open and production set to begin next year, it will be interesting to see how the market responds to this new player.<\/p>\n

The big takeaway? Slate isn\u2019t just about creating another electric vehicle; it\u2019s about redefining what a truck can be in the EV era. By focusing on practicality and affordability, they\u2019re tapping into a segment that\u2019s often overlooked. If you\u2019re in the market for a utilitarian vehicle, keep an eye on Slate\u2014this could be the start of something exciting in the world of electric trucks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"Slate<\/a><\/p>\n

Michigan-based EV start-up to start production of ultra-utilitarian, 240-mile Truck next year<\/p>\n

\n

New American EV manufacturer Slate, backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has revealed a back-to-basics compact pick-up truck<\/a> set to cost the equivalent of just \u00a320,000.<\/p>\n

The secretive start-up had not made any public announcements about its debut model, called simply Truck, in the run-up to its unveiling, but is now taking reservations and plans to begin deliveries at the end of next year – with a targeted base price of $27,000 before local incentives.<\/p>\n

Only confirmed for a US roll-out so far, the utilitarian two-seat pick-up is engineered and designed to keep costs down in a bid to make electric motoring affordable and more appealing in a market which continues to heavily favour combustion propulsion.<\/p>\n

Its monolithic, composite-panelled silhouette is unadorned with chrome and unnecessary decorations, for example, while the windows are manually cranked and there’s a smartphone mount in place of a central touchscreen, \u00e0 la Citro\u00ebn Ami<\/a>. Speakers can be fitted as an option, though, and standard kit includes a USB port, central locking and cruise control.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Truck is highly customisable, though, with a raft of colours, accessories and kits on offer. It can even be converted into a five-seat baby SUV or a fastback crossover using bolt-on conversion kits for the 1047-litre load bay, supplied by Slate.<\/p>\n

Power is supplied by either a 52.7kWh or relatively large 84.3kWh battery under the floor, which are said to return ranges of either 150 or 240 miles and can each fast-charge from 20-100% in less than 30 minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Propulsion comes courtesy of a single-motor on the rear axle, giving 201bhp and 195lb ft for a 0-60mph time of 8.0secs and a top speed of 90mph.<\/p>\n

Slate will build the Truck at a site in the Midwestern US, so it will not be subject to president Trump’s new 25% import tariffs on foreign-made cars, but it has not named a location, nor said whether it plans to build the EV itself.<\/p>\n

The company, which is based in Michigan, is bringing the Truck to production partly using funding from Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, which has a commercial vehicle supply deal in the US with Rivian, though it is unclear whether Amazon could strike a similar agreement with Slate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":62268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-featured","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}