New basic EV truck

[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.