Back to basics. This is how the new Slate brand envisions the future of the automobile, making electric cars affordable for everyone. On Thursday, for the first time, the first model emerged from the shadows. Its head of digital experience, Christophe Charpentier, presented the car at InsideEVs, saying: "We didn't want to force connectivity on everyone, nor raise the price for universal connectivity, when it's not really necessary."
As a result, the Slate manufacturer's first vehicle is devoid of technology (and name): it has wind-up windows, no radio or infotainment screen, and on the outside, it has classic steel wheels (reminiscent of the new Fiat Grande Panda). To offer digital features, the brand is taking inspiration from Dacia, and suggests using the customer's smartphone. The arrival of Slate's first electric model on the market is planned for the end of next year.
A first model at less than $20,000 for Slate
After a month of speculation and an advertising campaign in the streets and on TikTok, Slate is no longer a secret and is arriving with an electric pickup marketed under $20,000, once the added US tax deduction ($25,000 otherwise). It therefore breaks away from the high-end models available for more than $70,000 in the United States, and also focuses on customization, with more than 100 accessories available to order.
Slate's strategy is simple: start with a very basic model and encourage its customers to check options and levels of customization. So much so that the catalog also includes a "kit" to transform the pickup into a 5-seater SUV, which can be installed directly by the customer. Moreover, with the SUV silhouette, the car gains more range thanks to improved aerodynamics. This version is, of course, heavier. "The aerodynamic effect outweighs the weight," Slate's director of engineering, Eric Keipper, told InsideEVs.
The kit includes a second row of seats, which will need to be attached to the pickup bed, as well as a roll bar with integrated airbags, and a hard top with windows. The partition between the cab and the pickup bed is removed to create a single passenger compartment for both rows. This part becomes the SUV's rear window. According to InsideEVs, the process of switching from pickup to SUV takes about an hour.
Range between only 240 and 385 km
To remain affordable, Slate's first electric model doesn't offer a very powerful battery, however. The manufacturer estimates the range to be 240 kilometers, and a larger battery can extend the range to only 385 kilometers. These are 52.7 kWh and 84.3 kWh batteries. At the front, the motor is connected to the rear wheels and produces 201 hp, for acceleration from 0 to 96 km/h in 8 seconds, according to Slate's estimates.
In terms of charging, Slate announces an integrated 11 kW AC charger, as well as a 120 kW DC charger, for a 20 to 80% charge in 30 minutes. Several details are still missing, particularly regarding the prices of accessories. Slate plans to produce its cars in the United States (the brand is based in the state of Michigan) and a pre-reservation system has opened, similar to Tesla, so that interested parties can put down a $50 deposit.
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