Slate Truck modular electric car can change body type

Startup Slate Auto has unveiled the Slate Truck, the first modular electric vehicle in the sub-$20,000 price range. It stands out not only for its relatively affordable cost, but also for its ease of assembly. With the help of special modules it can be turned into a pickup truck, SUV or convertible.

Instead of the usual for modern cars electric equipment here are used manual window lifters and steel disks, and there is no standard multimedia system. The driver is offered to use a smartphone or tablet.

This model is offered with two types of traction batteries: the basic version is equipped with a 57.2 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive, which allows you to travel up to 240 km on a single charge. The higher capacity version has an 84.3 kWh battery with a range of up to 386 kilometers.

The NACS connector is used for recharging and, according to the manufacturer, it takes less than half an hour to replenish energy to 80% with a peak charging capacity of 120 kW. The vehicle comes with simple 17-inch steel wheels.

The auto is capable of accelerating to 100 km/h in 8 seconds. This is achieved thanks to an electric motor with 201 horsepower and 264 Nm of torque. The speed limit is limited to 145 km/h. But for now, the mass launch of the Slate Truck remains in doubt due to the high cost of batteries.