Every Slate EV DIY Detail We’re Drooling Over. And the Options That Are Limitless!

The Slate electric truck is brilliant for its custom design capabilities; its low starting price is simply a bonus

Slate EV nay-sayers question how successful a truck priced under $30,000—to start, less than $25,000—will fare, given the failure of other cars and trucks priced similarly.

And they totally miss the point.

The magic, and appeal, of the Slate truck (and SUV) isn’t that fact that it’s cheap. It’s that it can be customized however owners would like. That it starts at an affordable place makes this feasible, as does its 200 mile range, 10 year warranty and 181 HP rear motor that makes us think this will be a fun truck (or SUV) to drive.

This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.

So, Let’s Get Designing!

This is the real point of the Slate Truck and SUV: Customize it for your style and life. You can buy kits to wrap the truck, decals and 3D printing plans to make whatever you’d like to add to your truck or SUV. You can have it wrapped for you and decals applied by a local shop—a shop of your choice or the Slate-authorized shop—or you can do it all yourself.

That’s intrinsic in the Slate design, which uses flat panels and crisp lines so DIYers an do their own wrapping. I designed this on Slate’s site, which anyone can do now. And now with partners like Crayola, there are even more expansive palettes to choose from!

Watch: We Chatted with Slate CEO Chris Barman and Took a Ride in the Slate Truck!

It Starts with a Color Wrap

Underpinning the Slate design is a color wrap. The truck only comes in Slate gray, so unless you really love that true metal color, you’ll need to pick a wrap color, which starts at $499.

Read: Slate Truly Delivered On Its Sub-$25K EV Promise. There’s One Fine-Print Detail That May Stall Excitement

Add a Happy Face to the Front or Rear

Here’s where Slate gets fun: There are multiple front facia and rear tail light options, and of course, these are just suggestions; you can 3D print your own if you’d like.

Read: Wrapping Your Car Makes For A Custom Look, And You Can Do It Yourself!

Add Happy Splashes, Slashes and Upholstery Dashes

This is my favorite part: the interior. Slate showed these seat designs which I found to be pretty boring. I’d go for a cream box-quilting with contrast piping, perhaps in blue to match my exterior or camel, since that does with anything and always looks good with white. These can be coordinated and accented by exterior decals on the lower rocker panels, shoulder and hood, roof and tail gate decals, which is really where it all comes together.

Read: The Best Car Interiors for Families Will Stand Up To the Miles and Messes—And Still Pamper You

Don’t Forget the Wheels

While the monoblock wheels shown here, which are an option, are badass, customizing your wheels with printed panels or color decals brings them deeper into your design.

The Dash and Doors Are Customizable, Too

The dashboard in the Slate EV is also a blank slate. While it doesn’t come with screens, a radio or other typical components, those can be added. Similarly, you can customize the door panels, interior handle and other areas so it fits your overall design.

Make it Fit Your Lifestyle

Not everyone wants a pick up truck. So, you can order an SUV or a fastback, add a rear seat and of course, a Bimini top, removable panels and removable windows are options. The cargo area is sizable and easily fits a lot of gear that, we think, should be appropriately dressed up, too.

Or, Make It Fit the Season

While DIY wrapping a car is a big commitment, those who love it for the creativity will inspire the rest of us. Here, I asked Canva to dress up the Slate truck in an ugly Christmas sweater. Talk about authentic!

Add Your Must-Have Adventure Gear

If a rough-and-ready slate is what you need, you can do that too: add all-terrain tires, skid plates, a lift kit and a roof-top tent. Molle panels and gear are a natural for the roof rails and cargo area. Just keep in mind that this is not an off-roader and so far, is a single-motor rear wheel drive truck, though that may change, too.

And Tuck Things Away When You Need To

I’d Go For the Fastback Version

Starting at $31,950, I really like the shape and scale of this truck. I’d dress it up for beachy summer driving and probably leave it that way all year.

A Slate Modification is, in Theory, Less Pricey Than Other Alternatives

Restoring or modifying a Ford Bronco can run in the 6-digit range, and that’s before buying the actual Bronco. I can see this modification ending up in the $40K-$50K range, including the purchase of the Slate ($32K), the base wrap ($500), decals ($1,000), front and rear headlights and tail lights ($450), roof rack ($500) and spare tire kit ($500). Add a front end modification, fancier wheels and custom seats and assume you have help doing the work and it can still come in under the average price of a new car of $52,000.

Making the Slate Truck Your Own Is the Point

You can even add your own little charms to the dashboard of the Slate EV. These “Slatelets” can be purchased or printed and pop onto the dash, sort of like jewelry or accessories for your car. There are also colorful dial rims that can be added; I’d probably go with something glittery.

It frankly surprises me that so many are pushing back against this truck; how many car enthusiasts scour barnyards and Facebook Marketplace for cheap cars for the sole purpose of modifying them? Answer: A LOT. But one thing is clear: The car is now a canvass for the creative and DIY is encouraged. The possibilities are limitless, and for those who are creatively driven, the Slate EV may be their perfect next car.