Chevy Volt Style Hybrid Slate Truck

[BGK1986]

I'm very excited about the Blank Slate EV truck and hope the first generation all-electric platform is successful. I would really like to see Slate explore other drivetrain options in future years such as an all-electric AWD/4WD version and a plub-in hybrid version with a small gas or diesel engine similar to the old Chevy Volt concept.

The Slate truck's ample frunk area offers a great opportunity to install the recently announced C15 "suitcase" hybrid unit which consists of an ultra-compact 1.5L four cyclinder engine and ~70kW electric generator in a modular package measuring 19.7 x 21.7 x 10.8 inches that can be mounted vertically, horizontally, or at any angle in between. Horse Powertrain claims this unit will seamlessly interface with a BEV power control system to provide range extension and convert an all-electric BEV into a hybrid vehicle.

Questions for Slate:
1) Will the Slate frunk area accomodate the Horse Powertrain C15 or similar modular hybrid conversion components?
2) Will Slate exploring partnerships with Horse Powertrain (or companies with similar products) to develop a hybrid version of the Slate truck in future years (say 2030 time frame)?
3) Will Slate support customer efforts to install third party components to augment the standard powertrain and battery packs to allow "plug and play" drivetrain customization?

Keep up the great work and thank you for developing a basic, functional, affordable vehicle built in America!

Horse Powertrain Motor Trend Article: https://www.motortrend.com/news/horse-powertrain-shows-off-compact-cool-range-extending-tech
Horse Powertrain YouTube:

 

[Whitesands]

I don't expect Slate to make a hybrid version as that would make them subject to CAFE standards. A lot of people seem to want it in a gas/hybrid version, so I could see some third party mod becoming popular considering how inexpensive the Slate is.

 

[Letas]

I don't expect Slate to make a hybrid version as that would make them subject to CAFE standards. A lot of people seem to want it in a gas/hybrid version, so I could see some third party mod becoming popular considering how inexpensive the Slate is.

CAFE is - for all intents and purposes, dead. There are no penalties for noncompliance.

 

[Thutchis]

I'm very excited about the Blank Slate EV truck and hope the first generation all-electric platform is successful. I would really like to see Slate explore other drivetrain options in future years such as an all-electric AWD/4WD version and a plub-in hybrid version with a small gas or diesel engine similar to the old Chevy Volt concept.

The Slate truck's ample frunk area offers a great opportunity to install the recently announced C15 "suitcase" hybrid unit which consists of an ultra-compact 1.5L four cyclinder engine and ~70kW electric generator in a modular package measuring 19.7 x 21.7 x 10.8 inches that can be mounted vertically, horizontally, or at any angle in between. Horse Powertrain claims this unit will seamlessly interface with a BEV power control system to provide range extension and convert an all-electric BEV into a hybrid vehicle.

Questions for Slate:
1) Will the Slate frunk area accomodate the Horse Powertrain C15 or similar modular hybrid conversion components?
2) Will Slate exploring partnerships with Horse Powertrain (or companies with similar products) to develop a hybrid version of the Slate truck in future years (say 2030 time frame)?
3) Will Slate support customer efforts to install third party components to augment the standard powertrain and battery packs to allow "plug and play" drivetrain customization?

Keep up the great work and thank you for developing a basic, functional, affordable vehicle built in America!

Horse Powertrain Motor Trend Article: https://www.motortrend.com/news/horse-powertrain-shows-off-compact-cool-range-extending-tech
Horse Powertrain YouTube:

How is it cooled?

 

[Dorbiman]

CAFE is - for all intents and purposes, dead. There are no penalties for noncompliance.

For now, right? That's until the next administration comes in and decides to enforce it again. A company that doesn't plan for the future probably doesn't make it very far

 

[E90400K]

This will never happen in a Slate. The non-turbo unit is far to underpowered. And Slate has no room for a cooling system to cool an ICE nor a necessary fuel storage and delivery system.

 

[E90400K]

CAFE is - for all intents and purposes, dead. There are no penalties for noncompliance.

Which is GREAT! Maybe now the market will drive demand for fuel efficient automobiles at minimum exhaust emissions and we consumers will have more model choices.

 

[BGK1986]

For now, right? That's until the next administration comes in and decides to enforce it again. A company that doesn't plan for the future probably doesn't make it very far

I don't know the specific details around the Horse Powertrain C15 unit but the Motor Trend article in my initial post stats; " The centerpiece of the Horse Powertrain booth was a tiny, 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine (above) with an oil scavenging system that can be set up to allow it to run vertically, horizontally, or at any angle in between. Measuring just 19.7 x 21.7 x 10.8 inches, it produces 94 hp in naturally aspirated form—perfect for C-segment or smaller vehicles, or it can be turbocharged to produce 161 hp to support D-segment or light-commercial vehicles. Even more impressive, those dimensions include the generator, inverter, exhaust, and cooling package. "

If you believe that, then it seems that the C15 unit could be squeezed into the Slate frunk space. The questions I posed for Slate are for 2nd or 3rdgeneration vehicles that account for the Horse Powertrain (or similar) hybrid system in the design rather than trying to bolt-on/shoe horn it into the 1st generation Slate truck.

 

[Driven5]

Which is GREAT! Maybe now the market will drive demand for fuel efficient automobiles at minimum exhaust emissions and we consumers will have more model choices.

That tracks.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

For those who are interested, the North American leader of Horse powertrains just appeared on Autoline After Hours. Find them on YouTube. It was an interesting talk about how they could add an ICE capability to any vehicle. If that's your thing.

https://www.autoline.tv/after-hours/aah-768-horse-powertrain-enters-the-motorcity/

 

[Dorbiman]

This seems like a far more complicated approach vs. an EREV. At least with the EREV you can operate a peak efficiency, instead of variable RPMs. Plus you have to add a transaxle in this setup.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Well, the Horse solutions can be used for EREV too. They're just units that deliver power from gasoline. They can be used for ICE, hybrid, EREV - the platform is agnostic.

It's not for me. As an engineer, I' a pure BEV guy. But I respect that others have different needs and like other solutions.

 

[E90400K]

Well, the Horse solutions can be used for EREV too. They're just units that deliver power from gasoline. They can be used for ICE, hybrid, EREV - the platform is agnostic.

It's not for me. As an engineer, I' a pure BEV guy. But I respect that others have different needs and like other solutions.

I'm a pure series hybrid guy, for a whole host of reasons. I was hoping GM stayed with the Voltech architecture and moved it to a pure series hybrid system.

 

[BGK1986]

For those who are interested, the North American leader of Horse powertrains just appeared on Autoline After Hours. Find them on YouTube. It was an interesting talk about how they could add an ICE capability to any vehicle. If that's your thing.

https://www.autoline.tv/after-hours/aah-768-horse-powertrain-enters-the-motorcity/

Thanks for sharing the Autoline After Hours interview! It was a very interesting discussion with Tom Lewis (Horse North American VP/Director). Lewis said they are having "mature" conversations with various Detroit automatkers and seeking to establish both a Detroit office location AND a US production facility (to add to the 17 existing facilities worldwide). I really hope some of those "mature" conversations are happening between Hose and Slate to explore future hybrid/EREV options in future generations of the Slate Truck.