Future front motor option possibility

[knickers]

Someone in another thread asked if there was room in the front suspension for a FWD system, so I started rewatching Slate coverage videos. This factory tour from Sandy Munro has a great closeup of the front suspension inner workings, starting at 23:20. It definitely looks like there's space.



In this Rich Rebuilds interview, he asks the AWD question to the head of engineering at 34:30.



The response:

We are one hundred percent focused on making sure we get [the Blank Slate] to market, and of course over time we're looking at what the additional portfolio could look like. So we will have a Slate portfolio of vehicles with additional features that may or may not fit underneath the frunk.

So I'm choosing to hope there's a possibility, that after they design a future slate model that contains a front motor, they will sell that front motor as a retrofit kit for existing vehicles 😅

 

[slateya]

I am also hoping for clarity on this. It seems fairly clear that physical space was left in the architecture for a front drive unit. The question I have is if the architecture was put into the electrical and controller to make a future all-wheel-drive unit plug-in play with the first generation models.

 

[kvermeer]

I'm hoping for this in the distant future, not hoping for this in the first year or even clarity on whether it might be available for first-year trucks.

The good news is that the Slate motor is a simple, all-in-one drive unit that contains the inverter, motor, reduction gearbox, even the parking lock in a neatly packaged unit:

https://en.jjeglobal.com/product/68.html

Quick connector for the water cooling circuit, high-power cable, and otherwise drive-by-wire. I see no reason why they wouldn't use the same style for the front motor in an AWD unit, it will probably look a lot like this install of a Tesla drive unit under an antique Jaguar:



No guarantees that the subframe matches without some fabrication, and it seems likely you'll end up swapping the central controller (with AWD logic) and some of the high-voltage distribution systems plus the front axle from a newer 4WD Slate into an older RWD Slate, but that controller isn't currently doing much more than processing and connecting.

 

[MIDgrid]

This type of integrated EV motor/powertrain may be attractive for future Slate models like 4WD (or even just RWD), reducing Slate supplier and assembly counts. I'm reading that this unit from Hyundai will be available in the global marketplace, for example.

https://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/e...power-electric-systems-ready-to-all-ev-models

 

[EV Trek]

It will definitely reduce the size of or eliminate the Frunk. That and probably reduce the range significantly until new battery tech is available. Just don’t think it would be a good idea right now.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

The front suspension is designed for it. The space for the motor is there and clear, and might either fit under the current frunk, or take a few inches out of the depth. JJE even has an induction motor that would be perfect for that. So there will be an AWD vehicle built on this platform, the only open question is if the first run of Slates with be upgradable after the fact.

 

[AZFox]

the only open question is if the first run of Slates with be upgradable after the fact.

IMHO that isn't likely.

See also:
https://www.slateforums.com/forum/t...wd-retrofit-kit-for-the-og-slate-truck.13264/

 

[ElectricShitbox]

IMHO that isn't likely.

See also:
https://www.slateforums.com/forum/t...wd-retrofit-kit-for-the-og-slate-truck.13264/

Yeah, I've seen/been in a few threads on the subject. To be upgradable after the fact, it effectively needs to be prewired for it. While a photo of a pre-production battery showed a big HV connection on the front of the pack, I have no idea if that's going to make it to production. Or if any of the control wiring to the ECU is there.

 

[AZFox]

I have no idea if that's going to make it to production. Or if any of the control wiring to the ECU is there.

The computer's Main Brain would also need to be programmed for it, would it not? Would that require extra expense?

 

[ElectricShitbox]

The computer's Main Brain would also need to be programmed for it, would it not? Would that require extra expense?

I would think that it would require something along the lines of a re-flash.

 

[AZFox]

I would think that it would require something along the lines of a re-flash.

Someone needs to write and test the code to be flashed and of course the Legal Department needs to be consulted.

Would it affect crash test results? I would think so.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

Someone needs to write and test the code to be flashed and of course the Legal Department needs to be consulted.

Would it affect crash test results? I would think so.

Someone also needs to design the front end so that it fits a front motor. We know they did that part of it. It would be odd to stop there.

A motor in that space would affect crash tests. We don't know if they did or not, but again, they at least seem to have started that process.

One last note, if the front motor is ONLY sold as an upgrade, it probably doesn't have to meet crash standards. But since they seem to have gone out of the way to crash test the different body styles, I don't think they'd try to skirt around it.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I'm sure we'll have *more information soon*
(That answer is actually a lot more annoying now that I've given them non-refundable money)

 

[EV Trek]

Pretty sure any factory designed upgrades have to meet crash standards.