'Budget' Electric Pickup Slate Auto Now Costs Much More than $20,000

When Slate Auto first introduced their electric pickup to the public, it was positioned as a simple and utilitarian vehicle for everyday tasks. Minimal extras: no gloss, no multimedia excesses, with manual windows and a single electric motor powered by a 52.7-kilowatt-hour battery. The range is about 250 kilometers, which corresponds to the entry level for electric vehicles designed for the city and suburbs.

The key selling point of the new model was the price—initial announcements mentioned a figure of "less than $20,000," which sparked a wave of interest among buyers looking for the most affordable electric pickup. But today, visiting the company's website, you can see a different wording: "from twenty something thousand." It still sounds affordable, but it's crucial to understand that this is the base version—without vinyl wrapping, extended body options, alloy wheels, and a larger capacity battery. Taking all these options into account, the final cost can easily soar well beyond the initial price.

It's also important to note that the price change took place after the passing of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This document, approved by President Trump, eliminates the federal tax credit for purchasing eco-friendly vehicles as of September 30. Previously, buyers could count on a discount of up to $7,500 when buying an electric car, but now this support is a thing of the past—and this will inevitably affect retail prices across the market.

And now Slate faces a rather tricky question: how to compete if the price difference with the gasoline Ford Maverick could shrink to just a couple of thousand dollars? Especially considering that the Maverick offers a longer range, familiar infrastructure, and the option of a hybrid powertrain.