At least tell me there’s a DIN slot in the dashboard. As long as I can connect my phone via Bluetooth I’m good.
Slate, a no-nonsense EV pickup for $20k
Submitted 11 months ago by paequ2@lemmy.today to technology@lemmy.world
https://electrek.co/2025/04/24/slate-emerges-modular-2-seat-ev-pickup-available-under-20k-video/
Comments
MisterMoo@lemmy.world 11 months ago
GoodOleAmerika@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Elon now bezo. Noice
Valmond@lemmy.world 11 months ago
150kWatt and a top speed of 145? That’s kind of insane?
Wait a minute, mph not km/h I guess.
paequ2@lemmy.today 11 months ago
Yeah, 145km/h might be a liiitle under powered. I drive between 120km/h to 130km/h on the US interstates.
Aeri@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Everyone seems to hate this thing based on marketing but I actually kind of liked the looks of it, sigh.
Liz@midwest.social 11 months ago
I love this thing too hell and back. This is exactly what I want in a car/truck.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Yeah, what’s wrong with it? It looks like a simple truck for around town use, and it’s fairly cheap.
iamdefinitelyoverthirteen@lemmy.world 11 months ago
My only deal breaker is the lack of 4x4. I love this truck, but I will not buy a truck without 4 wheel drive.
commander@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Something like this I imagine I’d be happy with. A sedan/crossover and this. Wouldn’t take it out the county. Just trips to hardware/gardening stores and moving furniture. More than enough range and speed to go to work too. Any long drive I’d probably get an Accord hybrid or something. 2 vehicle family
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Same. We have two cars and three kids. One needs to be comfortable for longer trips, camping, etc, and the other just needs to go to work and back. This would be perfect for the second, and double as a furniture, garden stuff , dump, etc hauler around town.
I personally hate trucks, but this is in the price range and could be handy.
ArchaicHuman@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Where’s the bullet point for Bezos? Hard pass if that shit bag is involved in anyway.
superniceperson@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
He’s a billionaire, and he’s a normal billionaire at that. Investing is literally the only thing they do.
Psythik@lemm.ee 11 months ago
[deleted]sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website 11 months ago
0-60mph is mostly deprecated these days in favor of 0-62mph, which just so happens to be the same as 0-100km/h — what a coincidence!
Knoxvomica@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
I actually think for once, you guys do it
ABetterTomorrow@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Cool but now I’m worried this is being spammed everywhere. New capitalism marketing at foot?
trumpetmouth@lemmy.world 11 months ago
yea im already slightly tired of seeing this truck after the day(s) it’s been promoted.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Really? This is the first place I’ve seen it. Then again, I use an ad blocker everywhere.
__nobodynowhere@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Very interesting, but please give me power windows and a dumb infotainment unit that does Android Auto/CarPlay
mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
and lose the blinding headlights and automatic high beams
BigPotato@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Available as optional extras
Horsey@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I struggle to understand the point of a truck that can only tow 500kg… that and such awful range. If the range were doubled this would be a great deal, but as is it’s just dead in the water.
humanspiral@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
$20k with some cargo for a car is pretty good. If you need a F150, then you’ll have to pay for one.
limelight79@lemm.ee 11 months ago
I mean, are there any cars available in the US for just $20k? I’m pretty sure a base Mazda 3 was more than that when we bought ours five years ago (before the pandemic, and ours is a higher trim model). I don’t think they’re making the really small cars any more (like the Toyota Yaris).
Short version, I’m skeptical of this price point for even a small pickup. Great if they can do it.
qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website 11 months ago
That’s because you’re thinking of trucks used first and foremost for heavy duty “truck stuff.” That is not the only market for trucks, at least in the US: thedrive.com/…/you-dont-need-a-full-size-pickup-t…
According to Edwards’ data, 75 percent of truck owners use their truck for towing one time a year or less (meaning, never). Nearly 70 percent of truck owners go off-road one time a year or less. And a full 35 percent of truck owners use their truck for hauling—putting something in the bed, its ostensible raison d’être—once a year or less.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Low towing capacity and an outrageously miserable bed size. Less than five feet? The powertrain of this should have been put in a station wagon, not a “truck.”
sugarfoot00@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
There used to be a market for small trucks which has all largely evaporated. I’m all in favour of a smaller utility truck with limited range. Something like this would be ideal for my business.
notthebees@reddthat.com 11 months ago
It can probably tow more, usually 500 kg is like the bare minimum for American cars. Also us towing standards are a bit more strict. A car in the EU is rated to tow more than a car in the US, even if it’s identical.
Horsey@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Even if it were 1000kg, that’s still way below what a truck would want to tow though.
RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 11 months ago
239 miles / 150 miles for big/small battery in angry eagle units.
Crumbgrabber@lemm.ee 11 months ago
After seeing announcements and headlines like this for over 10 years and just about nothing available for sale I just kind of yawn Now. Good way to raise some venture capital though. does it have AI? let’s do this
altphoto@lemmy.today 11 months ago
AI catalytic converter technology!
Ulrich@feddit.org 11 months ago
Under $20k after federal incentives*
Altrex@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Yeah, this is my issue with the government incentives for EVs, especially now that they are more common and can be deducted from the sale price. Most retailers are just jacking up the price to whatever the cap for the rebate is while pretending it’s still a good deal.
qjkxbmwvz@startrek.website 11 months ago
This is the same argument used for blaming the cost of college on government loans for education, for $$$ housing prices in cities that offer low income subsidies, for food prices due to food stamps…
Ulrich@feddit.org 11 months ago
I hardly thing $27.5k could be considered “jacking up the price” but I also don’t appreciate advertising pricing that is dependent on a government incentive that may not even exist when the vehicles are actually delivered.
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 11 months ago
I’ve heard this song before. Lordstown Motors, for example.
If they can get some trucks rolling out the door, I’ll get interested real quick.
No1@aussie.zone 11 months ago
Curb weight 1634kg
This was the standout spec that might make me consider one.
I’ve been looking mainly at small hatchbacks/SUVs, and they all seem to weigh in at over 1800kg. And many are over 2000kg.
Chip_Rat@lemmy.world 11 months ago
What makes that spec a priority for you?
No1@aussie.zone 11 months ago
Others have answered this well 👍
MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 months ago
Weight affects basically everything. Less weight means less cost to buy, better range, better handling, less cost of maintenance (brakes, tires, etc), better safety, less getting stuck off-road, and so on…
notthebees@reddthat.com 11 months ago
Tires? General handling? Crash safety for others?
BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 11 months ago
If pickups and other monstrosities were limited to people that can prove they need it, or even just to professionals, we wouldn’t need the stupid paradoxical concept of an EV pickup. Like “oh my flame thrower that I use to light birthday candles runs on biofuel, so we’re good”
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
What’s wrong with an EV pickup? Pickups are incredibly useful, and if it’s an EV, it could also be a commuter. I don’t need a truck very often, so I tend to rent when I need one, because they’re so terrible on fuel. But if it’s an EV, there’s a chance it’s reasonably efficient, so I could use it as my commuter and occasional dump/furniture store/hardware store/nursury run vehicle.
This isn’t going to attract those dudes who like to lift their trucks and piss off everyone on the road, this is too small for those egos. This is going to appeal to people who need a truck for local use, like small business owners and DIY types.
BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 11 months ago
How many people use actually need them though? You are one individual making your case, there are millions on the roads
scarabic@lemmy.world 11 months ago
It’s not a truck to me if the bed can’t fit a sheet of plywood.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Yeah, that’s disappointing, and the maximum payload/tow capacity significantly under a ton is also a bummer. I may still need to rent a truck if I get this, but it could handle a lot of my local hauling needs.
lagoon8622@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
It can fit a sheet of plywood.
scarabic@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Look closer and read the dimensions. The Verge say “it can hold a sheet of plywood” in text but if you look at the dimensions, there isn’t 48” of space between the wheel wells, so it has to be propped up on them seesawing back and forth. And there is not 96” of length to support it, even with the tailgate down. At best you could limp home with one sheet rocking around, sticking out behind you. Forget transporting a stack.
It’s yet another urban toy truck that’s not equipped for actual utility.
MichaelScotch@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Toyota Tacoma didn’t exist in 1985. The first model year was 1995. Did you mean a 1985 toyota pickup/hilux?
paequ2@lemmy.today 11 months ago
Whoops! I did mean the Toyota Pickup. Thanks!
paequ2@lemmy.today 11 months ago
One thing that makes me nervous is that there are so many screws exposed. It seems like it would be really easy for thieves to just walk up with a hex key and steal your bumper or panels… 🤔
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 11 months ago
You can already theoretically do this with the doors on a Jeep, but it hasn’t exactly turned into an epidemic.
HelixDab2@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Use some Rokset on all your fasteners; the only way to break the threadlocker is with heat, and heat would also destroy the bodywork. So you could still replace damaged panels, but you couldn’t steal them.
sulgoth@lemmy.world 11 months ago
The panels are plastic, so while this is a concern, they probably wouldn’t get much for them. Bumper I’m less sure about.
paequ2@lemmy.today 11 months ago
A buddy of mine got his Tacoma tailgate stolen in broad daylight during a kid’s football game… I hope any really valuable parts are secured…
ABetterTomorrow@lemm.ee 11 months ago
This is actually pretty cool and makes sense. Can’t wait to see what the 3D printer community does with this if the dash can be customized with accessories. Anyone know when a test drive would be covered?
applemao@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Absolute dream. Please build it!!
circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 11 months ago
Tbh, I’m super into this. Especially if the range could be extended slightly or if the truck is somewhat hackable.
But then… Bezos. Ugh.
technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 months ago
Car dependency is a dead end for humanity regardless of what shit-boxes they manufacture.
MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 months ago
What’s the solution for transport around farms and factories and such then? Trucks will always be needed.
applemao@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Some of us live in spread out communities or rural areas. You don’t expect all humans to live in a 2x2 ft cube in a 30 story tall building do you? Also, I guarantee not everyone else wants to live right next to other humans. I try to get as far as possible so I can do anything I want (be loud, be outside at any time, have parties etc). There is actually enough livable land on the planet for every single human to have 2 acres worth. Now, should people have children when there is already billions of us, that’s another question.
FenderStratocaster@lemmy.world 11 months ago
According to this guy, you are the reason humans will die
fireweed@lemmy.world 11 months ago
For urban environments I 100% agree, but e-bikes and public transport can’t help farmers* get their produce to market. I don’t know much about this truck, but if it can fill a similar niche as the Japanese kei truck, I think it’s great to provide people who actually need a pickup with an alternative to the F-150+ behemoths currently available stateside.
*Yes there are some urban farms that totally could operate via ebike/other form of micro mobility, however most farms, even small ones, are located >10 miles outside urban centers, usually in areas only accessible by roads and highways that are currently very dangerous for non-motorized transportation modes. Fixing this problem would take decades and hundreds of billions if not trillions of dollars even if the government were fully on board with the transportation network and/or land use changes necessary to allow for a true car-free society (which of course they aren’t). I’m not such an idealist as to poo-poo a significant short-term improvement to the “oversized working vehicle” problem.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Agreed. Whether everyone should be driving everywhere is a completely separate problem. In the short term, people need replacements for current ICE vehicles, and an inexpensive truck that runs on electricity is fantastic while we figure out the rest of the issues.
I’m guessing eventually farmers won’t need trucks, they’ll need bots that fulfill that need instead.
barsoap@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Sounds like the non-commercial version of the DHL StreetScooter Work (L), with those even the passenger seat is an optional extra. Trouble was that while it’s the perfect vehicle for last-mile distribution routes most companies doing that kind of thing (like bakeries) don’t have the finances to back up an actual car producer, and DHL didn’t want to become a car producer. Taking over the company to get their hands on the trucks, yes, but bringing it to scale so they wouldn’t have to subsidise it? Not their business. And German car manufactures don’t want to build it because small bare-bones vehicles don’t have margin, anything smaller and less fancy than an actual van doesn’t make sense to them given the fixed cost of their production lines. Don’t worry, though, the inventor got the rights back, production is moving to Thailand, new vehicle is in the pipeline, with the core components (chassis etc.) designed for a 50 year lifetime. I’m sure DHL will figure out how to deliver delivery vans.
SnortsGarlicPowder@lemmy.zip 11 months ago
Is this a $20k kit car or a $20k truck that they build for you?
Allero@lemmy.today 11 months ago
Both options available
SnortsGarlicPowder@lemmy.zip 11 months ago
Huh, apparently so. Also I found the configurator
njordomir@lemmy.world 11 months ago
No mention of safety in the article. Does a manufacturer of this size have to do crash tests?
Also, this sounds like the Spirit/Ryanair of cars. Everything costs extra.
For years, I drove ~10-20 minutes to and from work. Mostly stroads and freeway. I could never justify buying an extra nice car because I didn’t use it that much. Same for a nice car stereo. I’d just listen to NPR and talk radio for news, traffic reports, and maybe a quirky story about some cultural oddity or eclectic artist. If I spend thousands on a sound system it goes in my house, where I live and vibe. Now I work from home, ride my bike everywhere, and a tank of gas can easily last me a month. My current car was purchased for about $20k. If my car died for some reason, I don’t even know if I’d be willing to part with 20k to replace it. I appreciate that these guys are building something for ordinary people and not another faux luxury lifted minivan the size of a garbage truck.
I can see a lot of retired people buying one of these to drive to their once a week bridge tournament or bingo night.
steal_your_face@lemmy.ml 11 months ago
They say they’re shooting for a 5 star crash rating.
zeropublix@lemmy.ml 11 months ago
What if, and here me out here, what if, and that’s a crazy thought, what if cars don’t have be ridicules in size and battery capacity is actually used more efficiently.
simplejack@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Aside from being backed by Bezos, this seems like Lemmy the car. Under 20K, an EV, no stupid touch screen, designed to be repaired and modded, and even crank windows.
I bet the catch is the range or charge speed.
shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 11 months ago
Please keep in mind that this is after tax incentives. So let’s just assume the tax incentives are zero and call it 27,000 just to be on the safe side.
cmhe@lemmy.world 11 months ago
What is up with those pickup trucks anyway? Why do so many people in the U.S. buy them?
Everything that you put in the back is subjected to weather and one of first additions people buy is a cover.
Compare that to a mini bus or transporter, you can transport as much or more than with a pickup truck, protected from weather, and you can add or remove chairs, if you need to transport people.
If you have a transporter, you can also much easier furnish the inside with racks etc, to improve space use.
brenstar@programming.dev 11 months ago
cmhe@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Like what? And is that a common use case?
Or just put down a nylon sheet, put the dirt on top, fold the nylon sheet over it and bind it down. Now it is covered under and over and will not fly around.
In most cases I guess people will just buy prepackaged earth in bags. That also doesn’t fly around.
Sure, if you are one of the very few people that work in the woods or on a field, where this common use case, then alright. But that would not explain why those cars are so common.
Buy a bus with removable carpet, then you can just hose it down as well. Many buses have a small step, which separates the cabin from the back, so water will not flow into the cabin.
There are many different rear door types and sliding side doors on the side that provide ample and easy access. This isn’t difficult or complicated.
That didn’t convince me that pickup trucks are not a very specialized vehicle for just some uses, while transporters and mini busses are much more useful for all kinds of purposes. Be it furniture, tools, sport equipment, electronics and other sensitive equipment, and people. While also being good at hauling the occasional dirty stuff, if you just put something underneath.