A Wisconsin family is suing Tesla over a fiery crash that left five people dead in suburban Madison last year.

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Slate Auto is already treading water after its launch earlier this year. The removal of tax incentives makes its debut offering far less financially appealing than it would’ve otherwise been., and that’s a pretty big deal for a model that is build around it’s affordable pricing.

While it can’t control subsidies, the EV startup, backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, can control how easy it is to own one of its vehicles. To that end, it’s just announced that it’ll give customers access to the Tesla Supercharger network and some 4,000 service locations on day one.

More: This Is Who’s Actually Reserving Slate’s New EV

Like many other EV companies, Slate will sell directly to consumers. Without dealers, the brand would need to build and staff its own service locations. Now, a deal with RepairPal allows it to offer a network of roughly 4,000 independent repair shops across the USA for maintenance and repairs as needed.

According to Slate, these independent shops will handle everything from routine maintenance to accessory installations and even high-voltage repairs. Each one will get Slate-specific training, too.

Also: Would You Really Pay $28K For A Crank Window EV With No Speakers?

In addition, the company is launching its long-promised Slate University, an online and app-based hub for tutorials, repair videos, and owner education. The platform will cater to both customers and service technicians.

Slate expects it to offer an evolving library of how-to guides and even some certification courses. “We want owners to feel confident before they even arrive at a service appointment,” CEO Chris Barman told Newsweek.

Supercharging the Experience

Charging is another area where Slate doesn’t want to over complicate things. Its product offerings will use the North American Charging Standard (NACS), giving drivers direct access to Tesla’s Supercharger network that consists of over 25,000 fast chargers nationwide and is widely regarded as the most reliable.

Essentially, Slate owners should have no issue going coast to coast so long as they’re okay with frequent stops due to the truck’s modest maximum range of 240 miles.

Also: Slate May Be About To Price Itself Out Of The EV Market

Production is set to begin late next year in Warsaw, Indiana, and Slate says that it already has over 100,000 reservations.

While we wait to see how many of those will actually convert to sales, it’s nice to see a new car company thinking ahead about the ownership experience. 

Sources: Slate, Newsweek

The big selling point for Slate Auto’s electric pickup truck was always going to be its price, promising to start at under $20,000 in the United States. However, the removal of the federal EV tax credit has forced Slate to jack up the truck’s estimated starting price, and it may also be shockingly expensive to lease, considering how few features you get.

While the company has yet to confirm a final price for the model, Cars Direct speculates that it could cost upwards of $500 per month. The outlet has come to this conclusion by estimating a $27,500 price tag, which, over a typical 36-month lease with no money down, could work out to be $468.

Read: Slate’s Affordable Electric Truck Just Got A Whole Lot More Expensive

Add in the first month’s payment and an estimated acquisition fee of $700, and this will effectively jump to near $500 per month, before taxes and fees. Had the EV tax credit still been around, the equivalent price would drop to $341 a month, a hefty difference of $127.

However, it’s worth noting that actual lease prices for the truck may be different. The publication based its estimate on a money factor of 0.00292 or 7 percent APR and assumes a residual value of 55 percent.

This or a Ford Maverick?

If Slate Auto wants the back-to-basics EV to be successful, it’ll have to convince many shoppers to buy it instead of a Ford Maverick. It’s currently possible to lease a 2025 Maverick XLT AWD with the EcoBoost engine for as little as $289 per month over 36 months with $3,709 due at signing.

Admittedly, leasing a hybrid version of the Maverick is more expensive. Depending on location, the hybrid Mavericks generally start at around the $430 per month mark, and that usually doesn’t account for a hefty $3,000+ payment due at signing, bringing effective monthly payments to over $500.

Sources: CarsDirect

Arkansas hospital increases energy efficiency by diagnosing cooling tower issues and treating its entire mechanical system.Healthcare facilities require a substantial amount of energy to operate. In fact, the average hospital consumes approximately 250% more energy than a comparably sized commercial building, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. As hospitals face increasing financial pressure to …

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Saildrone, the global leader in maritime autonomy, today announced it is establishing a European subsidiary in Denmark, to address the urgent need for maritime domain awareness in European waters. Announced at the Maritime Industry Symposium at the Danish Embassy in Washington, DC, Saildrone Denmark will be a European entity, based in Copenhagen, Denmark. This strategic …

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New Poll: American Voters Support Federal Investments in Electric Vehicles Broad, Bipartisan Support for EV Investments and Incentives that Lower Costs, Expand Access, and Help the U.S. Beat China in the Race for Auto Manufacturing WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new bipartisan national poll conducted by Meeting Street Insights and Hart Research finds broad public support …

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Bergen, Norway February 17th, 2025 — Since going into service in 2015, the MF Ampere has now sailed an astonishing distance equivalent to 17 times around the equator on batteries alone, solidifying its place as a groundbreaking achievement in sustainable maritime transport. A decade on and the Ampere continues to showcase the transformative potential of electric …

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