The itch that Slate scratches, the one that it sort of doesn’t

[danielt1263]

I've said this before in a separate thread... Even with a longer range, the truck is just not suitable for roadtrips (IMO). Other EVs sure, but not a Slate. Nobody drives at their vehicle's top speed, and no car is designed to drive at its top speed for extended periods of time. Even race car drivers don't do that, and their cars are not designed for it.

Once a year, I have to drive 85 miles, park for a week, then drive 85 miles back. I'm concerned about the Slate being suitable for that trip and obviously not because of range. As the OP mentioned, Florida interstates have 70 MPH speed limit, and it's projected to be raised to 80.

Sure, the top speed of the truck is 90 MPH, but again the truck will not be designed to go at that speed for extended periods of time. What's the cruising speed of the truck? Usually, a vehicle is designed for a cruising speed of about 80% of it's top speed... That's 72 MPH for the Slate. What will be the range of the Slate when driving continuously at 70 MPH?

 

[E90400K]

I've said this before in a separate thread... Even with a longer range, the truck is just not suitable for roadtrips (IMO). Other EVs sure, but not a Slate. Nobody drives at their vehicle's top speed, and no car is designed to drive at its top speed for extended periods of time. Even race car drivers don't do that, and their cars are not designed for it.

Once a year, I have to drive 85 miles, park for a week, then drive 85 miles back. I'm concerned about the Slate being suitable for that trip and obviously not because of range. As the OP mentioned, Florida interstates have 70 MPH speed limit, and it's projected to be raised to 80.

Sure, the top speed of the truck is 90 MPH, but again the truck will not be designed to go at that speed for extended periods of time. What's the cruising speed of the truck? Usually, a vehicle is designed for a cruising speed of about 80% of it's top speed... That's 72 MPH for the Slate. What will be the range of the Slate when driving continuously at 70 MPH?

I think the Slate "top speed" is not mechanically limited but rather speed limited for range conservation. There will be no risk of mechanical damage if a Slate is driven at 90 MPH for extended periods of time (where legal of course).

 

[1974D2004X4]

if you’ve ever seen a window sticker from, say, a 1966 Chevy Impala, you’ve also seen a bunch of individual options. You could get an Impala with a six cylinder engine and three speed stick. Add an automatic transmission, or a V8. Radio? optional extra. Rear seat speaker? Ditto. pie pan hubcaps standard, full wheel covers optional. In those days you could order everything ala cart. Now, everything is optioned to the hilt and anything extra is part of a package- Want a banging sound system? it only comes with the Premium package that includes moonroof, leather seats, etc. Slate is often thought of as a stripper- and people are sayiing but I wiant this or that. Fine, order this or that, or get it aftermarket. Over the years I’ve added FM converters to my AM radio (yep I’m that old), 8 track, casette decks, in dash stereos, etc etc. I lke Slate because i can get most everything I want and nothing I don’t. It really satisfies my personalization itch.

The only itch I feel is that I’d like a smidgen more range. Could it get to 300 miles? and if the top speed is 80, it won’t keep up with Florida freeway traffic. The interstate speed limit is now 70, they’re thinking of raising it to 80, but left lane flow often hits 90 already. I know, I can ride in the right hand lane, but I don’t want to.

Exactly. Range for those of us in mountainous rural areas is an issue.

 

[danielt1263]

I think the Slate "top speed" is not mechanically limited but rather speed limited for range conservation. There will be no risk of mechanical damage if a Slate is driven at 90 MPH for extended periods of time (where legal of course).

No risk to the motor or battery you mean? Maybe that's true; it would mean they are being rather conservative, but it still could be true. There's a lot more to a vehicle than just the motor and battery. A Toyota Corolla has a top speed of about 110 MPH, but it's quite squirrelly at 80 MPH or faster... and is also not a "road trip" car IMO.

 

[bartflossom]

It's been said by people who went to recent fleet buyers Slate presentations that there might be a battery surprise coming when they spill the pricing in June. The EV battery market in the U.S. is definitely a buyers market at the moment. I'm hoping either something that makes the price lower or something that gives more range.

 

[E90400K]

No risk to the motor or battery you mean? Maybe that's true; it would mean they are being rather conservative, but it still could be true. There's a lot more to a vehicle than just the motor and battery. A Toyota Corolla has a top speed of about 110 MPH, but it's quite squirrelly at 80 MPH or faster... and is also not a "road trip" car IMO.

I think you were inferring there are mechanical limits as to why automobiles are not run at top speed and if the cars were run constantly at top speed, they in some way would suffer damage. I don't think that is the case, especially with race cars, but I didn't want to get into it and have to write an internet thesis paper on the subject.

But again, I do not think 90 MPH as a top speed for Slate is a cap based on the operational mechanical limits of the machine, but rather aerodynamic drag considerations and how it affects fuel consumption. More bluntly, I think you could run a Slate truck at 90 MPH until the battery depletes and there would be zero detrimental effects to the mechanical components of the battery/drivetrain.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

Top speed will be due to whatever the RPM limit is for the motor. The gear ratio will have been selected to balance low down torque and top speed. My Spark is limited to 90 for that reason, as is the Bolt. I assure you the mi/kwh will be atrocious at 90mph, but that's not the reason it's capped.

On that note, I've driven a variety of vehicles at a variety of illegal speeds, and you might be surprised at the stability of cars you wouldn't expect to be autobahn cruisers.

Also, the person that said a Corolla isn't a "road trip car" is too rich. Tuck that pinkie back in.

 

[danielt1263]

More bluntly, I think you could run a Slate truck at 90 MPH until the battery depletes and there would be zero detrimental effects to the mechanical components of the battery/drivetrain.

I brought up the Corolla because it can also run at 90 MPH until the tank is empty without any damage, assuming you don't loose control, and that's more what I'm talking about. Is the platform designed to comfortably maintain control at that speed? Obviously, some think it will be, but why spend the extra money if it's designed to be a cheap town commuter?

My expectation is that even if you filled the bed with battery so it could go 1000 miles without recharging, I don't think the truck would be comfortable going 90 MPH for hours at a time, unless the suspension and drivetrain are seriously overbuilt which would defeat the point of a cheap runabout.

 

[danielt1263]

Also, the person that said a Corolla isn't a "road trip car" is too rich. Tuck that pinkie back in.

It's not so much about price as it is about risk. You can put a 100hp motorcycle engine in a kid's bike. It will be cheap and it's "top speed" will likely be three digits, but you can't expect to actually go that fast for any length of time without wiping out.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

It's not so much about price as it is about risk. You can put a 100hp motorcycle engine in a kid's bike. It will be cheap and it's "top speed" will likely be three digits, but you can't expect to actually go that fast for any length of time without wiping out.

Usability/comfort for a road trip ≠ top speed ≠ stability at top speed