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Engineer and YouTuber Michael Pick converted a BMW i3 REx into a pickup by removing its rear section and adding a custom cargo bed. The Drive reports that the project cost less than $10,000, though the vehicle is a one-off build, not a production alternative to Slate’s planned truck.
Engineer and YouTuber Michael Pick has turned an auction-purchased BMW i3 REx into a compact pickup, cutting away the car’s rear section and fitting a custom cargo bed. The Drive reports that Pick finished the one-off conversion for under $10,000, presenting it as a personal, lower-cost electric-truck project while Slate’s planned pickup is still awaiting launch.
The conversion began with a used i3 bought sight unseen at auction, according to The Drive’s report. Pick removed the rear portion of the small electric hatchback and built a steel frame to join the remaining vehicle to a new open cargo area. The bed is made from plywood sealed with epoxy and coated with bedliner. The work changes the body substantially, but it does not turn the i3 into a factory-built truck.
The donor car is an i3 REx, which has a small gasoline engine serving as a range extender. That engine sits beneath the area where the rear seats would ordinarily be. The custom bed therefore had to be designed to come off so the engine can be accessed for service. Pick also sealed the seams against water and coated exposed edges of the cut carbon-fiber structure with epoxy; The Drive notes that unfinished carbon fiber is vulnerable.
Much of the i3’s original equipment and electronics was retained. The report says BMW’s systems made it more practical to preserve components than to modify the car’s software to account for removed hardware, including locks and taillights. Pick set a target of less than $10,000 for the project and came in a couple of thousand dollars below it, The Drive reports. That figure concerns this individual build; it is not a quoted price for a repeatable conversion or a production vehicle.
A One-Off Alternative to Slate
The build offers a practical example of how an existing electric car can be repurposed, but it should not be read as a direct, like-for-like alternative to a new pickup. Pick started with a used auction vehicle and undertook extensive custom fabrication. The reported cost reflects that particular project and does not establish what another builder would pay for a similar conversion, or what the truck would cost to maintain.
The comparison with Slate comes from the report’s framing: Pick wanted an inexpensive electric truck and chose to build one rather than wait for Slate’s planned model. The project may interest readers who are curious about used EVs, DIY vehicle conversions, or the potential uses of the i3’s carbon-fiber structure. It also highlights the trade-off: a low reported outlay comes with bespoke construction and questions about serviceability, safety, and long-term durability that a price figure alone cannot answer.
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Why the i3 Was a Donor
BMW introduced the i3 in 2014. The Drive describes it as an unusual small car, built around a carbon-fiber monocoque rather than the more familiar steel body structure. The model did not become a major success in North America, according to the report, but its construction and compact size made it an distinctive base for Pick’s project.
The i3 REx differs from a battery-only i3 by carrying a gasoline engine that can extend driving range. In Pick’s conversion, retaining access to that engine shaped the removable-bed design. The report also says he bought the vehicle with a cracked windshield and paid for replacement items such as a windshield and a larger-display head unit. These details help explain why the reported budget covered more than the fabricated bed alone.
““cheap electric truck””
— The Drive, reporting on Pick’s project
What the Build Cannot Establish
The supplied report does not give a detailed cost breakdown, the exact build timeline, or independent testing results. It also does not specify the truck’s payload, towing capacity, range after conversion, roadworthiness inspections, or crash performance. Those details matter because cutting and modifying a vehicle’s structure can affect how it performs and is maintained; the article does not provide evidence to assess those outcomes.
The comparison with Slate is also limited. The source does not provide a final Slate price, delivery date, or a side-by-side specification comparison. Pick’s vehicle is a single custom conversion, while Slate’s planned product is a separate development. The report’s assertion that the i3 build costs less is tied to Pick’s reported budget, not a broader comparison of ownership costs or production pricing.
Testing and Slate’s Planned Launch
The immediate questions for Pick’s truck concern how it performs in regular use and how the removable bed and modified structure hold up over time. The supplied report does not announce a formal testing schedule, further build plans, or a commercial conversion offering. No next milestone for the custom vehicle is specified.
For readers comparing it with Slate, the relevant next development would be confirmed details about Slate’s planned truck, including pricing, specifications, and launch timing. The report provides no updated schedule or final product information. Until those details are available, the BMW remains best understood as a personal DIY conversion, not proof that a production electric pickup can be built or sold at the same cost.
Key Questions
Who built the BMW i3 pickup?
Michael Pick, an engineer and YouTuber, built it from an auction-purchased BMW i3, according to The Drive.
How much did the conversion cost?
The Drive reports that Pick completed the project for less than $10,000, coming in a couple of thousand dollars below his budget. The report does not provide a full itemized breakdown.
Why does the truck have a removable bed?
The donor is an i3 REx, whose gasoline range-extender engine sits beneath the rear-seat area. The bed can be removed to allow access for servicing that engine.
Is this a production rival to Slate’s truck?
No. Pick’s vehicle is a one-off custom build. The report does not establish Slate’s final pricing, specifications, or launch date, so a direct comparison remains limited.
Source: thedrive.com
