Slate’s $28K electric truck is still in development, while Ford’s Maverick is already available. The Maverick offers better range, towing capacity, and efficiency than Slate’s electric vehicle. Production of the Slate electric truck is planned to begin by the end of 2026. Clearly, Slate is drawing attention right now. Their new truck, which can be converted into an SUV, looks promising as it eliminates excess, focusing on creating an affordable, practical vehicle.
Plus, it has an electric drivetrain, which helps reduce operating costs. It all sounds good, doesn’t it? Theoretically, it’s an attractive proposition, but here’s the problem: what Slate is offering for the future (plus much more) is already available today in the form of the Ford Maverick XL. **Price: Promises vs. Reality**
Let’s start with its biggest advantage, the one that initially made the internet go wild: the price.
The recently unveiled Slate truck “promises” a starting price of “around $28,000,” but that’s far from set in stone. Assuming nothing changes—and that’s a huge assumption—factoring in the $7,500 federal tax credit, the base model’s price could theoretically drop to around $20,500. However, these are just hypothetical calculations. Since the Trump administration has repeatedly floated the idea of ending these credits, no one knows what will happen by the end of 2026, when it’s supposedly set to hit the market. **More:**
On the other hand, as you’re reading this, you can walk into any Ford dealership and drive off in a 2024 Maverick XL for $23,920.
That’s for the model equipped with a 250-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbo engine. If you’re looking at the 2025 model year, prices start at $26,995 for the 191-horsepower hybrid FWD model and $27,570 for the 250-horsepower AWD EcoBoost model. And that’s before additional deals or possible incentives, plus, of course, the delivery fee. **Range and Efficiency**
Now, let’s talk about efficiency and range. The Slate truck “promises” a range of 150 miles in the base version, powered by a 52.7 kWh battery.
There’s no doubt that the optional 84.3 kWh battery, offering up to 240 miles of range, looks more appealing, but it will cost you more. According to the Detroit-based company, charging it will take between 4 and 8 hours. For the sake of comparing base models, we focused on the 2024 Maverick XL with the 2.0-liter turbo engine, which is the most affordable option you can buy right now. This base configuration gets 26 miles per gallon, according to the EPA. Meanwhile, the 191-horsepower engine model can deliver up to 42 mpg combined.
And don’t forget about convenience. You can refuel the Maverick at any gas station in America in about 3 minutes. No need to wait hours for your truck to “charge,” praying that the charging station isn’t occupied or, you know, completely broken. Crunching the numbers, the EPA data for the Maverick gives you nearly 430 miles of range, while the Slate truck promises to achieve a third of that—assuming, of course, it’s not freezing outside or anything else. **Specs**
Key parameters:
– **Model:**
– *2024 Maverick XL*
– *Slate EV*
– **Wheelbase:**
– *121.1 inches*
– *108.9 inches*
– **Length:**
– *199.7 inches*
– *174.6 inches*
– **Width:**
– *77.9 inches*
– *70.6 inches*
– **Height:**
– *68.7 inches*
– *69.3 inches*
– **Bed Length:**
– *54.4 inches*
– *60.0 inches*
– **Bed Volume:**
– *33.3 cu.
ft.*
– *35.1 cu. ft.*
– **Frunk Volume:**
– *none*
– *7 cu. ft.*
– **Seats/Doors:**
– *5 / 4*
– *2 / 2*
– **Engine:**
– *2.0L Turbo*
– *Single-motor electric*
– **Drivetrain:**
– *FWD / AWD*
– *RWD*
– **Power:**
– *250 hp*
– *201 hp (150 kW)*
– **Torque:**
– *277 lb-ft*
– *—*
– **Range:**
– *429 miles*
– *150 – 240 miles*
– **Refill Time:**
– *3 minutes*
– *4-8 hours*
– **Towing Capacity:**
– *2,000 lbs*
– *1,000 lbs*
– **Payload Capacity:**
– *1,500 lbs*
– *1,400 lbs*
The Slate concept has interesting ideas, like swappable side panels and modular parts, but let’s be honest: cool features don’t always survive the reality of potholes, cargo, and subpar roads. As for payload capacity, let’s look at the specs. The Slate can tow up to 1,000 lbs and carry 1,433 lbs of cargo.
Meanwhile, the base Maverick doubles the towing capacity to 2,000 lbs and has a payload capacity of 1,500 lbs. The Slate truck has a five-foot bed, while the Maverick’s is slightly smaller at 4.5 feet. Ultimately, the Maverick is a real truck, with a real bed and a real warranty from a brand that’s been around for over a century. Compared to the Slate truck: an untested electric vehicle with startup dreams and minimal experience, though they’ve managed to go viral. They deserve credit for that.
Of course, Slate’s vision deserves some credit. They’re trying to solve a real problem: new cars are getting too expensive. Yet the Ford Maverick proves that you don’t have to sacrifice practicality or usability to hit that sweet spot. You can walk into a dealership today and drive off in a functional, fuel-efficient pickup that actually exists. You don’t have to wait for something that “might” come out someday in the future, hoping it somehow avoids the pitfalls other companies have fallen into before.
Maybe Slate will pull it off. Maybe not. But for now, the best budget EV pickup-crossover isn’t a futuristic truck—it’s the one with the Blue Oval logo, sitting at your local dealership. **contributed to this article**.