By William Byrd
Thanks to our friends at the Washington Auto Press Association, I got some private time with the new cheap Slate EV Truck while it is here in DC! Jeff gave you all a look at the basics of the Slate EV back in April when it was revealed. This was one of three prototypes in existence, so we weren’t allowed to drive it or fully climb around inside. But everything else was on the table.
Slate Truck Overview
You likely know what’s happening here, but the concept is that there’s a sub-$20,000 truck that starts pretty basic. It’s no frills, with an estimated 150-mile EV range. From there, you can make into an SUV, a fastback SUV, or even an open air cruiser like the one we got a chance to check out.
It’s a great concept with plenty of personalization options. The question is, will it reach the market in late 2026? I only have a three-mile commute (no, I’m not riding my bike, shut up), so the idea of an affordable commuter like this is quite appealing. Anyway, let’s check out the real thing (prototype).
Slate Truck Exterior
The Slate has a compact design reminiscent of old Scout Trucks (which are also back as EVs!) mixed with Ford Ranger Splash and…maybe a Honda Element. At just under 175 inches long and 70.6 inches wide, it’s quite a bit shorter and slightly narrower than a Ford Maverick (200 inches long and 72.6 inches wide).
Slate Truck Interior
The interior is no-nonsense, but attractive in a basic way. As a base 2025 Wrangler owner, I’m cool with it. Obviously, there are some black spots and misfit panels visible, but you get the idea.
The bed has just over 35 cubic feet of space, with another seven cubic feet in the frunk. Not massive, but good enough for most of your daily driver duties. For comparison, a 4-door Wrangler has 31.7 cubes.
Summary
Check out the spec chart below. It’ll be interesting to see how well the finished product matches the projections. Hopefully, they’ll get lots of reservations, because I’m excited to see the finished product.
Jeff Glucker