‘Unburdensome’: The Slate Truck Is Easier Than A Tesla To Live With, James May Says

Jeff Bezos-backed electric vehicle startup Slate Auto is expected to begin the deliveries of its affordable electric pickup truck in December. With that date approaching fast, the startup is also handing the truck to more journalists ahead of its launch, with former Top Gear host James May offering his take on the EV in his latest video.

May found the Slate truck surprisingly easy to live with, despite its stripped-back cabin and limited standard equipment. “This is an incredibly easy car to live with, even easier than my Tesla to be honest,” he said.

“This is a welcome return to the pickup philosophy. It’s straightforward and basic and cheap as it should be,” May said. He praised the basic, old-school shape. 

May also seemed pretty impressed by the truck's driving characteristics. He said regenerative braking under one pedal driving was pronounced but easy to get used to. "The ride is actually pretty good for something short and springy on big, fat tires."

The truck itself was nice and smooth, with a reasonably quiet cabin for something that’s made out of low cost materials. He called the budget, plasticky interior "perfectly okay," though he criticized the big blind spot over his left shoulder. 

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Source: Tim Levin/InsideEVs

He said the truck was “unburdensome” and that "there is something very appealing about driving a very basic car."

Starting at $24,950 before a $1,450 destination charge, the two-seat, rear-wheel-drive pickup is designed to keep costs down by doing away with fancy features nowadays common in modern trucks.

There is no modern software, touchscreen, conventional stereo, or elaborate interior trim. Buyers get air conditioning, cruise control, and physical controls, while the windows and mirrors are manually operated.

The truck uses a single electric motor and a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, with a projected EPA range of 205 miles on a full charge. Its five-foot cargo bed offers 35.1 cubic feet of space, while Slate estimates a payload capacity of 1,550 pounds and a towing capacity of around 2,000 pounds.

But the Slate's most unique feature is its customizability. Buyers can add accessories, exterior wraps, and even transform the pickup into an SUV or a fastback using conversion kits. The idea is to sell customers a basic vehicle and let them decide how they want it to look, rather than bundling features that may jack up the base price.

“You can think of this a bit like buying a bagel. You buy the bagel and then you put the filling in,” May said.

That approach also reflects a different philosophy of what an affordable American pickup should be. Instead of doing things the old way, Slate is betting that some buyers would rather have a simple, functional vehicle they can personalize over time.

Whether this formula will resonate with buyers remains to be seen. The upcoming Ford Fathom will be the opposite of Slate, with a starting price of $30,000—but it will be a fully modern software defined vehicle and we don’t expect Ford to skip things like a central touchscreen and powered windows.

The Slate’s modest range and bare-bones equipment may not suit everyone, but it will offer something unique and affordable in the car market that’s only gotten more and more expensive.

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