The 2027 Slate Truck promises to be one of the most intriguing electric vehicles of recent times. It promised a starting price of around $20,000, had a good range for a smaller electric truck, and had some very interesting styling that differentiated it from other vehicles.
Plus, thanks to the clever design, the truck will also be able to be converted into a five-passenger SUV. So there was a lot to love when it came to this new EV. However, as time has gone on, the price of the truck has risen slightly over the original estimate.
That is mostly down to the lack of federal tax incentives, meaning the price has automatically been driven up. But Slat itself has made a few changes to both the SUV and EV that have contributed to the rise in price of both electric vehicles.
But do not despair. Because while the price may now be higher, this does mean that the truck will now pack in a bit more for the money. So while customers might bemoan the price increase, we think that this is actually good news as you are now getting even more value for money overall.
Why Slate Has Increased the Price of the Truck and SUV
The promised starting price was originally $20,000 for the Slate truck and SUV. But as the federal tax incentives are now not available, that price has risen to $24,950 for the truck and $29,950 for the SUV version. But there are some other reasons behind this increase.
For starters, Slate has upgraded the battery inside its truck and SUV. The EV will now have a 65.0-kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery that offers 205 miles of range in the pickup truck. That is a solid jump from the 150 miles of range offered with the previous 52.7-kWh pack. Power has dropped from 201hp to 181hp overall, but that is a very small price to pay for a solid range increase.
Slate has also increased the payload and towing capacities of its truck. Previously, that was 1,550 lbs, but the capacity has now reached 2,000lbs in total. The SUV, meanwhile, originally had 1,263lbs of towing and payload capacity, but that too has increased, this time to 1,824lbs. So some customers may not be happy about the price increases, but they are certainly aiming to make it up to people.
What Makes the Slate Truck Such an Interesting Vehicle?
“Built for the millions of hardworking people looking for a vehicle that will adapt to their changing needs without breaking the bank,” says Slate of its vehicles. That is certainly reflected in the price, which is far below what you pay for any other electric pickup truck. The Slate has around half the parts of a regular truck and has physical controls rather than a touchscreen.
Most interesting, however, is the ability to convert the truck into something else. After purchase, buyers can turn the truck into an SUV, available in Squareback and Fastback designs. There are over 175 accessories available for the truck and SUV, too, such as stereo systems, roof racks, and even over 100 available wraps. It has been quite a wait for these two vehicles to come to market, but we think it will be worth it.