Slate Q&A is Getting a Bad Rap

[Paul]

This is kind of surprising. I was thinking these hybrid transmissions were kind of bullet proof, some sort of planetary gear set with the gas engine on one planet, and electric motor on another.

They are bulletproof and Ford has a good track record with them over the past 20 years and it really isn't much different than the Toyota version. It was the last thing I thought that would break on the truck. I see them all the time at the dealership with the 180,000 on them or what not and still no problems going back to the Escape, Fusion and C-max. Usually the bodies rot out after 20 years and the transmission is still good. And even in the Maverick you don't really hear much problems with them. Mine is a 22' and I think covid just kind of wrecked everything. It took a year to get it after I ordered with parts delays And who knows what they had to do to actually get vehicles completed. Ford did beef up the transmission after 22. Also, the newer one has stronger motors and gets a better mileage. It even has a different transmission number different from the earlier version. I wouldn't fault the design at all. I think it's an excellent concept that's been proven for decades In Ford and Toyota. I don't even know what let loose in it. It was just rapping pretty bad and I had it towed. I thought it was the engine. Actually it sounded like a broken connecting rod. A new trans came in a crate. The bad one went back to Ford. It's been flawless since the swap. The dealer did it really fast and competently. They do have people to deal with this stuff, And certified EV and hybrid mechanics, which is of course, going to be the question with Slate. I'm chalking it up first year run and a year of parts delays and probably temporary labor everywhere and managers doing things to get things done.

 

[Imhotep]

Usually the bodies rot out after 20 years and the transmission is still good.

I’m in Indiana right now and I had forgotten how badly the steel body panels rust through where they salt the roads. I suppose that’s another win for Slate so long as whatever holding the panels on won’t rust.

No, I didn’t have time to go to Warsaw.

 

[Paul]

I’m in Indiana right now and I had forgotten how badly the steel body panels rust through where they salt the roads. I suppose that’s another win for Slate so long as whatever holding the panels on won’t rust.

No, I didn’t have time to go to Warsaw.

The problem in the salty states is usually the frame That does them in and not the panels, Or an inside rear wheel arch in the case of the old Escapes, That was the first hybrid 20 years ago... I'm sure the salt will find the Slate frame eventually. It'll be interesting to see how they treat the steel, drain holes, cutouts, etc on their frames And how they stand up over time. It's good that they have a presence in Michigan and Indiana and not just designers in California. I'm sure there's going to be somebody saying constantly but what about the salt!

 

[sodamo]

The problem in the salty states is usually the frame That does them in and not the panels, Or an inside rear wheel arch in the case of the old Escapes, That was the first hybrid 20 years ago... I'm sure the salt will find the Slate frame eventually. It'll be interesting to see how they treat the steel, drain holes, cutouts, etc on their frames And how they stand up over time. It's good that they have a presence in Michigan and Indiana and not just designers in California. I'm sure there's going to be somebody saying constantly but what about the salt!

Growing up, 56 Chevy in Maine, it was rocker panels, headlights, fenders. Some classmates had rather porous floor boards.