The "Blank Slate" revolution - a $28,000 EV ready for your personal touch

It seems we have a revolution on our hands. Dubbed simply "Truck" by its creators, Slate is offering an all-electric pickup with a starting price of around $28,000 – potentially dropping to less than $20,000 after the $7,500 federal tax incentive. This aggressively priced EV wants to shake up the industry by providing a basic, customizable platform that owners can tailor to their specific needs.

Backed by significant funding, including support from Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Slate unveiled its customizable electric truck in Los Angeles. The company's vision centers around a "blank slate" philosophy, offering a fundamental electric vehicle that buyers can then personalize with a vast array of accessories. You can start with a no-frills electric truck and transform it over time into a five-seat SUV or even an open-top utility vehicle reminiscent of the Jeep Wrangler, all through optional add-ons.

The Slate Truck will be available with two battery options: a 52.7 kWh pack offering an estimated driving range of 149 miles, and a larger 84.3 kWh pack extending that range to over 236 miles. Both configurations feature a rear-mounted electric motor producing 150 kW (201 horsepower). The standard truck bed measures approximately 59.1 inches in length. The truck's towing capacity is listed at 999 lb and its maximum payload at 1,400 lb - that's way less than some comparable gasoline-powered trucks. The vehicle will come with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug as standard and will support DC fast charging up to 120 kW, allowing for a 20% to 80% charge in about 30 minutes.

To achieve its competitive pricing, Slate has stripped away many of the features commonly found in modern cars. The base model will not include a radio, speakers, or an infotainment screen. The interior features a basic dashboard with a small digital instrument cluster, and the windows are manual - something many young drivers probably have never seen before. Recognizing the need for connectivity, Slate will provide a dedicated phone holder and is developing a companion app for entertainment and information.

Every Slate Truck will leave the factory in this fundamental configuration, allowing customers to choose from hundreds of accessories to personalize their vehicle. Want a sound system? It's an optional Bluetooth speaker system. Prefer a color other than grey? Slate will offer vehicle wraps that can be applied quickly. Even details like wheels beyond the standard steel ones will be available as accessories.

Despite its minimalist approach to comfort features, Slate hasn't skipped on safety. Its first electric car will come standard with essential safety technologies, including traction control, electronic stability control, automatic emergency braking, airbags, a reversing camera, forward collision warning, and automatic high beam functionality.

Slate plans to manufacture its EVs at a new facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, with the first customer deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company targets an ambitious production volume of 150,000 electric trucks per year. Interested buyers can reserve their spot with a $50 deposit.

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