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Thinking of Jumping back in

CLTGT

CLTGT

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Location
Charlotte, NC
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73 Mustang Conv & the GT
OK, I'm back, sort of. It is time to replace my wife's 2017 GLS 450 with 106k miles on it. I replaced my Lucid Air GT a couple years ago with a BMW X5 M60i. My wife loves driving the BMW and we are thinking about going back to a one SUV, one sedan household. I loved my Air, but hated the charging situation in the Southeast. Has that changed at all? Can you now use the Tesla SC network to charge the Air? That might make me feel a bit better about getting another Air. It seems the Air might be batter software-wise now, especially given what I have read lately (today) here about Gravity. The issues with Gravity though make me more worried about access to service, if needed, for the Air. Has that been an issue for anyone?

The Lucid Air GT really was one of my favorite cars I have owned and I probably would not have gotten rid of it if we could have used the Tesla SC network at that time. Love to hear thoughts on the current status of the Air.
 
Lucid has deals with Tesla in some locations, you can check with Tesla they will map what SC's allow charging other brands. Charging at home is awesome (i don't even know how much gas costs but its not $10/month!) have you considered that for daily?

For service, I'm at least 6-7 hours away but they just ship it or have mobile. Transport hasn't been an issue most of the time.
 
CLTGT said:
OK, I'm back, sort of. It is time to replace my wife's 2017 GLS 450 with 106k miles on it. I replaced my Lucid Air GT a couple years ago with a BMW X5 M60i. My wife loves driving the BMW and we are thinking about going back to a one SUV, one sedan household. I loved my Air, but hated the charging situation in the Southeast. Has that changed at all? Can you now use the Tesla SC network to charge the Air? That might make me feel a bit better about getting another Air. It seems the Air might be batter software-wise now, especially given what I have read lately (today) here about Gravity. The issues with Gravity though make me more worried about access to service, if needed, for the Air. Has that been an issue for anyone?

The Lucid Air GT really was one of my favorite cars I have owned and I probably would not have gotten rid of it if we could have used the Tesla SC network at that time. Love to hear thoughts on the current status of the Air.
Click to expand...
SC Network is open to Air now and Plug and Charge was just enabled in the latest 2.9.0/2.2.2 OTA but keep in mind, Air is still limited to max 50kW charging on V3\V3.5 superchargers. It's only recently that Tesla has started to deploy true V4 1000V chargers but I'm betting it will be years before we see them in solid numbers.

FWIW - Gravity will do 225kW on V3/V3.5 and 400kW on 1000V chargers
 
I was happy to hear when that happened, but wouldn't you know it my favorite Supercharge only a block from my house is V2. :(

So keep that in mind...
 
Anyone done any testing with the Air on any of the newer V3.5 or V4 Tesla SC? But really IONNA is where it's at for the Air.
 
illopp00 said:
Anyone done any testing with the Air on any of the newer V3.5 or V4 Tesla SC? But really IONNA is where it's at for the Air.
Click to expand...
I believe someone did an Air on the Redwood City location and from memory, it performed well on the true V4 with the added bonus of the cable being long enough for them to pull in forward to the correct charger. V3.5 will still only deliver 50kW
 
We have traveled extensively through the southeast with no issues. From the Appalachian mountains to the Forgotten Coast (panhandle Florida) to everything in between and around has resulted in zero issues for charging.

The only time that it is inconvenient is when an Airbnb does not have a 120v outlet to trickle charge the car.

What part of the southeast are you traveling most frequently?
 
CLTGT said:
OK, I'm back, sort of. It is time to replace my wife's 2017 GLS 450 with 106k miles on it. I replaced my Lucid Air GT a couple years ago with a BMW X5 M60i. My wife loves driving the BMW and we are thinking about going back to a one SUV, one sedan household. I loved my Air, but hated the charging situation in the Southeast. Has that changed at all? Can you now use the Tesla SC network to charge the Air? That might make me feel a bit better about getting another Air. It seems the Air might be batter software-wise now, especially given what I have read lately (today) here about Gravity. The issues with Gravity though make me more worried about access to service, if needed, for the Air. Has that been an issue for anyone?

The Lucid Air GT really was one of my favorite cars I have owned and I probably would not have gotten rid of it if we could have used the Tesla SC network at that time. Love to hear thoughts on the current status of the Air.
Click to expand...
Public charging in the South East has definitely improved compared to 4 years ago when I got my first ev. Ionna is rapidly expanding and I've had very good experiences with BP Pulse and MB HPC network.
 
I can't imagine owning an EV without a home/residential or a reliable workplace charge option. It would be so tedious to rely on supercharging more than occaisionally.

Sure, the service centers are few and far between and totally overwhelmed, but the odds of needing service are low. Get an Air!
 
Southeaster here. When I got my first EV in '22, there were very few places to charge it on the road. Fast forward to today, and there are a ton of DCFCs everywhere. Apparently there has been a pretty impressive (and quiet) infrastructure buildout over the four years, and that buildout continues today.
 
illopp00 said:
Anyone done any testing with the Air on any of the newer V3.5 or V4 Tesla SC? But really IONNA is where it's at for the Air.
Click to expand...
This. Nothing but excellent experiences using Ionna
 
Miami resident here and recently did a road trip in my 2025 Pure to Orlando for a work conference. No issues with fast charging. I used electrify America near Lake Mary without issue and then a charger at the Flying J just of the turnpike at Yeehaw Junction. There are also multiple FPL chargers at many (but not all) of the Turnpike Service Plazas (in addition to Tesla Superchargers).
 
CLTGT said:
OK, I'm back, sort of. It is time to replace my wife's 2017 GLS 450 with 106k miles on it. I replaced my Lucid Air GT a couple years ago with a BMW X5 M60i. My wife loves driving the BMW and we are thinking about going back to a one SUV, one sedan household. I loved my Air, but hated the charging situation in the Southeast. Has that changed at all? Can you now use the Tesla SC network to charge the Air? That might make me feel a bit better about getting another Air. It seems the Air might be batter software-wise now, especially given what I have read lately (today) here about Gravity. The issues with Gravity though make me more worried about access to service, if needed, for the Air. Has that been an issue for anyone?

The Lucid Air GT really was one of my favorite cars I have owned and I probably would not have gotten rid of it if we could have used the Tesla SC network at that time. Love to hear thoughts on the current status of the Air.
Click to expand...
Who drives which vehicles and how are they used and how many miles per year and on a typical day? The answers to these questions might help you to determine if an EV, hybrid or ICE vehicle would work best for your family. Don't forget that BMW has finally put out a production EV that doesn't unnecessarily make me vomit, the I5 (I used to be a BMW driver but was driven away by the bugs bunny front end).
 
@CLTGT
I think it's a no brainer, especially if you can purchase a nicely maintained used AGT. It seems like those problematic Airs make themselves known right away, so a clean service history is reassuring. I'm not in the South East, but as others point out EV chargers have gotten more plentiful - I'd say for the country in general.
My complaints at this time are slow service response and the big initial depreciation. You'll escape at least one 😅
 
I think there's a service center in Charlotte, so that's helpful too. That's actually my closest service center, and I'm 4.5 hours away. 😬
 
L-Dude said:
I think there's a service center in Charlotte, so that's helpful too. That's actually my closest service center, and I'm 4.5 hours away. 😬
Click to expand...
There is not, and AFAICT there is one mobile service tech (albeit a very good one) who lives in the CLT area and serves all of central NC.
 
Not a Service Center in CLT, but rather a mobile service tech based here. I wonder if they still have one or if that is a position they are looking to fill. When I had my Air GT, I would make not infrequent trips to Cumming, GA, north Atlanta. I really only had two convenient options, one at the Mall of GA and one around Commerce, GA. My last trip to Atlanta in my Air was not pleasant. The Mall of GA was full, so I had to wait, and the one in Commerce had two out of four out of service and the other two occupied. There is only so much wandering around Walmart my wife will do and nothing else close enough to walk to. Many of the vendors referred to above were not really around back then, so I guess I have some more research to do. I also had a trip planned from CLT to Auburn to Laurel, MS to New Orleans to Seaside, FL and back to CLT. When trying to plan that trip, my options were slim and we ended up being forced to take my wife's GLS.

I have a charger in my garage, so day=to-day is no issue. The real issue is when we want to make longer trips. My son lives in Columbia, TN and there are not really many options around him either. New Orleans remains difficult as far as I know, as does Seaside, FL. Just took a glance at the area around Laurel and on the way to NO and there is a noticeable increase in options, same between Atlanta and Charlotte...and around my lake house just east of Asheville.
 
Crazy thing is I can buy a used AGT from Lucid for less than what I sold mine for two years ago.
 
CLTGT said:
Crazy thing is I can buy a used AGT from Lucid for less than what I sold mine for two years ago.
Click to expand...
Yeah, people's desire for the latest and greatest really beats down the value of used luxury EVs. I personally think the Air has aged exceptionally well, and there's been a very good selection of low mileage Airs listed on Lucid's inventory page.
 
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