Flat Tow support for Slate truck in the works [confirmed]

[Luxrage]

I've heard the reason EVs can't be flat towed is the motor will try to make power when being towed and that power doesn't have anywhere to go causing damage to the inverter. Will be interesting to see how Slate tackles this problem.

I'd think some un-locking hubs might be an option. But that would entail the customer remembering to unlocking them.

The simplest/dumbest answer I could think of is the Slate in 'tow' mode constantly running cabin & battery heat / air to burn off any energy being generated by the wheel regen.

 

[KevinRS]

The simplest/dumbest answer I could think of is the Slate in 'tow' mode constantly running cabin & battery heat / air to burn off any energy being generated by the wheel regen.

You just don't want to tow a vehicle in regen. Got to either have a way to disengage at the hub or motor, or use a dolly or trailer. Any regen means more gas being used, inefficiently, to generate that power. It's going to be like towing a car with the parking brake on.

 

[paulrobsj]

The simplest/dumbest answer I could think of is the Slate in 'tow' mode constantly running cabin & battery heat / air to burn off any energy being generated by the wheel regen.

Slate



Slate truck.



If you’re going to make it towable, why not go the extra step and pre-wire it for break and turn signals. They can also make it so that if you go up a certain grade for a certain distance, the electric drive wheels kick in and help push the RV up the upgrade. And if you’re going down a grade for a certain percentage for a certain distance, engage the regen and slow the RV down and recapture some energy. Anytime the slate see voltage on the brake wire it should cancel assist if it running and engage regen.

Since you are pre-wiring for break and turn signals, you can monitor the signal on the brake wire so that you know when to start and stop regen and assist.

I think this will satisfy the requirement for an auxiliary brake.



Another option they could sell is preinstall the base plate for towing and sell the towbar as well. Slate can make an extra couple hundred dollars by just putting a box in the back of the truck.



Of course, all of these options would have an additional fee. That seems to be slates MO anyway



The last thing l want in order to make this the PERFECT Toad is a 20 amp 110 outlet in the bed so I can power my RV while dry camping.



Notes:

Toyota has solved the drive/neutral/regen problem. My Lexus NX450 does it every time I drive. The rear axle is electric only. It helps when you first start, then goes to no help if traction is not needed. When you apply brakes it engages regen.



Range Energy has solved the assist/neutral/regen software. They have an electric semi trailer that does what I described above.

 

[Thutchis]

Slate



Slate truck.



If you’re going to make it towable, why not go the extra step and pre-wire it for break and turn signals. They can also make it so that if you go up a certain grade for a certain distance, the electric drive wheels kick in and help push the RV up the upgrade. And if you’re going down a grade for a certain percentage for a certain distance, engage the regen and slow the RV down and recapture some energy. Anytime the slate see voltage on the brake wire it should cancel assist if it running and engage regen.

Since you are pre-wiring for break and turn signals, you can monitor the signal on the brake wire so that you know when to start and stop regen and assist.

I think this will satisfy the requirement for an auxiliary brake.



Another option they could sell is preinstall the base plate for towing and sell the towbar as well. Slate can make an extra couple hundred dollars by just putting a box in the back of the truck.



Of course, all of these options would have an additional fee. That seems to be slates MO anyway



The last thing l want in order to make this the PERFECT Toad is a 20 amp 110 outlet in the bed so I can power my RV while dry camping.



Notes:

Toyota has solved the drive/neutral/regen problem. My Lexus NX450 does it every time I drive. The rear axle is electric only. It helps when you first start, then goes to no help if traction is not needed. When you apply brakes it engages regen.



Range Energy has solved the assist/neutral/regen software. They have an electric semi trailer that does what I described above.

Interesting idea. But what an engineering challenge to implement.

You got me to thinking about the drive/motor disengagement issue when flat towing. My Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD doesn't use the front motor most of the time in ECO mode. So how do they keep it from regen and/or creating drag when not being used?

 

[paulrobsj]

The engineering has been done. Lexus and Hyndai have solved the disconnect problem.

A company called "Range Energy" makes a semi trailer that assists the truck on uphill and downhill.
All Slate has to to is adapt it to their product.

 

[Driven5]

If you’re going to make it towable, why not go the extra step...

That's extra engineering development time and cost, also meaning extra time to market, plus extra material cost and weight, and extra assembly time. Not only is the market niche that will ever even consider flat towing ability very small, but those customers won't even not-buy the Slate merely because it didn't come prewired and/or lacked assist/regen. Simply making it flat tow capable is where 100% of the ROI is for Slate.

Beyond that, you don't actually want what is being towed to be significantly pushing the tow vehicle. At most, you want it just shy of pulling its own weight, which cuts the benefits while opening them up to additional liability.

Anecdotally, I'd argue that most toads are also seen behind Class A's anyways, which don't even notice the toad load. It might be mildly helpful to (especially gas) Class C's, but now that has reduced the market usefulness to a fraction of the already very market that's willing to buy it anyways.

 

[Thutchis]

The engineering has been done. Lexus and Hyndai have solved the disconnect problem.

I found this article from 2023. A german company came out with a decoupler mechanism that can be added to a traction motor. https://www.greencarreports.com/new...e-motors-can-boost-ev-range-9-supplier-claims

 

[sodamo]

Slate



Slate truck.



If you’re going to make it towable, why not go the extra step and pre-wire it for break and turn signals. They can also make it so that if you go up a certain grade for a certain distance, the electric drive wheels kick in and help push the RV up the upgrade. And if you’re going down a grade for a certain percentage for a certain distance, engage the regen and slow the RV down and recapture some energy. Anytime the slate see voltage on the brake wire it should cancel assist if it running and engage regen.

Since you are pre-wiring for break and turn signals, you can monitor the signal on the brake wire so that you know when to start and stop regen and assist.

I think this will satisfy the requirement for an auxiliary brake.



Another option they could sell is preinstall the base plate for towing and sell the towbar as well. Slate can make an extra couple hundred dollars by just putting a box in the back of the truck.



Of course, all of these options would have an additional fee. That seems to be slates MO anyway



The last thing l want in order to make this the PERFECT Toad is a 20 amp 110 outlet in the bed so I can power my RV while dry camping.



Notes:

Toyota has solved the drive/neutral/regen problem. My Lexus NX450 does it every time I drive. The rear axle is electric only. It helps when you first start, then goes to no help if traction is not needed. When you apply brakes it engages regen.



Range Energy has solved the assist/neutral/regen software. They have an electric semi trailer that does what I described above.

only if a function paid for by the user, not the run of the mill buyer.