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.
Slate, a no-nonsense EV pickup for $20k
Submitted 19 hours 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
simplejack@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
tal@lemmy.today 19 hours ago
I don’t think that it has a cell modem, either, because it sounds like it eschews a baked-in entertainment computer:
caranddriver.com/…/2027-slate-truck-revealed/
Roll-down windows come standard, as do manually adjustable rearview mirrors. An audio or infotainment system is noticeably missing, too. Instead, your cellphone or tablet serves these functions, with a dock for the former included and one for the latter available as an optional accessory. Better like the sound coming out from your phone or tablet’s speakers, too, because the Slate lacks speakers, though the brand’s accessory division will gladly hook you up with a set.
Honestly, if you took my last year of comments complaining about privacy-infringing cars and those complaining about changes to what a truck is, this does kind of look to be addressing both. Gotta see what the actual vehicle is like in real life, of course, but…
applemao@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
100% in agreement with all your points. Simplicity and modular! Look how well the original mustang did, because you could actually get what you wanted. That has disappeared completely now
MaggiWuerze@feddit.org 18 hours ago
because the Slate lacks speakers,
I mean, I get they need to cut costs, but come on… a damn radio wouldnt have killed them
Hubi@feddit.org 15 hours ago
I don’t think that it has a cell modem, either
So it’s not coming to Europe then.
Mac@mander.xyz 18 hours ago
No, the catch is that it isn’t real.
@ me when it rolling off the production line.
Until then…altima_neo@lemmy.zip 11 hours ago
Yeah they said they’re hoping to be producing them by 2026. So likely won’t be available till 2027/28
AcesFullOfKings@feddit.uk 12 hours ago
Until then…
it may have
you may be able toNothing they say exists until it exists
Tagger@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
Standard Range (52.7 kWh) (est.): 150 miles
seems like but manageable for most people
ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 hours ago
That’s not 150 miles of actual driving range, it’s more like 75-100miles of actual range.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 10 hours ago
As long as it gets 50+ miles range reliably in winter, it’s perfect as a commuter/weekend project truck. I generally look for 150 miles range for this, since winter can cut effective range in half.
baggachipz@sh.itjust.works 7 hours ago
Good news, it’s range is 150 miles.
altima_neo@lemmy.zip 11 hours ago
I mean Bezos backed Rivian too. Or Amazon did, anyway.
Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip 19 hours ago
well its less it doesnt have a touch screen, the touch screen is an optional purchase.
the range iirc in some overview is 2 options, one was i think 150mi, the other was 240mi
Ulrich@feddit.org 1 hour ago
No, there is no optional touch screen. The one featured in their media is a phone/iPad running the Slate app.
tal@lemmy.today 18 hours ago
From my other link, I don’t think that the touch screen is an optional purchase. I don’t think that they’re selling any entertainment computer to have a screen on. It says that they come standard with a smartphone mounting point or optionally with a tablet mounting point. But the car computer is bring-your-own, and not built into the car. Which…is what I’ve wanted, because computers age out a lot more quickly than cars do.
I assume that there’ll be an OBD-II slot that one can hook up to to feed data about the car to the phone/tablet. There’s software that can make use of that. Dunno if there’s any other data typically exposed to car computers other than what that provides.
No1@aussie.zone 2 hours 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.
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 2 hours 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.
BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 3 hours 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”
circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 7 hours 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.
paequ2@lemmy.today 5 hours 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… 🤔
HelixDab2@lemm.ee 1 hour 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 5 hours 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.
Ulrich@feddit.org 2 hours ago
Under $20k after federal incentives*
technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 hours ago
Car dependency is a dead end for humanity regardless of what shit-boxes they manufacture.
fireweed@lemmy.world 8 hours 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 7 hours 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.
applemao@lemmy.world 5 hours 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.
shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 19 hours 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.
tal@lemmy.today 19 hours ago
Looks about right.
caranddriver.com/…/2027-slate-truck-revealed/
The Slate Truck is a bare-bones EV that’s expected to cost a little under $27,500, which can drop to less than $20,000 with the federal EV tax credit included.
Ulrich@feddit.org 1 hour ago
a little under $27,500
Soooo $27,499?
rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 8 hours ago
Elon: I’m going to rule America to make people buy my shit.
Trump: I’m removing EV tax credits.
Elon: Why is nobody buying my overpriced deathtraps?
scarabic@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
It’s not a truck to me if the bed can’t fit a sheet of plywood.
lagoon8622@sh.itjust.works 3 hours ago
It can fit a sheet of plywood.
scarabic@lemmy.world 3 hours 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.
ABetterTomorrow@lemm.ee 5 hours 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?
MichaelScotch@lemmy.world 4 hours 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 4 hours ago
Whoops! I did mean the Toyota Pickup. Thanks!
barsoap@lemm.ee 11 hours 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.
applemao@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
Absolute dream. Please build it!!
zeropublix@lemmy.ml 19 hours 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.
paequ2@lemmy.today 4 hours ago
what if cars don’t have be ridicules in size
Then you may be interested in this vehicle. It’s about as long as the Kia Niro at 4.4m.
carrying dead weight
I mean, even in a 5 seater sedan, you’re gonna be carrying dead weight. Are you suggesting everyone ride bikes or motorcycles instead?
dgriffith@aussie.zone 17 hours ago
But I need my land barge to potentially carry 9000 pounds and 6 people for at least 400 miles without a break, even if I can barely manage to satisfy one of those criteria once a year. Otherwise it’s a miserable failure that must be mocked.
el_muerte@lemm.ee 10 hours ago
Fuckin’ seriously. I’ve got friends who are like “I wouldn’t even consider an electric car until they have 1000 miles of range and can charge in fifteen minutes,” like bruh, you make two road trips a year and have four kids; even if we pretend you weren’t a two car family that takes the minivan anyway when you’re traveling, there’s no way your kids are making it a quarter of the range you “need” without stopping.
njordomir@lemmy.world 17 hours 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 6 hours ago
They say they’re shooting for a 5 star crash rating.
MaggiWuerze@feddit.org 17 hours ago
I can see a lot of retired people buying one of these to drive to their once a week bridge tournament or bingo night.
They would be far better served with a regular car instead of a pickup
mnmalst@lemmy.zip 17 hours ago
If you need a car just once a week you shouldn’t own a car at all. Take the bus!
lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 hours ago
Luckily you can add a hardtop and seats (and airbags!) to the rear to make it into an SUV. Appears to be a modular design.
I would seriously consider this little thing if 1) it actually happens at that price point and 2) retains this modular design (lmao)
notthebees@reddthat.com 8 hours ago
I believe so if they want to be highway legal.
I want this to be successful
SnortsGarlicPowder@lemmy.zip 17 hours ago
Is this a $20k kit car or a $20k truck that they build for you?
Allero@lemmy.today 17 hours ago
Both options available
SnortsGarlicPowder@lemmy.zip 11 hours ago
Huh, apparently so. Also I found the configurator
TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 19 hours ago
available … Q4 2026
everett@lemmy.ml 17 hours ago
I see what you did there.
Crumbgrabber@lemm.ee 1 hour 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