Slate Pickup Switches to LFP, Projects 205 Miles
Buyers weighing Slate's base electric truck should compare the new 205-mile estimate and reduced 181 horsepower against their own driving needs.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Would you consider buying an affordable electric pickup with around 205 miles of range?
Slate has dropped its planned nickel-manganese-cobalt battery options for its electric pickup and will use a single lithium iron phosphate pack from Gotion, a 65 kWh unit made in Manteno, Illinois. The change projects range of 205 miles while keeping a $24,950 starting price plus a $1,450 destination fee, though the range figure is an estimate rather than a finalized EPA rating.
Why it matters
The original battery plan was built to qualify for the federal clean-vehicle tax credit, which carried battery sourcing requirements, but that credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. Sourcing the LFP pack from Illinois, about 90 miles from Slate's Warsaw, Indiana factory, cuts logistics costs and keeps the sticker price down for buyers who no longer get the credit.
The new base truck carries a 65 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack projected at 205 miles, replacing the 52.7 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt pack once estimated at 150 miles. Output drops from 201 to 181 horsepower, while the battery and power train warranty covers 10 years or 110,000 miles.
The players
Slate Auto
An electric pickup startup building its truck at a factory in Warsaw, Indiana, and changing its battery plan to keep the starting price low.
Gotion
A battery maker supplying the new lithium iron phosphate pack from its plant in Manteno, Illinois.
SK On
A South Korean battery company whose nickel-manganese-cobalt modules were in Slate's original base-model plan.
Chris Barman
Slate's chief executive, who described the LFP switch and pricing goals to InsideEVs.
The details
Slate's new prismatic cells are box-shaped and stack directly into the battery pack, unlike the original modular SK On setup that was planned for the truck. The 65 kWh pack uses the space under the truck, and aerodynamic and thermal improvements are credited with supporting the projected range. The lower-voltage LFP system is the reason horsepower falls to 181, and the originally planned 240-mile extended-range version has been removed from the lineup.
Timeline
April 2025: Slate unveiled the stripped-back electric pickup with its original NMC battery plans.
June 2025: Detroit Free Press first reported the switch to LFP in an interview.
September 30, 2025: The federal clean-vehicle tax credit ended for vehicles acquired after this date.
2026: Slate CEO Chris Barman told InsideEVs about the LFP switch and pricing goals.
The Home Front
Slate's pivot reflects how the expiration of the federal clean-vehicle tax credit on September 30, 2025 is reshaping EV pricing decisions for lower-cost trucks. The move to a domestically produced LFP pack illustrates how automakers are adjusting battery chemistry to hold price points once that federal incentive is gone.
If you are shopping for an electric pickup, compare the projected 205-mile range against your own daily driving and home charging setup before assuming it matches the original 150-mile plan. Because the federal credit no longer applies to vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, budget for the full $24,950 starting price plus the $1,450 destination fee.
The takeaway
The battery switch shows that without the federal tax credit, EV makers are reworking chemistry and sourcing to protect starting prices, so buyers should weigh the range and warranty terms directly. Keep the 10-year or 110,000-mile battery and power train warranty documentation on file for any truck you purchase.
Further reading
For broader context on how battery chemistry shapes EV range and cost, explore our Electric Vehicles coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Engadget.
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Would you consider buying an affordable electric pickup with around 205 miles of range?
