The Slate EV might be the most interesting planned car launch of the year, not because it’s a technological moonshot or a revamp of a wildly successful existing model, but because it’s a litmus test: Are Americans ready for true entry-level EVs? When it was first unveiled last year, it piqued our interests but questions remained around whether it could make it to market. Now it seems to be one big step closer, with actual pre-orders opening soon.
The premise behind the Slate is a rather interesting one: At a time when cars are growing increasingly expensive and DIY-unfriendly, what if someone made an EV in America that did the opposite of those thing? In addition to standard features not seen in ages like crank windows, Slate has some other bold ideas for this little truck. A pair of SUV conversions including curtain airbags that you can supposedly install yourself, a standard battery pack with an estimated range of just 150-ish miles, molded-in-color grey plastic panels instead of paint.
It’s a neat concept and has some serious backing, but I’ll admit, I’ve had my questions about viability. Will Americans be receptive to a short-range EV, even if it’s reasonably cheap? What happens now that federal tax credits have gone away? And will the Slate actually see production? While reservation slots opened at $50 a pop, that sort of thing often doesn’t mean much. I’ve seen plenty of EV efforts fizzle out, and proposed projects get stuck in reservation purgatory. Has anyone seen the second-generation Tesla Roadster recently?
Well, color me delightfully surprised: Slate has announced via email to reservation holders that actual pre-orders for the little EV open up on June 24. To make it into the first delivery window, you’ll have to pay a deposit of $250 if you have a reservation and $300 if you don’t, within 30 days of the portal opening. Otherwise, you’ll simply be bumped down the queue. Slate claims that if you complete that step, they’ll reach out to you as early as this autumn to spec wraps and accessories, finalize the purchase, and arrange delivery. Time flies, right?
Mind you, the one thing we don’t have yet is an actual price for the Slate. While the marque claimed a starting price under $20,000 with EV rebates, those federal rebates have completely evaporated. As such, Slate’s only claiming a base price “in the mid-twenties,” but that’s both subject to change and before any taxes and fees. Is the freight fee factored in there? I haven’t the foggiest, but we should know more come mid-June. Beyond the bottom line, I’m especially interested in learning what the longer-range model with an estimated 240-ish miles of range costs.
Regardless, Slate marching towards production gives me hope. Hope that people still want basic cars. Hope that some automakers are still willing to support DIY maintenance. Hope that North American EVs don’t have to be expensive. It seems like there’s only about a month to go until we learn a whole lot more, so I’m definitely keeping my eyes peeled.
Top graphic image: Slate
So, echoing Nsane In The MembraNe below in the first comment, “fuck Jeff Bezos!”
However, having said that, I do want to buy one of these even if the economics of it don’t totally work now that the $7,500 EV credit is gone. Yes, a Maverick is probably a better bang for your buck but I don’t want a 4-door pick-up that burns dead dinosaurs, just a little truck for my various projects that I can charge at home. Hopefully, there are enough other weekend warriors like me out there that this will sell okay.
I was an early reservation holder (+3 hours or so on day-1). I was hoping to get a bare-bones $20K EV as an around-town vehicle, and at first the Slate looked like the ticket. Not really interested in a truck, just something new, safe, seats 2 people, and (with a topper) take care of almost any local trip.
As more information on the vehicle came out coupled with the change in the market, I became much less enthusiastic.
Slate is up against the trifecta of marketing headwinds:
The loss of the $7500 tax credit (which we would have qualified for)The massive depreciation of used EVs depressing the new EV marketThe explosion of off-lease EVs flooding the market
On top of that, the finer details of the SLATE of come out… mainly:
No AWD optionSilly manual windows (power windows would be cheaper!)150 mile range on small battery (maybe much less in the winter?)No heat pump (see note above re: battery winter range)Lack of a full suite of safety features (no Blind Spot Monitoring for example)Minimal towing capacity (1,000 lbs).
As a low cost 2-person basic EV, where you’d still have to add some $$$ for a larger battery if needed + $$ for a radio/speakers + elec window kit, there’s just way to many better equipped new and gently used EV options in the $25K to $30K range for SLATE to beat. In the past 9 months:
I purchased a 24 Ioniq 6 Limited AWD CPO w 6,000 miles for under $28,000My wife’s sig. other purchased a 24 Kia AWD EV-6 w 4,000 miles for $25,000My brother just last month purchased a new 25′ Ioniq 5 SEL for $31,5000
As a small truck, the SLATE barely qualifies as it only tows 1000 lbs and is 2 wheel drive. Hybrid Mavericks can tow up to 4,000 lbs, can come in AWD, and manage low 40s mpg in the city, and of course seat 5 (4 really).
I wish SLATE well, I really do, I like the idea of the plastic panels, I like the idea of a simple entertainment system, I like the idea of a low cost EV, but for the $25K to $30K+ money we were able to get so much more vehicle (with 4+ seating), more safety features, a somewhat reliable dealer and service network, and with the 2-motor AWD crazy good performance (0-60 4.5 secs).
If I were SLATE I’d skip the manual windows, and the missing safety nannies, and stick with just the one-size larger battery and try to get it to market around the $27K price. Work on a AWD variant and towing up to at least 4,500 lbs and maybe look at a extended cab version.
Wouldn’t your wife’s significant other be you? I should probably have taken more from this post, but there’s where I got stuck. 🙂
Oops – child’s sig. other. The Ioniq 6 replaced my wife’s car.
I just want to know if the phone cradle will fit my Trump phone.
Wait, so the Slate only comes in Slate Gray?
Let’s see where the chips fall, but if the proposed E-Maverick (name tbd) is contented with cruise control, power windows, and an actual infotainment system for around the stated 30k mark as well as being a full four door truck I can’t see the retail demand for the Slate being very good. As a stripped down fleet truck for in town usage sure, but for just a few pennies less it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Of course Ford hasn’t been great with keeping prices where they announced it, but they also didn’t announce their new EV trucklet before the tax credits went away
It’s neat and I think will be great for fleets and trades especially with their built in upfitting. They can probably eke it out in that space. For everyone else its highly dependant on a few thousand dollars. I was just talking to someone claiming they had some early brochure from a trade show that said $15k. I had never seen or heard that claim but apparently it was made. I will be shocked if they can do it for low or even actual mid 20s. But if they can maybe there is hope for them in the retail market.
This so needs AWD. For my uses that include actual winter and driving on slippery surfaces like campground mud and algae slicked boat launches, AWD makes life a lot easier. Although a mechanical parking brake and letting us throttle up with a few clicks on to make a poor man’s limited slip diff would go 60% of the way there.
As long as I’m wishing, a driver selectable AWD bias from full RWD to full FWD to automatic would be great. And a place to tie my pony.
So true. I look to the Ford Mav, which looks to have a 55% take rate for FWD, but that’s because of the hybrid system on that one. 45% AWD, giving up the hybrid, makes a strong case that AWD is more valuable than hybrid efficiency for a ton of buyers. AWD + electrification would be the holy grail.
I’m pretty sure they added AWD to the hybrid Mav with the mid-cycle refresh. But I may be mistaken.
Yup, post 2025MY the FHEV was also available with AWD.
You can get the hybrid Mav with AWD now. And even 4k towing.
On one hand: this is neat
On the other: fuck Jeff Bezos