Bezos-backed $US20,000 electric ute attracts more than 100,000 reservations
New electric vehicle (EV) startup Slate Auto, which is backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, says it has already secured over 100,000 refundable reservations in the two weeks since it emerged from stealth mode with a $US20,000 electric ute.
Slate – note the name is an anagram of Tesla – in late April unveiled the Slate Truck, a highly configurable and customisable two-seat ute/pickup boasting a 52.7kWh battery pack with a target range of 240 kilometres (EPA).
An accessory 84.3kWh battery pack is also mentioned, which would have a target range of 385 kilometres (EPA), and of course have a higher price. Charging for the batteries using the NACS port is supposed to race to 80 per cent at 120kW in under 30 minutes.
The base price is after US incentives, and without them is priced at around $US27,000 ($A43,000).
The significance is that it promises the US-made $US25,000 EV that Tesla’s Elon Musk has promised but not yet delivered.
The base price is for a no-frills version with wind up windows, no speakers, cloth seats, no digital screens, and knobs for controls.
Upgrading these will add to the price, but it does include a relatively large “frunk” (front trunk), cargo area, and 1,400lb payload accompanies max towing of 1,000lb.
“We are truly humbled by America’s response to Slate’s brand launch and the launch of our truck,” Slate’s chief commercial officer Jeremy Snyder said in a statement to TechCrunch.
“We are excited for what the future holds.”
In addition to Jeff Bezos, Slate has reportedly secured financial support from Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners and controlling owner of the LA Dodgers.
A newly launched low cost, no frills ute launched by the Bezos-backed Slate has claimed 100,000 reservations in just two weeks.
thedriven.io