MIT Technology Review is reporting that electric vehicle sales account for less than 10% of new vehicle sales in the U.S., with numbers declining, despite the transportation sector being the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The publication said Slate Auto is introducing a new electric truck designed to challenge conventional market expectations by focusing on simplicity and affordability.

Slate Auto's new truck is a tiny, two-door pickup, shorter than a Honda Civic, with a base model priced under $25,000. It features hand-crank windows and a small 65-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery, offering a top range of 205 miles. This contrasts sharply with other EVs, such as the basic Tesla Model 3, which exceeds 320 miles. By foregoing luxury features and extended range, Slate aims to make EVs more accessible, especially as the average new vehicle in the U.S. costs around $50,000.

The publication noted that the previous attempt to electrify the U.S. automotive market, the Ford F-150 Lightning, was discontinued in December 2025, just four years after its 2021 announcement. It said the Lightning faced price increases, rising from approximately $40,000 to over $54,000, partly due to its large battery needed for a nearly 300-mile range. The second Trump administration also slashed tax credits and support for EVs.

MIT Technology Review highlighted that the obsession with long range is largely unwarranted, as the average American driver travels under 35 miles daily, and nearly 90% of trips are 20 miles or less. It said surveys of EV drivers show similar trends, with most using less than 20% of their vehicle's range daily. With roughly half the country struggling with basic necessities and 95% believing in an affordability crisis, an inexpensive EV that eliminates gas station visits could be appealing.

Affordable, shorter-range EVs have found success globally, with China having over 40 million EVs and plug-in hybrids on the road, where new EVs averaged 247 miles of range in 2025, compared to 329 miles in the U.S. Slate is set to begin deliveries of preorders in late 2026, with a factory capacity of 100,000 vehicles in the first year. Investors, including Jeff Bezos, have committed nearly $1.4 billion to the company. Ford is also reportedly developing its own small electric truck, expected to debut in 2027 at around $30,000.

Full Article: Is Slate Auto’s new electric truck the EV Americans need?