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BFD Expert Voices - Climate Deals

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Whether buying wine, a mattress or a ride, no one truly longs for the cheapest option.

Why it matters: Slate Auto's $25k electric pickup is as budget as it gets — but it's a pleasure to drive. 

Driving the news: I tooled around Newport, Rhode Island, for nearly an hour this summer in a prototype of Slate Auto's forthcoming Slate EV.

Behind the wheel: It's much more pleasant than I expected. 

Zoom in: The Slate accelerates quickly, steers nimbly, and rides smoothly over bumps and potholes. 

The seats were reasonably comfy and the interior surprisingly tall, a boon for folks with more height than my 5'8" frame. 

The bottom line: It's too early to know reliability or build quality, but it has the makings of a good car — one that also offers a ton of customization, from mix-and-match exterior wraps to speakers and armrests. 

Yes, but: Two of the most well-known features may get old fast. 

The Slate's hand-crank windows generated phenomenal brand-awareness, but the act of leaning across seats to open or close a window, or adjust the manual mirrors, is a pain.

What they're saying:  Slate Auto doesn't currently have plans to offer power windows or mirrors, a spokesman says.

Yes, but: "Never say never," the spokesperson tells Axios Pro.

Catch up fast: Slate Auto emerged from stealth barely a year ago with backing from Jeff Bezos.

The Troy, Michigan-based startup has raised nearly $1.5 billion, and it's pursuing another $500 million in Series D funding, Axios Pro reported Thursday.

What's next: Slate Auto expects to begin delivering its barebones EV to American driveways as soon as Q4.

The pickup starts at $24,950, with 205 miles of driving range, 2,000-pound towing capacity and 1,550-pound payload capacity.

What we're watching: Slate Auto will soon have competition. Ford next year plans to introduce a small electric pickup, the Fathom, starting at $28,350.

We drove it: Slate Auto's low-cost electric pickup

A gray Slate Auto electric pickup sits on the side of a road by , framed by large leafy trees with green grass and a bright blue sky in the background.

Slate Auto's debut electric pickup has a low step height and a tall roofline. Photo: Alan Neuhauser

Whether buying wine, a mattress or a ride, no one truly longs for the cheapest option.Why it matters: Slate Auto&#x27;s $25k electric pickup is as budget as it gets — but it&#x27;s a pleasure to drive.

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We drove it: Slate Auto's low-cost electric pickup

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