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Slate EV Pickup Clears Deep-Freeze Tests, Targets Summer Production and 2026 Deliveries

A no-frills design with a mid-$20,000 target price aims to make an electric work truck attainable.

Overview

  • Slate says its prototypes endured slush baths and a flash-freeze to -11°F at Michigan’s Keweenaw Research Center, then drove out under their own power.
  • The startup plans a limited production ramp this summer with first customer deliveries before year-end and a late-June pricing reveal.
  • The move toward production comes as U.S. EV demand has cooled and the federal tax credit has disappeared, which puts more pressure on upfront price.
  • Slate targets a mid-$20,000 starting price by skipping paint, trimming standard features like power windows, and using wraps and factory add-ons for customization.
  • Company-published specs list a Tesla-style NACS charge port, a single rear motor rated at 201 horsepower, and 52.7 kWh and 84.3 kWh batteries estimated at 150 and 240 miles of range.