Will the bigger battery option reduce towing and payload capacity?

[Rich]

I know that choosing a larger battery option in an EV will increase its weight. So for EV pickups this can be an issue in that it will reduce the towing and payload capacity of the vehicle, if the suspension is left at base standard. Does anyone, here or at Slate, have an answer to this? I need to decide which battery size I want to include in my order. Thanks.

 

[AZFox]

It will reduce payload capacity.

What they're calling "payload capacity" is really load capacity.

Load Capacity = GVWR - Curb Weight

Anything that adds non-load weight reduces load capacity, including what's in the frunk or the cab (e.g. driver and passenger).

 

[ScooterAsheville]

OP, I'm sure when order books open, the towing and payload capacities will be spelled out by battery configuration. This is standard practice in the industry. And you'll have tons of time. Most OEMs open the order books months before first delivery.

 

[sodamo]

OP, I'm sure when order books open, the towing and payload capacities will be spelled out by battery configuration. This is standard practice in the industry. And you'll have tons of time. Most OEMs open the order books months before first delivery.

LOL, have to replace Res - Order anxiety with Order - Delivery anxierty.

 

[AZFox]

Here are some helpful published numbers, including projected figures from Slate, you can crunch to arrive at Payload Capacity.

Load Capacity	1433 pounds
Extended Option	302 pounds
SUV Kit	310 pounds
Spare Tire and Carrier	~100 pounds?
Average American Adult Male	200 pounds

 

[bloo]

Good to know my 135-pound frame will improve cargo capacity.

My current vehicle isn't rated for towing - prolly coz the wimpy CVT tranny. A small truck with even a minimal towing capacity would be an upgrade. Yet the lame vid I just watched gives me little confidence in the Slate's abilities.

 

[Rich]

I wonder if Slate will offer any add-on options to increase the payload capacity? Back in the day, I remember adding "overload springs" paired with heavy duty shocks to a pickup once

 

[AZFox]

I wonder if Slate will offer any add-on options to increase the payload capacity? Back in the day, I remember adding "overload springs" paired with heavy duty shocks to a pickup once

I think this vehicle isn't intended to be suspension-upgraded to handle heavier-duty use. It was designed to be inexpensive, and that capability would cost extra.

The cooling system and brakes, in particular, will likely lack the headroom needed for heavier loads, even if the suspension were upgraded.

 

[cadblu]

OP, I'm sure when order books open, the towing and payload capacities will be spelled out by battery configuration. This is standard practice in the industry. And you'll have tons of time. Most OEMs open the order books months before first delivery.

Your post just reminded me that one of my vehicles has this little yellow label on the door jamb.

NHTSA regulations require that: if an OEM or dealer adds accessories that reduce payload, the buyer must be notified.

So you should expect to see this sticker on your Slate with the extended range battery. I wonder if a similar sticker will be included with the SUV kits, for the owner to install.

 

[GaRailroader]

The below is my opinion and not based on any actual knowledge or information that has been shared by Slate.

I think the curb weight of the vehicle with standard battery and extended battery will be comparable so there will be no difference in towing or payload. I am expecting them to announce in June that the base battery will be LFP and the extended range pack will be NMC. Since the NMC is more energy dense, the lower capacity LFP will be roughly the same weight as the higher capacity NMC. Since the NMC is a more expensive chemistry the price of the NMC will be around $5k extra. I believe we previously collectively thought that the extended battery would cost an extra $3-$4k.

 

[NowThatsDamp]

How is that possible?​

​

A 1995 Toyota Pickup had a 115hp 2.2L i4 engine, rear drum brakes, and was even smaller than the slate. It came with a 3500lb towing rating. 3.5x the Slate.​

​

Of all the Slate figures, including the mediocre payload capacity, the 1000lb towing rating is the one that stands out to me as deal-breakingly bad. It means you basically cannot tow anything with this pickup truck, as even light duty 4x8 utility trailers come with curb weights in the 500-600lb range. It is not just low. It is inexplicably useless. I'm curious why it doesn't receive more criticism.​

​

For more context, here is a list of other vehicles that can tow as much or more than the slate:​

2005 Honda CRV (1.5x)​

1997 Honda Accord (1.0x)​

2008 Ford Ranger i4 (2.0x, base model, larger engine models can tow up to 6,000)​

1996 Mazda MPV minivan (2.6x)​

2003 Suzuki Viatra 2 door (1.0x)​

​

The Slate has a hevier frame, heavier suspension, more power, and more robust braking systems than evey car on that list. Most of then by a large margin.​

​

It leads me to believe that that 1000lb towing rating is not real. As in:​

- The number is not finalized, or​

- They are saving money but not going through the epense of certifing it for something higher, even if it is within the actual capabilities of the truck, or​

- The 1000lb rating is actualy just the limit of the included bumper hitch, not the truck itself.​

​

I'll be curious to find out more about this as time goes on.​

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I'll be curious to find out more about this as time goes on.

Or, you can read up now, straight from Slate:

Slate | Understanding EV towing

HOW MUCH CAN A SLATE HAUL?
The Slate truck is rear-wheel drive and projected to have around a 1,400-lb payload and 1,000-lb towing capacity. But with EVs, towing isn’t just about numbers on a spec sheet — it’s about how electric power delivery, battery management, and vehicle architecture change the experience compared to traditional gas trucks.

TOWING: EV VS. GAS ENGINE
Gas trucks rely on combustion engines that hit peak power higher in the RPM range. EVs are different — they deliver max torque instantly. That means pulling a trailer with Slate will feel stronger off the line than a similar-spec gas-powered vehicle, even if the tow rating is modest.

But EV towing has a few unique considerations:

1. BATTERY SIZE AND RANGE

Towing pulls more energy from the battery — just like it burns more fuel in a gas truck. Depending on trailer weight, shape, and speed, range can decrease because the vehicle is pushing more drag and weight.

• Heavier loads = more energy consumption
• High speeds increase aerodynamic drag
• Hills and elevation changes draw more power

The Slate is designed for real-world use cases and daily utility, so its towing capacity is tuned around preserving range and ensuring predictable performance.

2. MOTOR AND DRIVETRAIN
Because the Slate is rear-wheel drive, its tow rating is optimized around traction, stability, and thermal limits. EV motors generate torque instantly, which is great for pulling — but sustained towing creates heat, and EVs need to protect motors, inverters, and battery systems from overload.

3. REGENERATIVE BRAKING
One of the biggest advantages of EV towing is regen braking. With a load behind you:

• The motor can recapture more energy going downhill
• Braking distances can feel more controlled
• You reduce wear on physical brakes

But regen has limits at higher speeds or with very heavy loads, which is why total tow capacity is carefully balanced.

4. WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND HITCH DYNAMICS
EVs carry more weight low in the chassis thanks to the battery pack. That helps stability, but tongue weight, trailer sway, and hitch setup still matter just like in any gas truck.

SO…WHAT CAN SLATE REALLY HANDLE?

For small trailers, motorcycles, yard equipment, kayaks, camping setups, and weekend utility jobs — the Slate truck's projected 1,000-lb tow rating and 1,400-lb payload should be plenty. And the instant torque makes low-speed hauling (like backing a trailer into a tight spot) easier than with a gas engine. A Slate isn’t meant to replace a full-size tow rig, though. It’s built for everyday practicality, not heavy-duty hauling.

Who will be the first to try a 5th wheel towing setup?

 

[sodamo]

. I'm curious why it doesn't receive more criticism.​

​

don’t look now, but if you believe this, you must be new here.

 

[bloo]

Pretty sure towing capacity is more about battery range than structural ability or even braking capacity. Slate is avoiding a F-150 Lightning fiasco by not marketing this truck for something it isn't good at.

 

[Rich]

I was wondering the same thing. My Model Y has a 3500 lb towing capacity with the optional towing package. I would think a "truck" would at least match that.