Slate Motors: Revolutionizing the Automotive Industry with Simplicity and Customization
In an era where car manufacturers have long pursued efficiency through platform sharing, a new player, Slate Motors, is making waves by challenging the status quo. With decades of experience under their belts, giants like Volkswagen have mastered the art of creating diverse vehicles from a singular set of components, maximizing profits with minimal upfront costs. Yet, Slate Motors is venturing beyond this by introducing a vehicle concept that promises unprecedented flexibility after purchase.
Platform sharing has been a reliable strategy for producing multiple car models economically, but Slate Motors envisions a future where vehicles are not only built from shared components but can be transformed post-purchase. This concept, often explored in prototypes like the 1994 Mercedes Vario, has not yet been commercialized successfully—until now, potentially.
Enter Slate Motors, an innovative American startup backed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, which recently unveiled its first offering: a compact, two-door, two-seat pickup, aptly named the Truck. This vehicle defies modern automotive conventions by forgoing electric windows and standard touchscreens, offering a refreshingly straightforward approach.
The Truck distinguishes itself with its simplicity and affordability, aiming for a sub-$20,000 price point after incentives. Despite its budget-friendly positioning, the Truck employs advanced lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries, offering users a choice between 52.7kWh and 84.3kWh capacities. These batteries provide ranges between 240km and 390km, and support fast charging from 20% to full in just 30 minutes at 120kW.
Powered by a 150kW electric motor delivering 204 horsepower, the Truck can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 8.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 150km/h. This design choice aligns with Slate’s mission to offer a practical and efficient vehicle in a market saturated with oversized trucks.
Notably, the Slate Truck lacks a conventional infotainment system, instead opting for a mobile phone clamp to serve as the entertainment hub, reminiscent of Dacia’s no-frills approach. The vehicle’s exterior design, characterized by its upright lines and compact dimensions, offers extensive customization options through bolt-in kits. These kits, available through Slate’s dealer network, allow owners to transform their vehicle into different body styles, including an SUV or an open-top four-seater.
The Truck’s practicality extends to its 635kg payload capacity and the inclusion of a front trunk, or “frunk,” for additional storage. At the helm of Slate Motors is CEO Chris Barman, a former Fiat-Chrysler executive, who emphasizes Slate’s mission to redefine affordability and empower customers. “The definition of what’s affordable is broken. Slate exists to put the power back in the hands of customers who have been ignored by the auto industry,” Barman states.
As Slate Motors embarks on its journey to disrupt the automotive landscape, the company faces significant challenges, including scaling production, establishing a dealer network, and convincing American consumers to embrace a more compact, versatile vehicle. The path ahead is uncharted, but Slate’s innovation could very well herald a new era in automotive design.
Original Story at www.irishtimes.com