Range Extender

[cvollers]

The bed is twenty square feet. How about a solar bed cover (tonneau) for boosting the battery when the truck is parked in the sun.

I live in a place called "The Valley of the Sun", so there's that to consider.

Or if you are going SUV, get the roof rack and mount solar panels up there. Either way, space constraints will limit charge wattage…possibly better used to top off a small capacity portable power station than the Slate battery.

 

[zipn]

Just adding a portable generator will probably NOT work, or at best, won't work very well at all.

I doubt the vehicle will even let you charge it while driving. In addition, you'll probably want at least 11KW to covert to 220ac, and then the car's internal charger will convert it back to DC to charge the battery. That's a lot of waste. and a rather large generator too.

I built in, factory designed range extender in a proper EREV will have a gas engine / generator OPTIMIZED for the most efficient RPM with the generator providing a DC charge, not a AC to DC conversion. The switchover from low battery to range extender (+ remaining battery) would be computer controlled and seamless. The built-in range extender system (gas engine / generator / fuel system / exhaust system ) would be designed to meet emission and crash standards. Just putting a residential backup generator and some cans of gas in the bed of the truck is a mistake.

 

[JeffVA]

 

[Adam W]

I was looking at the way Scout is implementing their Harvester range extender, and it seems like a marketing shell game. The big headline advertisement reads "350 miles BEV, or up to 500 with the EREV." But in reality, they're HALVING the battery capacity to fit the engine and fuel tank, so the EREV models only get 150 on battery and 350 on the gas engine. At that point, you'd be better off going all ICE.

If that same ratio were applied to the Slate, we'd get a 50 mile battery with a RE addition.

 

[zipn]

I disagree. The ev range is probably more than enough for most people’s local daily needs. The ice range extender allows a single vehicle to be practical as a commuter AND a long distance cruiser. I wish my mav was an erev. The slate + mav = an erev scout. Scout cost about the same but now will have 2 vehicles to insure . Most of the country just doesn’t have the charging stations needed for practical long distance trips with a modest ev.

 

[metroshot]

I disagree. The ev range is probably more than enough for most people’s local daily needs. The ice range extender allows a single vehicle to be practical as a commuter AND a long distance cruiser. I wish my mav was an erev. The slate + mav = an erev scout. Scout cost about the same but now will have 2 vehicles to insure . Most of the country just doesn’t have the charging stations needed for practical long distance trips with a modest ev.

Yes, people who have not owned an EV have range anxiety.

When I had a BEV, I was worried about the range.

My wife still has that and always says I should always charge to 100% every single time.

After 7 years of EV, I have learned to relax and practice ABC (always be charging)......

Now, I can get around with less range than I originally thought I would need.

 

[johanssont]

If you want an EREV, look at the Scout.

If you want just a simple small truck for local commutes then the Slate will do the job.

I have the Ford Mach E and its 70kWh battery is more than enough for daily commuting plus road trips.

I have a reservation on the Scout as well to transition from the Mach E; but now I am looking at the SUV version of the Slate for a lot less $$$.

Huge part of the design of this is customization so people can make whatever they want. Slamming a mini truck so it is a half inch off the ground isn't practical or a smart way to spend money but it isn't my truck or money. Let people do what they want with the slate. They will not force you to strap a propane tank bomb on top of a giant battery so let them have fun with their imagination. These are the dreamers that drive innovation.

 

[sodamo]

I plan on building a generic range extender to sit in the back. I've got an odd commute that usually involved around about 165 miles each way, but the car typically sits for 3-4 days before I come home. I plan on using some typical home storage LFP batteries, a small inverter and a small charger, to allow the thing to charge while it sits in the parking lot. And I can charge my portable charger up for free at home on my solar.

Would be interested to see more details.

 

[MiketheCarGeek]

IMO Range Extenders (EREV) makes sense for larger EVs (3-Row SUVs and Full-Size Pickups).

Battery EVs makes sense for Mid/Compact and smaller vehicles given current battery technology. Opt for the Long Range Battery in Slate and you’ll be fine for 98% of driving situations.

 

[metroshot]

IMO Range Extenders (EREV) makes sense for larger EVs (3-Row SUVs and Full-Size Pickups).

Battery EVs makes sense for Mid/Compact and smaller vehicles given current battery technology. Opt for the Long Range Battery in Slate and you’ll be fine for 98% of driving situations.

Agree!

Scout's EREV is a game changer and I still have a reservation.

Slate's BEV is a head turner for the industry as the price point and basics are probably going to shift sales from other brands.

If I get a Slate, I'd opt for the larger battery pack, mainly because I LOVE my 70kWh battery in my current EV.