Electric vehicles are currently on a wild ride in the auto industry. While automakers have evolved the combustion engine nearly as far as it can go, companies are still exploring how to build the best EV possible by experimenting with various motor and battery configurations.
The Slate truck is a perfect example of how the EV market is advancing. The concept behind the vehicle is to offer a no-frills electric pickup that would reportedly start at around $25,000. A long list of accessories would let customers personalize the rig to their needs and drive up the price. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is among the investors in the project, which lends more credibility to the ambitious project.
2027 Slate Truck EV charging Slate
Since it’s still in development, very few people have actually had the opportunity to drive the Slate truck. That means we have little information about what it’s like to be behind the wheel of this retro-future rig. The latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage sees the denim-clad comedian get behind the wheel of Slate’s truck. It’s one of the most extensive drives of the vehicle we’ve seen yet, so it’s intriguing to get his take on the truck.
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Watch Leno Drive The Slate
Jay Leno Drives Slate TruckJay Leno’s Garage
The video opens with Leno immediately praising the company’s ambition to offer an affordable electric truck manufactured in the United States, saying, “I think it’s amazing.” Slate has a plant in Warsaw, Indiana, where it’s going to build vehicles. The site was previously a printer of various catalogs. To keep costs down, the automaker is constructing every truck to an identical spec on the assembly line and then applying the accessories after each one is assembled.
While the Slate comes as a truck, the company is also offering an SUV body kit. It’s possible to get this configuration from the factory. Or, a person can order the package later, and the company would ship the components to customers to install themselves.
According to the video, Slate has built 78 prototypes so far. Most of them have been crash tested. The company is aiming to achieve Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Leno is behind the wheel of one of the remaining examples. He notes this one has some rattles inside, but the final version that goes on sale should have those issues ironed out.
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More To Know About The Slate
Jay Leno Drives Slate TruckJay Leno’s Garage
The Slate truck is 174.6 inches long, making it only slightly longer than a Nissan Leaf. The bed measures five feet, though, meaning there’s plenty of cargo room. It has a max payload of 1,433 pounds and can tow up to 1,000 pounds. Buyers can select 52.7- and 84.3-kilowatt-hour battery packs. The system has a NACS port, meaning owners can use Tesla’s nationwide Supercharger network. Recharging from 20% to 80% takes around 30 minutes.
Separately, the company has also been showing off how it torture tests the trucks. The process included hot-weather evaluations while towing a trailer to put stress on the battery and motor. Despite being a startup, Slate seems to be developing a product that could carve out a special niche in the EV market.
Slate is aiming to have its first customer deliveries in late 2026. We look forward to them hitting the road and finding out whether the trucks live up to the hype.
Source: Jay Leno’s Garage
