Performance in snow?

[Teach]

Hello! I made my reservation a few weeks(?) ago.

I just wanted to know... Considering that this initial model is not AWD, how do you think the RWD Slate perform in the snowy roads of the Midwest?

Please be easy on me, I do not have any experience with EVs and I have driven AWD vehicles for more than a decade for the sake of safety. I had a bad experience with my FWD when it went spinning in the snow with my baby daughter with me in the vehicle.

 

[sodamo]

Having grown up in Maine and driving before FWD, AWD, or 4WD was common, you might have to relearn how to drive.

 

[cvollers]

When I’m in doubt about anything, I usually turn to YT for advice:

 

[Letas]

Where in the Midwest? RWD is objectively the worst for snow. RWD pickups are the worst you can imagine. Yes the car will have more weight than a traditional ICE over drive tires, but still not ideal.

Good all-season (or snow, if you want to get crazy) tires and some practice will make a world of difference. Big benefit of Midwest is there are not many significant hills to worry about.

 

[Just some guy]

Find an empty parking lot when its snowy or icy and do some donuts. Get a feel for it, some find it fun (me for sure) some find it terrifying (my old lady)

 

[sodamo]

I believe a good number of EV vehicles are RWD unless AWD, weight tends toward rear

 

[Teach]

Thank you for the responses. I actually learned driving on a RWD.

 

[YDR37]

Having grown up in Maine and driving before FWD, AWD, or 4WD was common, you might have to relearn how to drive.

For much of the 20th Century, RWD was the norm, and people made do with it. The traditional disadvantage of ICE RWD is that the weight of the engine is above the front axle; there is relatively little weight above the driven rear axle. One traditional solution was to throw some 50-lb sandbags in the trunk or bed; this puts weight on the driven rear axle, which improves traction. Also then you have a supply of sand available in case you get stuck.

The weight distribution is probably better in an EV RWD, like the Slate. I would assume that the battery is largely between the axles, while the motor is in the rear. So an EV RWD presumably has more weight towards the rear than an ICE RWD, which should improve traction. A few sandbags in the bed probably wouldn't hurt though.

 

[SL8R]

YDR37 nailed it. Back in the day I bought a new 1983 base-model inline-6 F150, open bed, RWD manual transmission that cost $7,700 OTD. The rear-end was notoriously light as a feather. To deal with the snow, I bought 5 ea. 50 lbs. bags of sand, wrapped each in a garbage bag and lined them up by the tailgate. Never had any issues getting around the streets of Maryland during the aftermath of any big snow storm, running ordinary all-season tires.

 

[slateya]

The slate will have ABSand traction control. Those along with a lot more weight over the rear drive wheels than traditional ICE trucks will help tremendously in the snow.

Tread depth, tread depth, tread depth on all season or snow tires is the most important thing for traction in snow. People tend to forget about that one.

I live in Minnesota and have a reservation in with no fear as long as I keep good tires with lots of tred for the winter months. I plan to see how it does and probably buy snow tires for it as well. I do have an all-wheel-drive in four-wheel-drive us back up vehicles.

Side note, My AWD is only marginally better than my prior front wheel drive. Both same car just FWD vs AWD. The FWD is just as good at cornering and stopping. The AWD just goes forward easier. They both have very good traction control systems and ABS.

 

[Jimw]

Back around 2001 or so I had a 90 Isuzu space cab 2wd pickup. Skinny tires, no abs. With weight in the bed that thing was a tank in the snow. It was my 70 mile a day work truck. I was always the first one into work to plow the lot. (Not with my truck).

 

[SLATEchad]

When I’m in doubt about anything, I usually turn to YT for advice:

This vehicle will likely handle very differently than most ICE RWD vehicles. Not that it’ll be apples to apples, but if you look at many “EV RWD in snow” videos on YouTube, in general the handling is much better because of the weight distribution. Even with this being a truck and having relatively less weight on the back, it will have more weight than an ICE truck because of the battery pack likely being evenly placed between the axles. I live in Colorado with plenty of snow and while I would appreciate AWD I’m not overly concerned about it. I plan on getting some dedicated snow tires for it and being careful if conditions are bad.

 

[Letas]

This vehicle will likely handle very differently than most ICE RWD vehicles. Not that it’ll be apples to apples, but if you look at many “EV RWD in snow” videos on YouTube, in general the handling is much better because of the weight distribution. Even with this being a truck and having relatively less weight on the back, it will have more weight than an ICE truck because of the battery pack likely being evenly placed between the axles. I live in Colorado with plenty of snow and while I would appreciate AWD I’m not overly concerned about it. I plan on getting some dedicated snow tires for it and being careful if conditions are bad.

Just hope CO doesn't go crazy with their chain control laws like CA has... Nothing better than throwing on chains for a dusting because "the man" says I have to.

 

[cvollers]

This vehicle will likely handle very differently than most ICE RWD vehicles. Not that it’ll be apples to apples, but if you look at many “EV RWD in snow” videos on YouTube, in general the handling is much better because of the weight distribution. Even with this being a truck and having relatively less weight on the back, it will have more weight than an ICE truck because of the battery pack likely being evenly placed between the axles. I live in Colorado with plenty of snow and while I would appreciate AWD I’m not overly concerned about it. I plan on getting some dedicated snow tires for it and being careful if conditions are bad.

Agreed. But some good general advice: 1) drive slowly, 2) brake early, 3) add weight in the back (Slate already has this with both the battery and motor but with the bed it can hold sand bags easily), and 4) have the right tires. Understanding how the Slate handles in snow is key as another suggested…donuts in an empty parking lot can help.

 

[SlatePossible2028]

No one needs 4x4 for snow unless they're commuting via frozen logging road every day.

It's a trend Ive seen in recent years where people swear up and down they can't own anything not AWD or need a second car because of snow or something. Absolutely pointless. If my lowered 60s muscle car can make it thru 3 brutal midwest winters with a teenager behind the wheel, I'm sure the Slate will be fine