Slate has made a fundamental change to the specifications of its upcoming electric truck, abandoning previous plans to use nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries in favor of a single battery pack relying on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology. The new shift aims to enhance cost efficiency and the operational range of the truck.
In details of the technical change, the company was planning upon the initial unveiling of the truck in April 2025 to adopt a 52.7 kWh battery produced by SK On with an estimated range of 150 miles, while providing a higher option with an 84.3 kWh capacity and a range of about 240 miles. However, the company replaced these plans by adopting a 65 kWh LFP battery pack manufactured by Gotion in the state of Illinois, which raises the estimated range to 205 miles while maintaining the announced starting price of $24,950 plus a $1,450 destination fee.
Why did Slate change its battery strategy?
The shift came as a result of several regulatory and economic factors; the company was initially seeking to qualify its truck for the federal clean vehicle tax credit, which required meeting strict conditions regarding the origin of components and critical minerals, making American-made NMC cells a suitable choice. However, with the expiration of the tax credit for vehicles purchased after September 2025, that urgent design necessity disappeared.
In addition, Gotion provided the advantage of manufacturing proximity at its plant in Manteno, Illinois, at a distance of only about 90 miles from Slate's factory in Warsaw, Indiana, compared to the previous batteries that were supplied from Georgia at a distance of over 700 miles, which contributes to lowering logistics costs.
What changes practically for users?
The transition to LFP technology led to some engineering trade-offs, despite its advantages in reducing costs and better withstanding frequent charging up to 100%:
- Range and performance: The wider range version of 240 miles was canceled since the new 65 kWh LFP pack fully occupies the available space under the truck. Horsepower also dropped from 201 hp to 181 hp due to the lower voltage system, while maintaining an acceleration time from zero to 60 miles per hour in about 8 seconds.
- Spatial design: The new prismatic cells use an arrangement that stacks the batteries directly inside the power pack without separate modules, which improves the utilization of the available space under the chassis, alongside improvements in aerodynamics and thermal management.
- Warranty: The company offers a comprehensive warranty for the battery and powertrain for 10 years or 110,000 miles.
The company clarified that the range figure of 205 miles remains an estimate based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test cycle and not an officially certified rating as of yet.