First Drive Review of the Slate Truck, a Minimalist Electric Utility Vehicle

Initial Impressions of the Slate Truck

The Slate Truck was evaluated during a brief first drive, providing an initial assessment of its design and functionality. Despite limited time, the vehicle's bare-bones nature allowed for a quick understanding of its core offerings.

The review suggests that the Slate Truck, positioned as an "anti-truck," largely delivers on its promise of a radically simplified and utility-focused electric vehicle experience.

Vehicle Specifications and Design

The Slate Truck is an all-electric vehicle featuring a single motor that produces 181 horsepower. It has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,550 pounds in its five-foot bed. The vehicle offers a range of up to 205 miles on a single charge.

Its design emphasizes minimalism, lacking traditional features like paint, a stereo, and a touchscreen. The body is contoured for easy vinyl wrapping, allowing owners to customize its appearance. An optional $5,000 SUV kit can be installed by the owner to add a second row of seats and a hard top.

User Experience and Cost

Starting at $24,950, the Slate Truck is positioned as an affordable option, though its initial target price was under $20,000. The vehicle's operation is straightforward; it uses a plastic key fob that is inserted into a dash receptacle to start, with a small LCD screen providing basic information.

The simplified interface and design choices reflect its focus on being a minimum viable vehicle, prioritizing essential utility over advanced technological features or luxury.