New basic EV truck

[ruffdog]

Nope - I was just going off the original article. I wonder if there will be a radio option then, or if you'll be stuck to bluetooth.

It sounds like no radio....just bluetooth. I'm like you and don't do the bluetooth thing. Software upgrades for the vehicle would need a device and app to make the connection between truck and tower.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I like that it doesn't come with anything. I can buy a $20 radio for if I want or spend a lot more for better quality. The fact that they have designed it to be DIY makes me think that adding things like a radio will be pretty easy. But I also like the idea of using my phone for the radio. I've never done that before, and I'm guessing there is an app for that. We regularly listen to Pandora on one of our phones and a Bluetooth speaker that's not very big but sounds great. Probably the only thing that I think I really want added to it is electric windows. Being able to roll down the passenger side window while driving to get a fly to leave is a must have!!!!

I'm old enough to remember when you could buy aftermarket window motors, just remove the cranks and slip the motor over the shaft.

 

[Runner]

It sounds like no radio....just bluetooth. I'm like you and don't do the bluetooth thing. Software upgrades for the vehicle would need a device and app to make the connection between truck and tower.

Here's the solution:

MVH-S230BT

The MVH-S230BT offers Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling, USB connections, and supports various media formats like MP3 and WMA for high-quality audio playback. Also, the Advanced Sound Retriever feature restores audio details for a superior listening experience.

usa.pioneer

Just like in high school.

 

[Catalyst]

Here's the solution:

MVH-S230BT

The MVH-S230BT offers Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling, USB connections, and supports various media formats like MP3 and WMA for high-quality audio playback. Also, the Advanced Sound Retriever feature restores audio details for a superior listening experience.

usa.pioneer

Just like in high school.

but the cars were still sub 20k in HS and came with those options.

 

[5030]

I feel like they went a bit to 10. No radio, no creature comforts. Why can't we just go back to 80's/90's cars that were reliable and cheap. In a 20k car, they can't squeeze in a basic AM/FM radio. Some areas have emergency msgs that you need to tune to. All for lowering costs, but this feels a little silly.

You can mount a tablet (says so right in the website and add speakers to stream music if you want to.

Told my wife I was gonna reserve one and her comment was, if I do I get to pay the total electric bill from then on.

Apples to oranges, my Focus RS Turbo averages 39.5 mpg all the time and like I said previously, we NEVER pay pump price for weasel pee, usually a buck per less so I'm not sure if it's a viable vehicle for me anyway and I bet the initial offerings will have some bugs to work out and to get good range, you have to opt for the more expensive battery. The standard one only returns about 150 miles range and finally, no where on the website do they say it will cruise on the E-way at 70-75 per. In fact, no mention of freeway speeds and the 20K base price includes the 7500 buck EV gummit bonus so without that the base truck will cost 27.5K with no options at all. You add in the long range battery and some other options, I bet the price jumps to around 35K, all in and it's only RWD as well, no FWD or all wheel drive. Been through their website carefully and lots of unaddressed (in my view) questions.

 

[ruffdog]

More close up views:

 

[newbury]

I feel like they went a bit to 10. No radio, no creature comforts. Why can't we just go back to 80's/90's cars that were reliable and cheap. In a 20k car, they can't squeeze in a basic AM/FM radio. Some areas have emergency msgs that you need to tune to. All for lowering costs, but this feels a little silly.

It's the way things are.
I've 4 children, ages 30 to 40+.
The first thing they do when they get into one of my cars is link their phones to my car radio and then use that for the tuner.
Without a tuner in the car no thief is gong to break in to steal the radio.

 

[ponytug]

I will be interested to see how loud the interior is while driving. I noticed the SUV expansion kit seems not have any headliner, which makes me wonder about road noise generally. Lots of things are in the TBD category.

 

[Quaffer]

We've reached market maturity when a 4-door ATV, such as CanAm Defender MAX or Polaris Northstar XP1000 offers HVAC, AM/FM/bluetooth radio, and arguably more creature comforts than the basic, stripped model Slate pickup.

When people hear how much one of the current version ATV's cost, the first question is often: "why don't you instead just buy an F-150?"

I've seen highly customized ATVs top 50k in price. For those, the question might be: "Why didn't you instead buy two Slate pickups?"

 

[RSKY]

I see this as being a street legal, freeway capable golf cart with required safety equipment. Not a vehicle to be used as your primary go on vacation or go to visit relatives 100-miles away. More as a hop in and run to Walmart or Home Depot or the grocery store type. That is the type of driving that burns excess gas driving around parking lots or sitting idling waiting for somebody. As such it doesn't need more than a 150-mile range. As I stated in a post above the standard range would take my wife and me in a large circle to both daughter's homes and our two major shopping area.

Now, as to what I see as the three main disadvantages. First, does it have air conditioning? If so I bet running that on hot days will cut the range down from 150 to 120 miles or less. Second, having driven a 1984 Ford Ranger Pickup with a very weak engine and no weight on the rear end I can say that the Slate will be horrible in the snow and ice. That Ranger took about 10 seconds to 60-mph but would spin the tires when floored at 10-mph on a wet road in the summer. It had no traction whatsoever. Third, load the Slate with extra weight in the bed or on a trailer and you will be looking at a massive range reduction. Probably less than 100-miles with the standard battery. If I do get one the first aftermarket item I will purchase will be a heavy duty 100' extension cord to get a quick boost when I run out of power.

They are using the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) to create the vehicle. Basic get you there and back without frills. I like it. It would fit our needs perfectly. I will keep the F150 as my heavy duty pull a trailer or haul a heavy load vehicle. I would still trade the main vehicle every 5-10 years depending on mileage. And the Slate Pickup would be the hop in and run around on short trip vehicle. It wouldn't be the correct vehicle for everybody but in my location, with my geographic positioning as to the places we travel to 90% of the time it would be perfect.

RSKY

 

[ruffdog]

First, does it have air conditioning? If so I bet running that on hot days will cut the range down from 150 to 120 miles or less. Second, having driven a 1984 Ford Ranger Pickup with a very weak engine and no weight on the rear end I can say that the Slate will be horrible in the snow and ice. That Ranger took about 10 seconds to 60-mph but would spin the tires when floored at 10-mph on a wet road in the summer. It had no traction whatsoever.

The Slate comes with air conditioning standard. It also comes with traction control and central weight distribution that your Ranger didn't have.

Preview: Bare-Bones All-Electric Slate Truck or SUV Starts Under $30,000 - Consumer Reports

"While the Slate lacks many creature comforts, the company is determined to achieve five-star safety ratings. It comes standard with traction control, ESC, automatic emergency braking, airbags, a reversing camera, forward collision warning, and auto high beam."

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/04/s...-sub-20000-pickup-that-can-morph-into-an-suv/

 

[2manyrocks]

If only it came with a gas engine.

 

[Runner]

The Slate comes with air conditioning standard. It also comes with traction control and central weight distribution that your Ranger didn't have.

Preview: Bare-Bones All-Electric Slate Truck or SUV Starts Under $30,000 - Consumer Reports

"While the Slate lacks many creature comforts, the company is determined to achieve five-star safety ratings. It comes standard with traction control, ESC, automatic emergency braking, airbags, a reversing camera, forward collision warning, and auto high beam."

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/04/s...-sub-20000-pickup-that-can-morph-into-an-suv/

Air Conditioning??? OK, not bare-bones enough, I'm out.

I remember when my Dad bought a new Ford F100 in 1973 with almost no options, just power steering, 302, spare tire and chrome front bumper. I remember being disapointed when he added an aftermarket radio....

 

[Too many Kubotas]

"While the Slate lacks many creature comforts, the company is determined to achieve five-star safety ratings. It comes standard with traction control, ESC, automatic emergency braking, airbags, a reversing camera, forward collision warning, and auto high beam."

If it could be ordered without all that wizardry, but have 4WD, it'd be far more appealing to me.

 

[EddieWalker]

Is there a car that's sold today that doesn't come standard with AC?

 

[Quaffer]

If only it came with a gas engine.

I'd prefer a small, miserly diesel. But there goes the low cost.

 

[newbury]

Beginning to sound ideal for me, I might need two.
I've the F350 diesel dually for the big chores, and towing my equipment trailer w/ my 50HP Kubota. But those activities only consume a few thousand miles a year. The rest of the time the little Slate would suffice.

 

[ruffdog]

Instead of a sliding rear window, it looks like the top is hinged and the bottom pivots out.

 

[EddieWalker]

Instead of a sliding rear window, it looks like the top is hinged and the bottom pivots out.

From the videos I've seen, the Slate is kind of a Transformer type of vehicle. Everything is designed to be taken apart by the owner, and able to switch it from a truck to an SUV by yourself. Having the rear wall come off to become an SUV seems like a genius idea.

 

[ning]

From the videos I've seen, the Slate is kind of a Transformer type of vehicle. Everything is designed to be taken apart by the owner, and able to switch it from a truck to an SUV by yourself. Having the rear wall come off to become an SUV seems like a genius idea.

I suspect one of the main QA points will be how well the joint seals; a DIY-er converting it to SUV better get that part right.