Lucid Navigation vs Google Maps

[borski]

Oh man, HOW do you live with Tidal?! hah. It's like the single worst music app I've ever used on any platform. I've wanted to like it, but it's just so hard to use. That's the one reason I have CarPlay running. I'd say 75% of my music is via USB, but otherwise it's via CarPlay. If they can fix Tidal to make it at least not reset every album/playlist whenever you get back into the car, I may try it again, though. That's the thing that kills me. It would also be nice if it was smart enough to just play Atmos versions of songs/albums by default, instead of making us hunt for them through the web UI

I use the mobile UI to manage it, and use the in-car UI exclusively to play it.

 

[JGard18]

I use the mobile UI to manage it, and use the in-car UI exclusively to play it.

Yep, I did the same thing. But still, the fact that it just restarts any playlist/album that you had playing before whenever you start a new drive was just something I couldn't get past. It bothered me so much. Especially when you're like halfway through a shuffled 100 song playlist or something

 

[borski]

Yep, I did the same thing. But still, the fact that it just restarts any playlist/album that you had playing before whenever you start a new drive was just something I couldn't get past. It bothered me so much. Especially when you're like halfway through a shuffled 100 song playlist or something

Yeah, I hear you. I just got used to the dance of remembering which track I was at, and I don’t tend to use shuffle anyway, since I like listening to albums. I do wish they’d fix it.

 

[Knucklehead]

But neither one on CarPlay or Android Auto, if it existed, will do EV route/range planning, essential for road trips.

Dude, yes it will, and it is awesome.

Ford added it to my Mach-e before I traded it in for the Rivian. Using Android Auto, Google Maps was connected to the battery and efficiency information in the car, and it was able to give me estimated charge at destination.

Not only that, but it initiated preconditioning of the battery if a charger was set as a destination. I loved it.

Maybe when Lucid adds AA, they will do it like Ford did.

 

[DeaneG]

...Maybe when Lucid adds AA, they will do it like Ford did....

Hope so! In fact I hope that Google is making EV functionality mandatory for automakers incorporating Android Auto.

That mach-e has a nice big screen area available for AA. The Air will be different.

 

[coma24]

Oh man, HOW do you live with Tidal?! hah. It's like the single worst music app I've ever used on any platform. I've wanted to like it, but it's just so hard to use. That's the one reason I have CarPlay running. I'd say 75% of my music is via USB, but otherwise it's via CarPlay. If they can fix Tidal to make it at least not reset every album/playlist whenever you get back into the car, I may try it again, though. That's the thing that kills me. It would also be nice if it was smart enough to just play Atmos versions of songs/albums by default, instead of making us hunt for them through the web UI

You're correct on all fronts. Once I realized how painful it was, I built my 'saved albums' list through the mobile app (including the Atmos versions). Every now and then I search for a tune or artist using the interface, but by and large, I am simply clicking on pre-saved albums based on the cover art. I'm happy with that.

Regarding it remembering where I was in a song....if I am really worried about it, I pause the song before walking away. Most times I don't care enough to do it, though.

EDIT: after posting this, I see my reply almost exactly mirrors Borski. I'm honored to be in such good company.

 

[roKapl99]

Yup, that's my experience as well. Nowadays, I hardly ever use Lucid's navigation. It is basically useless.

A few days ago, I was trying to find Costco in Concorde CA. Since I've never been to Concorde (driving from Sausalito), I needed navigation. My phone mount in my AGT is at a place I can't see the screen very well. So, I thought I will give Lucid navigation another go. It routed me all over the map! I finally had to stop, pulled off the Hwy (I-680), and restart from scratch, with my phone (Google maps).

To my knowledge, Lucid's navigation uses HERE maps, a European vendor. The routing can be very funky. Also, there is an unacceptable amount of delay. If you missed a turn, by the time the navigation re-routes you, you've already missed the new turn.

Had a similar experience. Lucid nav was way off. Had to stop an go back to Google maps

 

[Miami_Lucid_Man]

There is no reason to use the built in Lucid nave unless you're on a road trip and want built in charging info etc. Google (and even Apple Maps) is far superior. If only they can build it out to full fill the screen but I'll take what we've got. I know Car Play wasn't even originally in the car so we're lucky enough to have it now.

 

[Zoominoff]

I purchased an Air last week (traded in a 2016 model S) and went on my first road trip (from NY to MD) yesterday.

I absolutely love the car so far. My biggest complaint would be the built in Navigation software. The routing and destination time estimates were “sub-optimal”. Google Maps is definitely better. I switched to CarPlay navigation during the trip. Not a big deal, but I would generally prefer to avoid CarPlay- its just an added level of complexity and one more thing to have to configure/troubleshoot.

I ended up on this thread by way of a “Can I switch Lucid Air navigation to google maps” google search.

Other disappointments in the Nav software: inability to save addresses (maybe I missed it?) and also the fact that the the built in Music player isnt displayed on either screen simultaneously. Having to click on the “Music” button, and switching out of Navigation, seems lame. Just display the music controls on the bottom of the bottom screen so the driver or passenger can easily control the music. (Which is how it works on the Tesla). Perhaps I’m missing something.

Is there any possibility Lucid might offer google maps some day? Doubtful, I know, but wondering if there has been any chatter on that.

Overall I’m very, very happy with the car, however. What a fun car.

 

[DeaneG]

..I absolutely love the car so far. My biggest complaint would be the built in Navigation software. The routing and destination time estimates were “sub-optimal”. Google Maps is definitely better. I switched to CarPlay navigation during the trip. Not a big deal, but I would generally prefer to avoid CarPlay- its just an added level of complexity and one more thing to have to configure/troubleshoot. ...
Other disappointments in the Nav software: inability to save addresses (maybe I missed it?) and also the fact that the the built in Music player isnt displayed on either screen simultaneously. Having to click on the “Music” button, and switching out of Navigation, seems lame...

The Air is a wonderful car. Its infotainment software is definitely a work in progress. Personally, I'm hoping for UX improvements by OTA later this year - at least to better separate the functions of the upper and lower screens.

I'm a heavy Google Maps user and sorely miss it in my Air. We have native Google maps in our other EV, and it is accurate and comprehensive. I think that if Lucid offered Google Maps instead if its native HERE, there would be few asking for Android Auto. And if it had Apple Maps and Apple Music, fewer calls for CarPlay. But so far Lucid hasn't indicated any plan to switch away from HERE. I've had a number of frustrating run-ins with HERE and will deal with Android Auto in my Air, when it becomes available, when I need navigation.

In short, the best way to enjoy the car is to drive it. And try to have some patience for expected future software updates by OTA.

 

[doubletwist]

Ideally I'd want Waze and YouTube Music before I'd stop wanting AA. I might settle for Google Maps but I've been a Waze user since the very early days (when you'd get points for being the first person to drive on a particular street to help build the maps accuracy).

But then that's specific to just me. The next person might need Napster, and the next person need Pandora, or Deezer, or...

So really, unless a manufacturer is ready to support a darn near full service app store (including different apps and accounts by profile so my wife gets her own music, etc), supporting AA and Carplay is the MUCH smarter move.

 

[Nomogaz]

I had a frustrating experience with the built in nav system a few days, I need to stop for a charge and it routed me to a 62.5 kWh ChargePoint charger instead of a 350 kWh EA charger a few miles away. I had to manually enter the address of the EA charger and manually start the preconditioning.

 

[DeaneG]

Ideally I'd want Waze and YouTube Music before I'd stop wanting AA. I might settle for Google Maps but I've been a Waze user since the very early days (when you'd get points for being the first person to drive on a particular street to help build the maps accuracy).

But then that's specific to just me. The next person might need Napster, and the next person need Pandora, or Deezer, or...

So really, unless a manufacturer is ready to support a darn near full service app store (including different apps and accounts by profile so my wife gets her own music, etc), supporting AA and Carplay is the MUCH smarter move.

Makes sense. BTW Google maps for Android Automotive (AAOS, the underlying OS used by Lucid and many others) does provide Waze-like notifications of police, accidents, road hazards, etc.

Several other car manufacturers do support an app store in their user interface. Our AAOS Volvo, for example, has native Waze and YouTube Music apps.

For us, running these apps natively in-dash is a lot cleaner than using an "app adapter" like CarPlay or Android Auto.

 

[kort6776]

the one big benefit of using the native nav is that it will initiate preconditioning prior to arriving at an L3 charger.

 

[BS8899]

the one big benefit of using the native nav is that it will initiate preconditioning prior to arriving at an L3 charger.

True! But I often wonder about the efficacy and benefits of preconditioning in real-life.

Not disputing that if you have a cold battery, charging will start slower than optimal. I drive a lot of long distance. Frankly, on my long road trip charging stops, there is little benefit in preconditioning as the battery is already quite warm when I pull into a charging station.

If I am doing "topping up" charging in the city, the logistics of a 30min preconditioning and the wasted energy in doing so call into question whether it is worthwhile.

I am NOT disputing the physics/chemistry of preconditioning. Just the realities of how beneficial it is.

Welcome other opinions on this subject to educate me.

 

[fisheral]

The Air is a wonderful car. Its infotainment software is definitely a work in progress. Personally, I'm hoping for UX improvements by OTA later this year - at least to better separate the functions of the upper and lower screens.

I'm a heavy Google Maps user and sorely miss it in my Air. We have native Google maps in our other EV, and it is accurate and comprehensive. I think that if Lucid offered Google Maps instead if its native HERE, there would be few asking for Android Auto. And if it had Apple Maps and Apple Music, fewer calls for CarPlay. But so far Lucid hasn't indicated any plan to switch away from HERE. I've had a number of frustrating run-ins with HERE and will deal with Android Auto in my Air, when it becomes available, when I need navigation.

In short, the best way to enjoy the car is to drive it. And try to have some patience for expected future software updates by OTA.

I wonder if Lucid considers the current software "stable" and is disinclined to do more than one feature update per year.

Lucid has stated (I believe) the Gravity and Air have different software teams, but with paucity of Air feature updates (it's been almost 7 months) coinciding with the Gravity's launch, it's hard to believe that the Gravity doesn't have the vast majority of Lucid's software (and other) resources focused on it.

Since the Gravity is the car that will truly define Lucid's future and profitability (let's be real -- a full size sedan is not the path to profitability in today's market), I just don't see them taking the laser focus off the Gravity any time soon.

I'd love to be proven wrong with a feature update, and I believe Google Maps is or has been the number one (or close to number one) requested update for a while now!

 

[Zoominoff]

the one big benefit of using the native nav is that it will initiate preconditioning prior to arriving at an L3 charger.

Exactly. Native app is the way to go. Hopefully this can be fixed down the road.

 

[borski]

Frankly, on my long road trip charging stops, there is little benefit in preconditioning as the battery is already quite warm when I pull into a charging station.

It’s unlikely that your batteries are at optimal temps. When you are on a road trip, your battery is warmer than normal, but unless it’s blazing hot out, your battery is almost certainly not at optimal temps for charging.

I am convinced the main issue for people who don’t get good speeds charging is they simply do not precondition enough.

Here is a recent charging session I was very happy with:

This was on a balanced 350, and I was pulling 177kW immediately, since the other Mercedes was also pulling 175ish.

21% to 80% in 27 min on a glorified 150kW charger.

But here the thing, I preconditioned for about 40 minutes beforehand, and check out the battery temp graph:

It took about 40 minutes for my batteries to get from “driving temp” of about 80ish F to “charging temp” of about 100F.

So yes, you should precondition. It can only improve your charge.

I wonder if Lucid considers the current software "stable" and is disinclined to do more than one feature update per year.

No. They do not.

 

[L-Dude]

Is Lulu your car's given name, or is that a family nickname?

 

[borski]

Is Lulu your car's given name, or is that a family nickname?

Her given name