Let’s get this out of the way up front: Slate Auto’s brand new electric pickup is not available with any kind of AWD or 4WD system. Yet. However, the under-$20,000 projected asking price (after federal EV tax credits) for a base model “Blank Slate” and its unmatched modularity and options for owner customization are extremely compelling. “The definition of what’s affordable is broken,” Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman said in a statement. “Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry.” What makes this compact pickup so different than nearly every other EV (or ICE vehicle, for that matter) on the market?
Slate Specs and Performance
Drawing inspiration from the Ford Model T and the original VW Beetle, Slate’s approach to producing its Lilliputian pickup goes back to the very basics. The truck is available in one color, a rather drab-looking grey. However, buyers can choose a vinyl wrap from a color wheel-based palette of nearly infinite options. The company claims a professional can wrap the entire truck in under an hour, and ambitious DIY-ers can even do it at home (more on the DIY aspects of the Slate later). The Slate is considerably smaller than both the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, with an overall length of just 174.6 inches and a wheelbase of 108.9 inches. The basic 2-door pickup body style can be converted to a roll cage-equipped 5-seater SUV or a slant-back runabout. Like a Jeep Wrangler, the Slate can also run without a top or doors for a true plein-air driving experience.
Slate will offer a choice of two batteries: a 57.2 kWh battery pack with rear-wheel drive and a target range of 150 miles, and an 84.3 kWh battery pack with a claimed range of 240 miles. The truck has a Tesla-style NACS charging port and will charge to 80 percent in under 30 minutes, with a charging rate topping out at 120 kW. Zero to 60 mph will take 8 seconds with the single motor rated at 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It will hit the speed limiter at 90 mph. The Slate will weigh 3,602 pounds and features 1,433 pounds of payload combined in the 7-cubic-foot front trunk and its 37-cubic-foot bed (5 feet long with the tailgate down), or the 34-cubic-feet of cargo space behind the optional SUV’s rear seat. The tow rating is relatively low at just 1,000 pounds.
Of course, as a federally certified car, the Slate will have the full suite of safety features mandated by law, including stability and traction control systems and supplemental restraint systems, and Slate claims the truck will achieve a 5-star crash safety rating. Standard equipment includes steel wheels, air conditioning, and cruise control (though it’s not adaptable or radar-controlled). The company says more advanced driver conveniences and safety equipment are slated (pun intended) for future development.
Inside the Slate
The Slate’s interior follows the same ethos as the exterior, with a KISS approach. Nothing represents this more clearly than the manual wind-up windows (electric windows are an option). There is also no built-in entertainment or information system or speakers, and even a center console is an optional add-on. For detailed vehicle info, the Slate will rely on an app run from your smartphone or tablet—a dash phone mount is standard, with a tablet mount optional. The only screen is the relatively small driver’s TFT instrument panel. Unlike most EVs on the market, the Slate is not directly connected to the internet, though over-the-air updates will be available via the app. The app will also have a diagnostics function that will troubleshoot problems and even suggest DIY fixes or directions to a service center.
The Slate’s most fascinating party trick is its ability to transform from a two-door pickup into a 5-seat SUV in two distinct styles. The SUV conversion package includes seating for three in the second row, a roll cage, and a lift gate. The slant-back version creates a hatchback-like profile, while the square-off wagon top offers more storage capacity. Accessing that second row will likely be a bit of a chore, but the flexibility to adapt your Slate to a range of different functions and interior configurations will make it one of the most versatile trucks on the market. The fact that the entire conversion process is a DIY affair is just icing on the cake.
Slate’s True DIY Strategy
Many of us in the overland community relish the planning and building of our rigs to suit our individual travel styles and goals. The potential of the Slate as an overland platform has both opportunities and limitations. As to the latter, 150 miles of range for the base battery won’t cut it for a lot of extended off-grid travel, and rear wheel drive makes the little pickup a nonstarter for most of us. The diminutive size and modest payload will exclude a lot of family adventurers and campers, and there’s no word yet on the static or dynamic rating of the optional roof rack. Limited towing capacity rules out all but the most featherweight of trailers. Going wild with accessories and custom add-ons will undoubtedly raise the price past the $20,000 mark quickly. The long-range battery pack, some estimate, will cost $3,000 by itself.
However, there are a lot of check marks in the positive column for the Slate. Modularity is the name of the game here, and nearly every component on the truck, including the composite body panels, is secured with Allen-head fasteners. There is hardly a single aspect of the vehicle that can’t be customized directly from Slate’s catalog—from decals to wheels to headlight and taillight designs, to interior accessories. If this startup gets real traction, the aftermarket will undoubtedly grow quickly. Slate encourages customers to do the conversion and customization work themselves, and the company is planning to launch “Slate U”, an educational program that will teach owners how to modify and maintain their Slates.
And, there are some clues that a more off-road capable Slate may be in the works down the line. Current add-ons include rugged rubber floor liners and hose-it-out interior surfaces, auxiliary lighting, bumper upgrades with integrated recovery hooks, a butch-looking swing-out spare wheel carrier for a full-size spare, fender flares, and even a lift kit. I like the fact that the Slate isn’t locked into a proprietary navigation and UI/UX system. Choose your favorite nav or mapping app, like onX or Gaia, on your tablet of choice, or mount a Garmin on the dash and hit the trails. I’ve also been crying out for an EV that’s not overburdened by needless and potentially fragile tech, the Slate delivers on that in spades. I recommend playing around with Slate’s slick online configurator and letting your imagination roam free. Just $50 reserves your spot in line for a Slate when production begins in 2026.
Approx. $20,000 to start | slate.auto
Specifications | Slate Auto EV Pickup
Motor: Single electric motor driving the rear axle
Power: 201 horsepower, 195 pound-feet of torque
Battery capacity: 57.2 kWh standard, 84.3 kWh optional
Range: 150 miles on standard battery, 240 miles on optional battery
Payload capacity: 1,433 pounds
Towing capacity: 1,000 pounds
Images: Slate Auto
Read More: Slate, Canoo, Telo :: New EV 4x4s or Vaporware?
Our No Compromise Clause: We do not accept advertorial content or allow advertising to influence our coverage, and our contributors are guaranteed editorial independence. Overland International may earn a small commission from affiliate links included in this article. We appreciate your support.
