● Covered by 2 sources · 5 reportsLow impact5 neutral
Slate Electric Pickup Truck to Offer 1,550-Pound Payload and 2,000-Pound Towing Capacity
Key points
- Slate truck shipping late 2026, starting at $24,950.
- Payload capacity is 1,550 pounds, towing capacity is 2,000 pounds.
- Features a 5-foot truck bed (35.1 cubic feet) and a 7 cubic foot frunk.
- Competes with compact pickups like the Ford Maverick.
- Slate opened its first showroom, the Slate Customer Experience Center, in Chicago's Fulton Market District.
- The showroom is in a former Tesla store and staffed by former Tesla employees.
- Preorders for the Slate Truck require a $300 deposit.
- The Slate Truck has a projected range of 205 miles.
- The truck features plastic panels, a minimalist interior, and manual window winders.
- The Slate truck currently only offers two-wheel drive.
- The Slate truck has a 135 kW motor, delivering 181 horsepower and 195 ft-lb of torque.
- The Slate Truck costs $24,950 plus a $1,450 destination charge.
- The Ford Fathom starts at $28,350 plus a $1,595 destination charge.
- The Slate Truck uses the driver's phone or tablet for navigation and media.
- The Ford Fathom will feature a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- Slate switched from a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery to a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack.
- The LFP battery is from Gotion and manufactured in Manteno, Illinois.
- The original plan included a 52.7kWh NMC battery for 150 miles range and an 84.3kWh pack for 240 miles.
- The 205-mile range is an estimate based on an EPA test cycle, not a finalized EPA rating.
- The battery switch was first reported in a June Detroit Free Press interview with Slate CEO Peter Faricy.
Affordable Electric Pickup Option
The Slate electric pickup truck is set to launch in late 2026 with a starting price of $24,950. This pricing positions it as a more accessible option in the electric vehicle market, particularly for those seeking a pickup truck form factor without the higher cost of larger EV models like the Rivian R2 or even traditional gas-powered trucks such as the Ford F-150, which starts above $40,000.
Cargo and Towing Specifications
The Slate truck will offer a 5-foot-long truck bed with 35.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Additionally, it includes a 7 cubic foot frunk (front trunk), a feature common in EVs due to the absence of a traditional engine. The vehicle's payload capacity is rated at 1,550 pounds, and its towing capacity is 2,000 pounds.
Competitive Positioning
While its capacities are lower than full-size trucks like the Ford F-150 (which offers up to 13,500 pounds towing and 2,440 pounds payload), the Slate is competitive within the compact pickup segment. For example, the 2026 Ford Maverick has similar specifications, with a 1,500-pound payload and 2,000-pound towing capacity, and a shorter 4.5-foot truck bed. The Slate aims to cater to average consumer needs for hauling and utility.
Updates
- Slate switched from a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery to a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack.
- The LFP battery is from Gotion and manufactured in Manteno, Illinois.
- The original plan included a 52.7kWh NMC battery for 150 miles range and an 84.3kWh pack for 240 miles.
- The 205-mile range is an estimate based on an EPA test cycle, not a finalized EPA rating.
- The battery switch was first reported in a June Detroit Free Press interview with Slate CEO Peter Faricy.
- The Slate Truck costs $24,950 plus a $1,450 destination charge.
- The Ford Fathom starts at $28,350 plus a $1,595 destination charge.
- The Slate Truck uses the driver's phone or tablet for navigation and media.
- The Ford Fathom will feature a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- The Slate truck currently only offers two-wheel drive.
- The Slate truck has a 135 kW motor, delivering 181 horsepower and 195 ft-lb of torque.
- Slate opened its first showroom, the Slate Customer Experience Center, in Chicago's Fulton Market District.
- The showroom is in a former Tesla store and staffed by former Tesla employees.
- Preorders for the Slate Truck require a $300 deposit.
- The Slate Truck has a projected range of 205 miles.
- The truck features plastic panels, a minimalist interior, and manual window winders.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
How outlets covered it
Slate has changed its electric pickup truck's battery from a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) pack to a single lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack from Gotion, manufactured in Illinois. This switch increases the truck's estimated range to 205 miles and allows Slate to maintain its $24,950 starting price.
Ford's upcoming Fathom electric pickup will feature a built-in touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Blank Slate Truck will forgo a traditional infotainment system, instead using the driver's phone or tablet for navigation and media. This difference highlights distinct cost-cutting strategies for electric trucks aiming for a sub-$30,000 price point.
The new Slate EV truck, known for its low price and minimalist design, currently offers only two-wheel drive. This limitation may deter truck enthusiasts who require all-wheel drive for specific conditions, though the company has indicated future models might include it.
Slate has opened its first showroom, the Slate Customer Experience Center, in Chicago's Fulton Market District. The showroom allows potential buyers to view a prototype of the $24,950 electric pickup truck and place preorders with a $300 deposit.
The Slate electric pickup truck, scheduled for late 2026 release, will feature a 1,550-pound payload capacity and a 2,000-pound towing capacity. Starting at $24,950, the vehicle aims to provide a more affordable electric truck option compared to larger models.