(Image credit: John Velasco / Tom's Guide)

Over the past year, I’ve tested a handful of “affordable” EVs — which are, in a relative sense, priced lower than the national average of around $50,000 . Depending on who you talk to, options below $40,000 look genuinely attractive, and anything under that threshold almost feels too good to be true.

Yet, that’s exactly where the Slate Truck lands with its $24,950 starting price. For an all-electric pickup, I have to admit I’m impressed by the genuine real-world capability it delivers on paper: a rear-mounted motor pushing 181 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, a 65 kWh battery pack, 1,500 pounds of payload capacity, NACS DC fast-charging compatibility, and an estimated 205 miles of range.

While those specs might look modest next to six-figure behemoths like the Rivian R1T , Chevrolet Silverado EV , and GMC Sierra EV , you can't ignore just how accessible that price point is.…