Slate Pickup EV: Bezos-Backed $20,000 Electric Truck Redefines Affordable EVs

The Slate Pickup EV has just emerged from stealth mode, and it’s poised to disrupt the electric vehicle market with its radical approach to affordability. Backed by Jeff Bezos, Slate Auto has unveiled a barebones, customizable electric truck that costs just $20,000 after federal tax credits, making it one of the most accessible EVs on the market. This tiny, boxy truck sacrifices luxury features for practicality and affordability, offering a compelling alternative for budget-conscious buyers looking to go electric.

The Barebones Approach to Electric Vehicles

The Slate Pickup EV takes a fundamentally different approach to electric vehicles. While most manufacturers are racing to add more features, technology, and range, Slate Auto has stripped away everything that isn’t essential to create a functional, affordable electric truck. The company’s entry-level model, appropriately named the “Blank Slate,” comes with just the basics necessary for transportation.

This approach echoes Slate Auto’s philosophy of removing everything “that wasn’t a car” including “a fancy screen, colored lighting, cooled seats, self-driving, self-parking and automated cup holders.” The Slate Pickup EV doesn’t even come with a stereo or touchscreen infotainment system – just a universal phone mount and USB power. Even the windows are manually operated with old-school cranks, though the vehicle does include air conditioning as standard.

Slate Pickup EV Key Specifications

The Slate Pickup EV is designed to be compact and functional. At 25 inches shorter than a Ford Maverick, it has a small footprint but still offers practical utility with a bed large enough to hold a standard sheet of plywood. The vehicle’s lightweight design helps maximize efficiency and range from its modest battery pack.

The Slate Pickup EV is built with practicality in mind, featuring plastic composite body panels that are durable and resistant to dents and scratches. The base model comes in just one color – grey – further simplifying production and keeping costs down. With its Kei-like truck styling, the vehicle has a distinctive, utilitarian appearance that stands out from other electric trucks on the market.

DIY Customization: The PC Building Approach

What makes the Slate Pickup EV truly unique is its approach to customization. Slate Auto describes their vehicle as similar to a home-built PC that comes with the basics but can be infinitely customized according to the owner’s preferences and needs. The company offers more than 100 available accessories that can be added to the base vehicle.

This modular approach allows Slate Pickup EV owners to start with an affordable base model and gradually add features as their budget allows or as their needs change. Many of these accessories are designed to be user-installed, coming in flat packs with instructions for DIY installation.

The Slate Pickup EV also features “Slate access points” throughout the vehicle, which are designed to support future accessories and even homemade modifications. This open approach to vehicle customization is reminiscent of the maker movement and could attract enthusiasts who enjoy tinkering and personalizing their vehicles.

Range and Charging Capabilities

The standard Slate Pickup EV comes equipped with a 52.7 kWh battery pack, offering a modest but practical range of 150 miles. This positions the vehicle primarily as an urban commuter or local utility vehicle rather than a long-distance traveler. For those who need more range, Slate offers a battery expansion option to 84.3 kWh, which increases the target range to 240 miles.

When it comes to charging, the Slate Pickup EV supports fast charging at up to 150kW, enabling an 80% charge in approximately 30 minutes when using compatible fast chargers. This capability makes the vehicle more practical for occasional longer trips, allowing drivers to quickly recharge during breaks.

Pricing and Availability

The Slate Pickup EV‘s most headline-grabbing feature is undoubtedly its price. The base model “Blank Slate” has a sticker price of $27,500, which drops to just $20,000 after applying the federal EV tax credit. This makes it one of the most affordable electric vehicles available in the United States, significantly undercutting most competitors.

Slate Auto is employing a direct-to-consumer sales model similar to Tesla, which helps keep prices low by eliminating dealership markups. The company is now accepting reservations for the Slate Pickup EV with a refundable $50 deposit through their website at slate.auto.

How the Slate Pickup EV Compares to Competitors

The Slate Pickup EV enters a growing market of electric trucks, but with a very different value proposition than most competitors. While vehicles like the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and Tesla Cybertruck offer more range, power, and features, they also come with much higher price tags, often starting at more than double the Slate’s base price.

The closest competitors to the Slate Pickup EV might be small, affordable EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt EUV or Nissan Leaf, but none of these offer the utility of a pickup truck bed. This unique combination of affordability and utility could carve out a specific niche for the Slate in the market.

Target Market and Potential Success

The Slate Pickup EV is clearly not designed for everyone. Its limited range, basic features, and focus on customization rather than out-of-the-box luxury target a specific subset of potential EV buyers. The ideal customer for this vehicle might include:

• Urban dwellers who need occasional utility but rarely drive long distances
• Budget-conscious buyers looking for the lowest entry point into EV ownership
• DIY enthusiasts who enjoy personalizing and upgrading their vehicles
• Small businesses needing economical delivery or service vehicles
• Environmentally conscious consumers prioritizing sustainability over luxury

Whether the Slate Pickup EV will find a large enough market remains to be seen. The vehicle’s extreme minimalism might be too spartan for many American consumers accustomed to feature-rich vehicles. However, its groundbreaking price point creates an entry point for electric truck ownership that simply hasn’t existed until now.

The Slate Pickup EV represents a bold experiment in the electric vehicle market. By challenging assumptions about what features are truly necessary and employing a modular, customizable approach to vehicle design, Slate Auto has created an EV that’s accessible to a much broader segment of the population. Whether this barebones approach will resonate with enough consumers to make the vehicle a success remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly expands the conversation about what electric vehicles can and should be.

For those interested in learning more or reserving their own Slate Pickup EV, visit slate.auto to place a $50 refundable deposit and join the waiting list for this innovative approach to affordable electric mobility.