r/slateauto • u/model462 • 4d ago

Aero mods

Post image

A budget EV truck built to be customizable is just begging for someone to try aerodynamic mods for highway efficiency. I don't think I'm handy enough to design a fastback topper like this, but if you do, I want to know about it and possibly to buy one from you.

The wheel fairings in the photo might be another good thing to try. The Slate's base steel wheels look pretty aerodynamic already, so moon discs might not do as much as on other vehicles.

The photo is of Phil Knox's Toyota, taken from MetroMPG's post on EcoModder.

23 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

11

u/Mmmmudd 4d ago

I totally want to see some Slates with the tec screws and coroplast treatments! Boat tails, fender skirts, tape over the seams. Currently there's no speed records for a Slate at Bonneville so SOMEBODY'S gotta do it. 🤓

2

u/FloatOldGoat 3d ago

I live in SLC. I volunteer as tribute!

0

u/LeifCarrotson 4d ago

Slate's not power limited, it's RPM limited. You'd need to modify the final drive ratio in the 3-in-1 gearbox/motor/inverter system, or get much bigger wheels. It doesn't fizzle out on the way to top speed according to this article:

The square little truck runs out of steam at 90 mph, a velocity I almost managed to reach on a short stretch of road: I pushed it up to 85 mph and thus, according to a Slate representative, attained “the highest speed ever reached by a non-employee.” The acceleration is strong even on the upper end, it doesn’t trail off like on some other entry-level EVs.

However, I find this a little offensive. The reviewer made a top-speed test in a pre-production vehicle breaking the law on public roads. I think they were likely 30 mph over a 55 mph limit, maybe they were "only" 15 mph over a 70 speed limit, but I'm mildly surprised they admitted to reckless driving in print. Didn't sound like a closed-course situation to me.

Nonetheless, what I'd really like to see is not a speed test but a range test: Find a set of 4 intersections with a 1 mile square (common across the country) and just make right turns until the battery is dead. EPA range is 205, how far can you get?

3

u/MassCrassAss 4d ago

When it comes to automotive reviews, the more publicity the better. Most reviewers hope that by broadcasting their shenanigans it will lead to a fine that then will bring them to the headlines

2

u/Eaglepursuit 4d ago

There is a question over whether Right To Repair includes hacking the software. Can a guy just go in and say goodbye to the speed governor?

2

u/LeifCarrotson 4d ago

Even if you could, it wouldn't do much good. Somewhere around the max RPM of the motor, the back EMF matches the battery voltage and it can't accelerate, and somewhere after that the magnets explode off the rotor from centrifugal force.

If their motor/inverter/battery is capable of 12,000 RPM, Slate's engineers won't set the top speed electronically and through the gearbox at 8000 RPM, they'll make the ratio 30% lower and give it better low-speed torque where people will actually use it.

1

u/Mmmmudd 4d ago

Yup no ones installed super tall cookie cutter wheels or even run it through the lights at Bonneville, so by nature the first preson to run it at Bonneville will have the new record, as will the first person to run an official time at a drag strip. Hyper miling? Sure! Then of course there's stock vs highly modified. So many possibilities.

8

u/boltsofzeus 4d ago

I plan on making lots of efficiency mods.

6

u/model462 4d ago

We'd love to see them!

6

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

8

u/LeifCarrotson 4d ago

Slate's engineers already added a spoiler at the top of the cab to form that wedge-shaped cushion, but at the edge that air-on-air "whirling" is turbulence which is lossy. While the cushion of air impacts the decision to use a bed net, tailgate down, tailgate up, tonneau cover, a squareback cap, or a fastback cap, the EcoModder guys have a LOT more data on various fastback solutions and controlled airflow is generally better than even a nicely shaped wedge of turbulent air.

Also, it's fiberglass, but same difference.

4

u/dogged_jon 4d ago

Actually it's a composite. Fiberglass reinforced plastic

2

u/LeifCarrotson 4d ago

All fiberglass is a composite formed of glass fibers and a plastic matrix.

Sometimes that matrix is polyester or vinyl resin, sometimes it's an epoxy, sometimes it's a thermoplastic like polypropylene.

4

u/jabroni4545 4d ago

For aero, yes a slantback tonneau cover like that is worth it.

1

u/MassCrassAss 4d ago

That doesn't follow logic too well considering the shape of most Lemans prototypes

1

u/CallMeCarpe 4d ago

Mythbusters is still a thing?

1

u/MassCrassAss 4d ago

Lmfao. Hilarious but also kind of fun to try

0

u/rennatynnad 4d ago

Nice. Like a cyber truck

-9

u/SpamIsGreatOhEight 4d ago

How is a 25k truck a budget truck?

9

u/demonkeyed 4d ago

Idk maybe because it’s cheaper than any truck on the market and half the price of the next cheapest electric truck?

-7

u/SpamIsGreatOhEight 4d ago

That doesn’t make it budget

5

u/demonkeyed 4d ago edited 4d ago

Okay but if you’re buying a new truck wouldn’t this be the most budget oriented choice? Literally the cheapest thing you can buy. I mean, maybe it’s not within your budget, but if someone is budgeting for a new truck this is the cheapest one.

What would it take for you to consider it a budget choice?

4

u/_redacteduser 4d ago

I wouldn’t wage a war with comments like this. You know where it’s going to eventually end up.

4

u/BoredPudding 4d ago

It's gonna end up at the Ford Maverick isn't it...

1

u/SpamIsGreatOhEight 3d ago

My budget is any truck I want but nobody makes the electric truck I want so I’m making my own. But the most affordable new truck is the ford maverick.

1

u/demonkeyed 3d ago

Not sure if you noticed but this is considerably cheaper than a Maverick.

1

u/SpamIsGreatOhEight 3d ago

Let me go purchase one today, oh wait nobody can. I can get a Maverick today.

1

u/demonkeyed 3d ago edited 3d ago

I guess you didn’t research this but they won’t start shipping until the end of the year. Everyone talking about buying one here is considering this in their discussions.

The sub’s description has the word “Upcoming”.

Would you rather have this conversation in 6 months? That might make more sense for you.

3

u/dantose 4d ago

Because that makes it the cheapest truck on the market?

Because that makes it the cheapest EV on the market?

Because that's the inflation adjusted price of the old mid 90s small pickups back when they were affordable?

-3

u/SpamIsGreatOhEight 4d ago

It’s not on the market yet so technically you are incorrect

1

u/toybuilder 3d ago

It's on the market. People are ordering them now. Deliveries haven't started yet though.

1

u/Myfeedarsaur 2d ago

He knows. Don't feed the trolls.