Video summary

The SLATE Electric Truck: Cheapest Deal or Biggest Scam?

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News and Commentary

Summary

The host, Jim (Jim’s EV Adventures), argues that four major claims circulating online about the Slate electric pickup truck are largely wrong. He says he spent about a year researching and then addresses the most common concerns with “real numbers,” comparisons to existing trucks, details about Slate’s funding and manufacturing progress, and his own purchasing decision. Jim also discloses that he personally placed a reservation and converted it to a pre-order.

1) Myth: “Slate is selling a Cybertruck-like deal for $20,000 (a bait-and-switch)”

Jim claims the “$20,000” figure came from analysts/speculation based on an about $20,000 expectation for many buyers after incentives—not a price Slate promised.

He argues:

  • Slate’s announced base price is $24,950 (full sticker).
  • This still makes it among the cheapest new trucks in the U.S.

Comparisons Jim cites:

  • Ford Maverick hybrid: ~ $24,950+ (starting range)
  • Base Tacoma: ~$32,000
  • Base Colorado: ~$30,000
  • Cheapest RAM 1500: ~$36,000 (before fees)

Jim also notes that additional state EV incentives (example states mentioned: California, Colorado, Connecticut) could lower the final price further.

Conclusion of this section: No direct lie—online commentary treated an incentive-based estimate as if it were an official promise.

2) Myth: “The range (205 miles) makes it unusable”

Jim disputes that 205 miles (Slate’s current estimate) automatically makes the truck unusable.

Key points he makes:

  • It hasn’t completed full EPA testing yet.
  • He expects real-world range could be around 220 miles (he won’t guarantee a specific number), citing typical LFP battery behavior and industry patterns.
  • Most importantly, he says truck owners typically don’t drive extreme daily distances.
    • He cites U.S. DOT data that the average driver travels ~37 miles per day.

Jim reframes the issue: most buyers need daily usability, not hypothetical long-distance trips or rare towing events—those are planned for with charging networks.

He also argues Slate is using a single battery configuration to control cost and manufacturing complexity, rather than hiding a larger pack.

Conclusion of this section: The stated range is likely “good enough” for most use cases and may perform better in practice.

3) Myth: “No AC / no screen means it’s a rip-off”

Jim rejects the argument that the truck is “bare bones” in a dishonest way.

He claims:

  • AC is standard.
  • Some features (like heated seats and a possible sound bar) may be available as options.
  • The buying model is “build what you want,” meaning customers choose add-ons instead of being forced into bundled packages.
  • He compares it to buying flat-pack furniture: choose only what fits your needs.
  • He highlights polypropylene body material, suggesting reduced rust/paint-chip issues and easier color wrapping or refreshing.
  • He mentions an “SUV conversion kit” that can transform the truck into a five-seat configuration with multiple roof/back options.

Conclusion of this section: The “no screen/no AC” criticism is presented as misunderstanding how the configuration/options model works and what is actually standard.

4) Myth: “This is vaporware / the startup will disappear”

Jim says this is the most serious concern and focuses on funding and manufacturing reality.

He asserts:

  • Slate has raised $1.4B total, including a $650M Series C earlier in the year.
  • Slate is investing in a real manufacturing facility in Warsaw, Indiana, including retooling for higher-volume production.
  • The company targets tens of thousands of vehicles starting next year.
  • There are 100,000+ reservations and deliveries targeted for late this year.
  • There are 100+ trucks on the road now for testing.
  • He compares Slate’s scale/funding to other EV startups that raised smaller amounts and didn’t deliver, using Canoo as the example.

Jim acknowledges risk remains until vehicles are delivered and in customers’ driveways, but argues the timeline and resources make it credible.

Conclusion of this section: Not vaporware, because funding, factory work, and testing/deployment are already underway.

Jim’s personal decision / disclosure

Jim says he ultimately bought in:

  • Reservation placed: May 19, 2025
  • Converted to full pre-order: July 1, 2026
  • Delivery window: April–June 2027

He emphasizes it’s still not final until final payment and a VIN are received, but states his reasoning was:

  • verified pricing,
  • modeled real-world range relevance,
  • checked startup risk carefully (including contrast with Canoo).

Final comparison: “Why Slate over Rivian or Tesla or others?”

Jim says he considered other EV trucks but argues they are far more expensive for comparable practicality.

He cites:

  • Rivian R1T: starts ~$70k, often $100k+ configured
  • Tesla Cybertruck: more accessible versions ~$70k, higher as configured
  • GM/Ford/Hummer EV trucks: generally $70k–$100k
  • “Telo trucks”: base price still above $20k and less manufacturing scale

He claims he doesn’t need an $80k+ truck for his own uses (daily driving, beach runs, occasional hauling, and content creation), and therefore values Slate’s lower cost and modular configuration.

Overall message: The video argues that the internet’s critiques stem from misconceptions about pricing, range practicality, feature bundling, and startup viability—and that Slate is a credible, competitively priced alternative.

Presenters / contributors

  • Jim (Jim’s EV Adventures)

Original video