Should I get a Lucid home charger?

[L-Dude]

I have a bunch of referral points burning a hole in my virtual pocket, and about the only thing I see in the rewards store that is interesting is the Lucid Home Charger.

Right now, I have a ChargePoint HomeFlex installed and it has been fine. It has a bunch of features I thought I would use but honestly haven't had much use for. I mean they are cool to check out but I really don't need them. The electrician that installed the HomeFlex didn't install wiring that is heavy enough to allow full 48a charging. I am limited to a max of 40a. Not a big deal with my old EV, but now that I have an AGT with a giant battery, it can take 10+ hours to charge.

Because of this, I am attracted to the idea of 80a charging. I could get the Lucid charger for free, but it would prolly be another $1k to rewire the connection. This would be helpful because there are times where I just forget to plug in my car. (This is less of a problem with the AGT because it has such great range, but still...). However I would like to eventually have V2H at my home since we are in the south and having backup power during hurricane season is a good thing.

So I am wondering if investing in a Lucid charger now makes sense since future V2H may (will?) require adding additional equipment at the house. I think I've read that the current Lucid home charger will be compatible with V2H but I am not sure about that.

Thoughts?

 

[Miami_Lucid_Man]

I can make arguments both ways. If you’re otherwise happy with what you’ve got why mess with it. On the other hand, if you can get the charger for free, even with the wiring upgrade cost, you could get much faster charging and possibly future proof your house.

I say why not if you’re not gonna use the points for anything else.

 

[scal_air]

I got the Lucid HCS, currently sitting in its box in the garage, from referral points. I plan to install it when Lucid makes good on its promise on bidirectional charging...

 

[bikeriderbryan]

If you are thinking the cost is 1K to wire up the charger, I would go for it.

 

[SaratogaLefty]

I bought one of the very first LCHCS chargers when they first came out in early 2022. I bought it with the promise of V2H "very soon". Had it installed by a local company (Willow Glen EV Experts) who had been working with Lucid team in charge of developing the LCHCS. When he installed it he told me the setup would be capable of V2H albeit with some additional hardware/software being developed. That was over 3 1/2 years ago and V2H in still "coming very soon". All that said, it is an excellent charger and delivers 17-18 kW of charge resulting in around 80 miles every hour. I also use it to charge my wife's Genesis GV60 and on that connection it delivers 11kW.

 

[L-Dude]

I got the Lucid HCS, currently sitting in its box in the garage, from referral points. I plan to install it when Lucid makes good on its promise on bidirectional charging...

I wish I had more confidence that the current version of the LHCS would work with any future V2H implementation from Lucid.

 

[DeaneG]

I wish I had more confidence that the current version of the LHCS would work with any future V2H implementation from Lucid.

There's also the question of which version to get: NACS or CCS. I haven't seen Lucid sell a replacement cable separately, as does Chargepoint. Right now, to switch, it's a whole new charger.

 

[Celeras]

I'm not sure the LHCS would be compatible with a modular cable replacement like Chargepoint. I didn't do a teardown or anything but based on what I recall when I installed mine, it seemed very hardwired.

 

[DeaneG]

I'm not sure the LHCS would be compatible with a modular cable replacement like Chargepoint. I didn't do a teardown or anything but based on what I recall when I installed mine, it seemed very hardwired.

Agreed, the LCHCS isn't amenable to a homeowner cable swap.

 

[L-Dude]

I've already swapped out my ChargePoint once and it was very straightforward. However since I would need new wiring from the panel to the charger, I would have an electrician do the whole thing.

 

[scal_air]

I wish I had more confidence that the current version of the LHCS would work with any future V2H implementation from Lucid.

I actually have complete confidence that it will get done. When is a different question

I've already swapped out my ChargePoint once and it was very straightforward. However since I would need new wiring from the panel to the charger, I would have an electrician do the whole thing.

There are jumper pins to lower the current draw if you wanted to give it a “test” run with existing wiring - but it kinda defeats the initial purpose, no?

 

[newlucidguy]

do you currently receive a discount for off-peak charging? does your electric utility co require you to pick a charger from the list to receive that discount? I get a discount and they need the data from my chargepoint home flex for that. typically, the lucid charger isn't on the utility co list of chargers. but if you don't get a discount / aren't interested in one, or you are / do but your utility co doesn't have any specific charger (EVSE) requirements, then that factor goes away.