How Trump Helped China Make America’s Cheapest EV
Michigan-based automaker Slate is launching a $25,000 electric truck that utilizes lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The article explores how US trade policies and historical battery chemistry trends have inadvertently made Chinese-perfected LFP technology essential for affordable American EVs.
Why it matters
It illustrates the complex intersection of protectionist trade policy, supply chain dependencies, and the economic necessity of specific battery chemistries in the EV market.
That makes America’s newest and cheapest electric truck a welcome addition to the market—and an odd duck. Officially unveiled last week, the small, modular offering from Michigan-based automaking upstart Slate costs just below $25,000 for its base model, and the base model doesn’t get you much. You’ll have to pay more for everything, from powered windows to speakers.
The article provides a nuanced look at how policy and market forces interact without taking a political stance.
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