Lets hope it looks like the image in the link Ray posted. 
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Those are based on the cab over design which is common in Europe and Asia. You get great visibility but the driver is also the first part of the crash. I never thought I wanted to run into something with one of those trucks. That said we have some pretty impressive safety requirements so if they pass I guess they must be safe.
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I agree, but it doesnât look like it has much of a box.
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They might make a Ute. There was a pretty big up roar in Australia about the discontinuation of the UteâŠ
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Apparently Slate owned by Bezos, is planning on a 20k electric truck that is generic stripped down, vehicle more like the model T where they just made one model and it is up to you to customize. It has hand crank windows. Not really complicated electronics. The only screen display is the odometer, speed and battery life. The body is plastic. possibly the bed too. I am not sure. Two battery configurations. But they consider it a blank slate. Probably a great runner/delivery vehicle, second vehicle, retired folks vehicle, etc.
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Thats pretty cool I hope they bring that to market. Its the right aproach too, I think they are over complicating modern cars and all that isnt as desirable as they think. The EV does not mean its anymore complicated than an ICE vehical. Both are reliant on controls today and are pretty equal if anything a stripped down EV like this would actually be much less complex than any modern ICE vehical with all the sensors and controls that are implimented today. The EV just has a battery management system and ESC system its actually less complicated and much simpler.
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Ya the only thing that would scare me on the slate might be the plastic body like Saturn was by GM. Not sure how that would hold up for the pickup bed. I almost wish like the 1 ton pickups you could order it without a bed and could build your own wooden bed.
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The complexity of the assembly line is not much either. One model, with the only option of different battery packs.
They have a full customization upgrade thing, they donât do at the factory. So the money isnât in the vehicles, it is in all the aftermarket products. It isnât a whole lot different concept then the massively selling gm-wuling mini-ev in china, they went berserk over those overnight, because they were cheap and you donât feel bad about customizing or painting a 5k dollar vehicle. This one is intended for that purpose.
The only possibly complaints I have are really have is I donât think it has enough legroom. Just judging from the video I watched and the guy sitting in it. And because it doesnât have the half-ass back seat in it, and it wonât be heavy, I think for insurance purposes it might come in as a 2 seater car which is a lot more expensive to insure.
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Oh by far plus the EPA will be off there backs, That cost these companies billions as they are forced to comply with regulations.
Yeah Im the guy that makes the machines that make the machines. I have build production equipment for the big three. The machine building aspect to produce the production machinering model year after model year is a whole other industry in itself. Thats not done internally there are dedicated companies that are specialized in buildng this equipment and production lines. I worked on the Dyno for the 2010 Camaro and got to see one of the hand built ones for testing the dyno. It had dual projector headlights.
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I dont think that is the intended market. This is more for like putting a bycycle in the back and not much more. I think for what it is its a pretty cool concept. But other than light cargo like that its probably not intended for anything more.
This I think is just a starting point to build off of and is a pretty smart aproach; as this I can fit a broad market especially with low price point and the customiztion aproach using after market suppliers.
Maybe later products could fill that market.
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I am thinking it would be a good delivery vehicles. Like amazonâs 2 hour delivery. b2b like auto parts from the store to a shop or just moving inventory between stores.
It is 1200 lbs Max payload, is that the one that includes passengers?
1000lb towing. 5ft bed.
20-80% charge in 30 minutes with DC fast charging. 4-8 hours via l2 charging.
It is a rear mounted motor, so I guess rear wheel drive. And it has a frunk.
It also has some electronics on it for safety so it isnât quite as bare bones as one would think.
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Might be a good fit for off grid power system charging too. Its small so low overhead to charge it. As much as I drive I could easiliy charge it daily.
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Unfortunately in the usa we donât get the work bodies you see in Asia on small trucks.
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It would almost be perfect for me too. I might have to stop and charge once in a while but I donât usually do the long drives.
Maybe a gasifier as a 3rd party range extender upgrade. 
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This is a better article on it, the MSRP is 27500, and 20k with federal tax credits.
body panels are made of a polypropylene composite to more resist denting. I havent found the bed yetâŠ
"According to the automaker, more than 100 accessories will be available to customers when deliveries start next year. Thereâs a factory lift kit, a factory lowering kit, an array of vinyl wraps to add color to the blank gray composite panels, and even an SUV kit that adds a roof panel over the bed and gives it a three-across bench as a back seat. "
âOwners can personalize their Slate truck with more than 100 accessories, available individually or bundled, at the time of purchase or as their needs change. These include bumper and fender styles, interior trim, roof racks and more. The flat-pack accessory SUV Kit, for example, turns the truck into a five-seat SUV, with a roll cage, airbags and rear seat. Owners can choose to install these extras themselves or have a partner auto shop help. Three levels of vehicle wrapping are also available for a customized exterior via vinyl wraps that is affordable while enabling inventive and easily updated looks.â
apparently, car and driver has several articles on these.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64654479/slate-ev-pickup-factory-location/
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Thats what Im thinking, gasifer/generator hybrid
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The top gear review of it said the entire bed was the same material it looks like it is in the photos. That was my only question as i am hard on a truck bed. Even with the spray in liner my chevy was dented.
I might think twice about a plastic bed and a gasification system. Seems like you could easily get into heat issues there. Also it would take the payload capacity of the vehicle with a poor trailer rating. Something like 1000lbs. Iirc. It was a while ago i looked at it.
I might just charge it at home with your favorite power source and the odd time you are out of range simply use a public charger. I am looking at it more for trips to the feed store for a small farm. Running around town. That type of stuff.
There is a longer range battery option. I forgot the two ranges.
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Nothing a sheet of diamond plate couldnt fix though . Come on Dan for every problem there is solution! lol
Me: Buys $29K EV truck; gets it home and imediatly breaks out sawsall and custom fits dimond plate bed! 
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Electric kei trucks are cheaper but not old enough to import to the usa. I think in Japan they are like $5000 something crazy cheap.
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