Record-busting range for Lucid Air EV

Cop that Tesla!

Ambitious Silicon Valley electric vehicle start-up Lucid Motors is claiming a record-busting 832km (517-mile) range between recharges for its new Lucid Air sedan.

Due for launch on September 9 ahead of an early 2021 production start-up, the Lucid Air has long been touted as a Tesla Model S rival and when it comes to driving range it obliterates it.

The Model S Long Range was the previous record holder at 402 miles (646km) between recharges based on the tough and credible EPA multicycle test procedure in the USA.

The Lucid Air established the new benchmark testing to that standard, albeit using the services of an independent engineering consultancy rather than the EPA itself.

However, Michigan-based FEV has plenty of credibility in this area so the result is likely to stand up when the Lucid Air is tested by the EPA.

Much remains unknown about the Lucid Air, including the size of its battery pack.

Reports have indicated it’s about 130kW/h compared to the Tesla’s 100kW/h. But Lucid founder, CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson – also a former Model S chief engineer – said the battery had been downsized over time due to technological breakthroughs.

At the same time Lucid had ramped up its range ambitions for the Air from its 400-mile starting point.

“A few years ago we revealed our alpha prototypes of the Lucid Air and promised over 400 miles range; a reflection of our technology at that time. In the intervening period we have achieved a series of technological breakthroughs, culminating in an unsurpassed degree of energy efficiency,” said Rawlinson.

“I am therefore pleased that we have consequently achieved an estimated EPA 517 miles of range today whilst also significantly reducing our battery pack’s capacity, thereby reducing vehicle weight and cost, and improving interior space.

“I believe that our 900-volt architecture, our race proven battery packs, miniaturised motors and power electronics, integrated transmission systems, aerodynamics, chassis and thermal systems, software, and overall system efficiency has now reached a stage where it collectively sets a new standard and delivers a host of world’s firsts.”

Lucid says its battery technology has been developed over 10 years and 20 million miles (32 million km) of real-world testing. It also benefitted from the learning’s of its technology division, Atieva, which supplies battery packs to the Formula E racing series.

The first Tesla to hit the 500-mile range is scheduled to be the Cybertruck in 2022.

Mercedes-Benz recently bragged that its EQS EV will top 700km in 2021 with the aid of new-generation CATL batteries. But that’s looking a bit old-hat now, especially as that range is based on the WLTP test, which isn’t as tough as EPA.