Young American EV brand Slate hit the public with not one, but two, press announcements this morning. First, Slate confirmed its flagship vehicle will utilize the North American Charging Standard (NACS), enabling access to the Tesla Supercharger network. Speaking of networks, the company has also secured a national service partner for its vehicles after they reach customers.
Ever since Slate popped up in the internet ether last spring, we’ve been excited to report any and all updates on the American EV startup. As you may recall, Slate approach to EVs revolves around “Blank Slate” design.
Its flagship product is a bare-bones all-electric pickup, with the option for customers to add over 100 accessories, as well as a five-seat SUV conversion kit. In late August, Slate opened the doors of its future home to EV production – repurposing a paper plant in Warsaw, Indiana.
It is there that Slate targets a start of vehicle production in Q4 2026, ahead of initial customer deliveries. While that milestone still remains over a year away, Slate has shared some tidbits that those would-be customers can look forward to, including confirmation of the NACS charging port.
Slate confirms Tesla Supercharging with NACS
Slate’s comms team issued two separate press releases this morning, confirming that its flagship model will offer access to Tesla’s Supercharger network via the NACS port, which has become the widely accepted standard among nearly all automakers.
What’s even more exciting is that Slate’s news extends beyond NACS-enabled Tesla charging, as it has secured an OEM partnership with RepairPal, an online search tool that helps you find certified service and repair centers near you. If it wasn’t clear enough when Slate debuted, promising an ultra-affordable “no frills” electric pickup, the American startup is trying to disrupt the EV industry.
Top comment by MJE
It is great seeing an American start up once again leading the way on innovation. In this case the innovation isn’t so much technology but rather the absence of it. I don’t know the economics of the car industry well enough to have a view on if it will succeed, but I have long felt thar traditional auto manufacturers have foisted on us lots of gadgetry that really doesn’t help the core function for many of a vehicle ie to get one from point A to point B.
The cars I grew up with had no electrically operated: mirrors, seats, windows, fuel releases, boots, doors, entertainment system, navigation system, etc. and were all the better for the simplicity. If removing all these things reduces the cost both initial and maintenance significantly then Slate could be showing the world a new class of vehicle.
Its partnership with RepairPal is another example of this strategy, offering future owners the freedom to have their Slate EV serviced or customized wherever they’d like, as long as it’s RepairPal certified. Per the release:
DIY and open source are ingrained in Slate’s DNA. Slate believes that customers deserve the power to customize, accessorize, and repair their own vehicles, backed by the support of RepairPal’s network of highly skilled service technicians.
Slate said that RepairPal-certified technicians will be trained in accessory installation, in case you’re not a DIYer, and select shops will be trained in Slate-specific procedures, enabling them to perform high-voltage service. Slate’s chief commercial officer, Jeremy Snyder, elaborated:
Slate’s OEM partnership with RepairPal’s nationwide network of service centers will give Slate customers peace of mind, while empowering independent service shops to provide accessorization and service
Last May, a representative for Slate shared that the company had already secured over 100,000 reservations, which required a $50 refundable deposit. A source familiar with the matter wouldn’t give Electrek a concrete reservation tally, but said it is now “well over 100,000.”
Design your own Slate EV here!
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