Slate's $25,000 Electric Truck: What 45 Minutes Behind the Wheel Reveals

Slate Auto brought one of its prototype electric trucks to Rockville, Maryland, and after a 45-minute drive, the verdict is clear: this budget EV startup may have a genuine hit on its hands.

The test mule had already seen serious duty — nearly 6,000 miles (9,656 km) on the odometer, visible on a small, minimalist digital display that also handles speed readouts and the backup camera when reverse is engaged. The cabin layout mirrors what buyers will eventually get, but the materials absolutely do not. Expect hard, shiny black plastic and leftover strips of Velcro from the camouflage days when the truck was kept under wraps in public.

An Easy Truck to Get Acquainted With

Climbing in turned out to be refreshingly straightforward. The door handles — which the reviewer likened to those on a Morris Marina — open with a satisfying mechanical feel. Both the seat and steering column adjust manually, but with generous range, a detail many budget models have historically cut to save pennies.

That last point matters more than it sounds. Cheap EVs often punish taller or shorter drivers with fixed-position seats and stubby adjustment rails. Slate apparently didn’t take that shortcut.

The Case for a $25,000 EV

The price tag is the headline here. At $25,000, the Slate truck undercuts nearly every electric pickup on the market by a wide margin — and it does so without the usual caveats of a stripped-down compliance car.

The prototype’s well-worn condition says something too. This isn’t a show pony polished for press photos; it’s a working test vehicle that’s been racking up real miles.

Key Specs: ~6,000 mi (9,656 km) on the prototype odometer · $25,000 target price · manual seat and steering column adjustment · minimalist digital display with backup camera

What Still Needs Proving

Slate hasn’t published final range, battery capacity, or charging figures yet, so the real-world efficiency story remains an open question. The prototype’s interior also doesn’t represent production materials, which means the final cabin finish could shift considerably.

Still, first impressions count. A budget EV that’s simple to operate, comfortable to adjust, and priced where normal people can actually afford it is a rare combination right now. Slate is betting that’s exactly what the market has been waiting for.