Introductions & Welcome Thread 👋

[tubes]

I'm here from the OdyClub, and now looking to the possibility of my first pickup and EV. I use the Honda Odyssey as a handyman vehicle. It is awesome for that, but also a bit unsafe with all those tools behind me. I'm retired, mostly do this as a volunteer, and expect to ratchet down my volunteering. So a small PU could potentially be perfect. Main everyday tools in the frunk, and extra tools for a special job in the back. I would hope to use the Cargo Kit option.

The Odyssey is also at 235k miles. I'm learning just how complicated and touchy a V6 with incredibly complex emissions and CAFE optimization devices can be. I DYI some of it, but just barely. It is a beast. It has problems and I frequently have it on life support. I do like being able to get full sheets of plywood and drywall in the Ody completely covered, but I think I could make a go of it with the Slate. I don't haul stuff that often.

As you can probably gather, I'm really interested in the DYI aspects of Slate. Simplicity speaks to me. As a retired person with less intense travel needs, the EV aspect also speaks to me. Quick runs to the store or Home Depot would be perfect. I have no grandkids in tow, so two seats is fine.

In some ways, I can't believe I'm here. When Leaf and Tesla came out all those years ago, I was perplexed. The Leaf is just too frumpy and small. The Tesla options at the time were for rich folks. As for pick up trucks: well they just got Too Darn Big and expensive. What the heck?

So, yeah, I landed here. Surprised myself with the $50 reservation last February, and am even considering going in for the preorder in a few weeks. My only concern? Will the seat be comfortable or will it kill me?

 

[BlackFlagBop]

Hi all - been lurking for months and decided to create an account if for no other reason than to keep track of what threads I've already read, etc.

Pretty excited about the truck - might not be an immediate purchase, but it's certainly my strongest leaning at this point. I'd originally been looking at the Telo, but honestly, the Slate's barebones BIY concept and cost are way closer to being up my alley.,

 

[adele]

Hi all - been lurking for months and decided to create an account if for no other reason than to keep track of what threads I've already read, etc.

Pretty excited about the truck - might not be an immediate purchase, but it's certainly my strongest leaning at this point. I'd originally been looking at the Telo, but honestly, the Slate's barebones BIY concept and cost are way closer to being up my alley.,

Nice to see a fellow Ramones fan! 👋

 

[EJensen]

Hello all. I put my reservation in on 04/29/2025, the day I heard about it. I think that was day five for the reservations. I wish I could remember where I first read about it.

I've leased two EVs, a Nissan Leaf and a Kia Soul. I really enjoyed the EV experience and I have wanted an EV pickup for some time now. I put down a reservation for the Lightning but I was pretty slow to get on the list. By the time I could have converted to a purchase, the $35k promise for that vehicle was nowhere in sight.

My wife and I are the only ones left at home so a crew cab is just wasted bed space from my perspective. We have her ICE Soul if we want to go on a road trip without planning ahead for charge stations or if we have other passengers.

The Slate just ticks so many boxes for me, it's like they had me in mind. I don't need or want a second row of seats. I can put full sheets of drywall and plywood in the back with the gate down. Replaceable body panels with exposed fasteners. No paint, just wrap as I see fit. As little as possible to break and strand me or someone else. Ultra low maintenance.

I'm not in the trades, but my background in engineering made me into a build-it and fix-it guy. I see every failure in the home or in one of our cars as a justification for me to buy a new tool. The Slate will just be the next new tool, and one that I customize to my heart's content.

I also like that Slate remains privately held. For as long as that remains the case, I will give them the benefit of the doubt in terms of the truth of their statements.

My only concern is that I'm starting to get emotionally attached to the idea of this vehicle. If I read about some other option like the Ford EV pickup I find myself wanting not to like it even before I know anything about it. I don't like being passionate about things I buy, I think that leads to bad decisions. I don't like that I'm starting to think like a fan boy.

I really hope the Slate ships, preferably reasonably close to their target timeline. I hope it's a good, basic truck. I hope they sell as many as they can manufacture and don't jack up the price if it is successful. I hope people stop and ask me who makes that cool little truck I'm driving. I hope Slate doesn't break my heart.

 

[Traveler72]

Hey y'all - Mark here from Astor, FL. A very tiny town that loves their gas vehicles. I finally said what the heck and plunked down my $50 - so excited! I have no illusions that I'm going to be able to get everything in my build (see my avatar) - but hopefully I'll get close! Good luck to y'all.

 

[Traveler72]

So I am assuming $29,000 once you include destination. Still a good value and I would hope once production starts that a dual motor set up comes - looking at other companies going from one to two motors is not that expensive (c. $2000) but would increase utility and performance.
Impressed with what I have seen so far. Currently have a Rivian and am looking at a Slate for my daughter.

That's what I'm hoping as well, to become a proper AWD! Tow kit option too...

 

[mikenac]

Hey everyone. I am Michael from TN. Just got my preorder in and just curious where everyone saw the option to select standard or extended range? It is not showing up on my configuration.
Thanks!

 

[tubes]

Hey everyone. I am Michael from TN. Just got my preorder in and just curious where everyone saw the option to select standard or extended range? It is not showing up on my configuration.
Thanks!

There is only one option right now. And it looks like they are going to stick with that for quite a while. The battery range is somewhere in between the previous two options.

 

[mikenac]

There is only one option right now. And it looks like they are going to stick with that for quite a while. The battery range is somewhere in between the previous two options.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Mr. Vacuum]

South Florida
Usually join forums for the speedy side of things but this is the first time i joined for a work vehicle. Thats right, this will be used to drive to peoples homes and fix their shit. using a transit connect now. at first i was worried about how everything is going to Store into the Slate, but now i think i got stuff figured out. Though they have ladder racks as an option, but its not really explained how my ladder is going to stay on the rack... bungie cords?
I've been excited about his truck since it was first announced. My first car was a '98 regular cab dodge ram, followed by a regular cab Dakota R/T. Since then ive always had a soft spot for regular cabs but the world seems to hate them.
My delivery is just the broad "2027" so hoping its delivered before july.

 

[d.h.]

New here to the forum, but put down my $50.00 in April of 2025. Yesterday sent the other $250.00 to pre order. I really hope this little truck works out. It is pretty much my dream pickup, simple ,small and full electric. As far as pickups, my 1st was a 63 Ford followed by a 66 Ford, 87, 92, and 98 rangers, then 2006, and 2007 f150s. (I'm thinking I'm partial to fords. )Fords lightning seemed like a good idea to me , but I think slates de deon ( I can't pronounce it either)rear axle is a better choice than the IRS in the Ford. I have no idea what the new small Ford EV has, but it's got too many doors anyway. ( I don't have enough friends to need all them doors, probably because I ramble on). I like everything I've seen about the slate, and hopefully will get my hands on one the 1dt quarter of 2027.

 

[latetothebox]

👋 from NJ - reserved 5/17/2025, preordered 6/24/2026. What interested me from the beginning is that Slate is privacy-friendly, repair-friendly, and only includes the necessary, functional features of an automobile.

 

[skendallj]

I've always loved cars and driving, but I've never owned an EV. I'm definitely a Luddite when it comes to my preferences in vehicle tech--I hate large "infotainment" screens and I really miss the good old days of knobs and buttons. Probably as a result of that, I haven't purchased a new vehicle in over 10 years. The stripped-down simplicity of the Slate caught my eye and I put my reserve deposit down in early May 2025. I've always hated dealerships so the direct sales format is also quite appealing. I'm also a big fan of all the customization options, which I will probably gradually ease myself into over time. I have a feeling it'll become a bit of an addiction.

 

[DaytonFlyers]

Hello from Dayton, Ohio! I had no knowledge of Slate until the WSJ article from last week. Lo & Behold I placed the $300 "reservation" a few days ago.

My only experience with EV's is my 21' Model S. My intention for the Slate is a commuter for my wife that doubles as a utility for those suburban Home Depot / Lowes trips 🤣

 

[moose2s]

Hello from Massachusetts. I didn't know about Slate until a few days ago. I caught something on TV on the news or in an ad (I don't remember which) that mentioned a truck coming out with roll up windows. I was hooked! I went to the Slate website and looked at all the info, made a few trucks, looked at videos, read this forum for hours at a time and yesterday finally reserved a truck. I like the roll up windows, the size of the truck, the price, that I can choose how to configure it both now and later, all the open source info that is and supposedly will be available, and the approximate distance it can go on a single charge.