KevinRS
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Kevin
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2025
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 518
- Reaction score
- 662
- Location
- California
- Vehicles
- Nissan Versa
I have no interest in flat towing my self but it's looking like the summary is this.
Slate has only stated that they would look into flat towing.
If they did add it, it would likely be by disengaging the tires from the motor unit in some way, as other methods are more complicated and expensive.
Regenerative braking while towing is complicated, for it to work, the truck's systems would have to be operative, running cooling pumps and similar.
A deceleration sensor to activate it would be problematic because what happens when you start to climb a grade? A system using a sensor like that would start braking, making it even harder to climb the hill. It would have to be connected at least to the brake light wiring coming from the RV.
So, the truck has to basically be "running" to safely use regenerative braking, and needs to detect braking signal from the RV and have software to apply braking at some level when the RV is braking, as well as keep the motor in a "coasting" state otherwise.
It's sounding like engineering and testing all that would get expensive, and out of the scope of what Slate is trying to do. Maybe at some point in the future a vehicle would have flat tow regen braking, but it doesn't sound like it's happening soon. What can be hoped for but not counted on is a method to just disengage the wheels from the drive, otherwise you are looking at either a full trailer, or put the rear wheels on a dolly tow.
Slate has only stated that they would look into flat towing.
If they did add it, it would likely be by disengaging the tires from the motor unit in some way, as other methods are more complicated and expensive.
Regenerative braking while towing is complicated, for it to work, the truck's systems would have to be operative, running cooling pumps and similar.
A deceleration sensor to activate it would be problematic because what happens when you start to climb a grade? A system using a sensor like that would start braking, making it even harder to climb the hill. It would have to be connected at least to the brake light wiring coming from the RV.
So, the truck has to basically be "running" to safely use regenerative braking, and needs to detect braking signal from the RV and have software to apply braking at some level when the RV is braking, as well as keep the motor in a "coasting" state otherwise.
It's sounding like engineering and testing all that would get expensive, and out of the scope of what Slate is trying to do. Maybe at some point in the future a vehicle would have flat tow regen braking, but it doesn't sound like it's happening soon. What can be hoped for but not counted on is a method to just disengage the wheels from the drive, otherwise you are looking at either a full trailer, or put the rear wheels on a dolly tow.
