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

 

[danielt1263]

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

Exactly! Just because it's top speed is 90 MPH doesn't mean it will be comfortable to drive at 90, especially for extended periods.

On top of that, you don't design a vehicle to be comfortable/stable cruising at 300mph if it can only go 90. More to my point, if you are going for cheap, you don't even design the vehicle to be comfortable/stable at 90 for extended periods because after all, that's the truck's top speed. The question on my mind is, what is the truck's cruising speed.

 

[E90400K]

Exactly! Just because it's top speed is 90 MPH doesn't mean it will be comfortable to drive at 90, especially for extended periods.

On top of that, you don't design a vehicle to be comfortable/stable cruising at 300mph if it can only go 90. More to my point, if you are going for cheap, you don't even design the vehicle to be comfortable/stable at 90 for extended periods because after all, that's the truck's top speed. The question on my mind is, what is the truck's cruising speed.

Based on the detailed chassis analysis that is provided in the Munro video from a few months back, the Slate is very well built and easily capable of sustained speeds of 90 MPH.

 

[IamSpotted]

I haven't driven a car made in the last 30 years that made me uncomfortable driving at 80+ mph. I even drove my 1993 Ford Lightning on the autobahn back in 2005 while stationed in Germany. The main thing that kept me from going faster was that I could watch my fuel gauge go down over 80. That said, there are people that I've ridden with who make me uncomfortable at any speed. It's my opinion that a properly maintained car made since 2000 is perfectly capable of driving 80 all day.

In the case of the Slate, I'm in agreement with the majority. The 90mph limit is likely a governed top speed and mechanical it is capable of going faster. If you think the engineers aren't designing it to be safe and stable at highway speeds, then your basically calling them idiots.

 

[danielt1263]

In the case of the Slate, I'm in agreement with the majority. The 90mph limit is likely a governed top speed and mechanical it is capable of going faster.

I'm not sure why everybody keeps bringing this up. That's true for every consumer car produced as far as I know. Hell, even my cars that were built in the '80s limited top speed to protect the drivetrain. That's nothing new.

If you think the engineers aren't designing it to be safe and stable at highway speeds, then you're basically calling them idiots.

That's a fair point. That said, Google "Toyota Corolla cruising speed" and it shows 65-75 mph. So that helps justify my saying that the car gets squirrelly at 80+. I will say, just because I'm concerned doesn't mean everybody is or even should be.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Just because I was curious, I looked up the competition. Probably the fastest I've cruised on highways in my Mav has been 80 mph, and that's rarely in this part of the country (I'm not a speed demon). Out West, there are some highways with a posted 80 MPH speed limit, and you'd better be cruising faster if you don't want to get rear ended or cursed at.

FWIW, the Mav is calm and quiet and composed and not even working hard at 80. Hoping the Slate is the same. Just because sometimes 80 MPH is the flow of traffic these days. You're causing others a problem if you're slower.

The following is AI mush, so consume it with caution. I'm just too lazy to pull out my owner's manual.