The Slate electric truck achieves a sub-$25,000 entry price by stripping out non-essential hardware like speakers, radios, and power windows.
Instead of built-in cellular connectivity, its update system downloads software via a smartphone app and transfers files through a dashboard USB port for independent installation.
Despite the lack of built-in connectivity, the vehicle can receive software updates, leveraging the driver's device.
How updates are made
Because the car doesn't have its own network connection, the process relies on the company's app installed on the mobile phone. When an update is available, the app downloads it to the device.
The driver then plugs the phone into the USB port on the vehicle's dashboard. It takes about a minute to transfer the file from the phone to the car. After that, the car completes the installation on its own, a process that takes about 45 minutes.
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The company says these updates will only be bug fixes and minor improvements, without adding any major new features. The same app is also used to display range, locate charging stations, and transfer navigation directions to popular maps.
Philosophy and honor
The base price of the electric vehicle starts at under $25.000, as the company has stripped away anything not essential for driving and safety. However, buyers can add various additional features, such as speakers, a tablet mount, an SUV conversion kit or equipment for unlocking the doors through the app. With all the add-ons, the price can exceed $45.000.
The vehicle has an estimated range of 205 miles, a maximum payload of 1.550 pounds, and a towing capacity of 2.000 pounds, while the company states that it will never sell the app's data and only collects what is necessary for diagnostics, maintenance, and status updates.
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