Boost Pedal useless? I don't think so anymore.

[marsarbu]

I always thought having a steering wheel pedal / button for engaging a short time "boost" is stupid and useless and a gimmick. Why not have the boost available all the time, why do you have to do a dance to get it?

Well, for the last few days I had the privilege of driving an i7 xDrive60. I'm not going to get into Air vs i7, but it had the "boost" pedal/flap and I was thinking, could that be the best of both worlds?

• In general, I heard that the max boost mode in an EV, is also the least efficient mode. In other words, if you want to have max boost available all the time, all kind of stuff in the car needs to be up to the task, and that leads to less miles / kWh. So having it on all the time, even when you're not using it, is not the best news for your range.
• Because the EVs are fast as hell usually, the pedal-to-the-metal orgasm doesn't last for more than 5 - 10 seconds, or you'll hit the max speed of the car. Or the cop in front of you. So the 10 seconds of boost that the i7 gave at one time, was more than enough. Again, no need for it at all times.
• Most people would probably prefer max range all the time and max boost on request, than max boost all the time with lower range.

I know that Air also offers the 3 modes, but you have to tap the screen if you want to race that boosted '87 Civic, then tap again back to Smooth mode and let the Civic pass you in a cloud of smoke and glory. I now think that the pedal/button does the job better. To be clear, I'm not an aggressive driver, most of the time I drive pretty calmly. Others might want the boost on at all times, and that's fine.

Anyway, just spamming the forum with thoughts on the rocket pedal - curious to hear your take.

 

[segbrk]

This would be my #1 use for a programmable steering wheel button like in Gravity. A quick toggle to Sprint mode and back for passing. Hopefully that’s an option, and hopefully those fancy steering wheel controls come to other Lucids in the future.

 

[coma24]

This would be my #1 use for a programmable steering wheel button like in Gravity. A quick toggle to Sprint mode and back for passing. Hopefully that’s an option, and hopefully those fancy steering wheel controls come to other Lucids in the future.

I concur, I do use Sprint occasionally, but typically only in short bursts unless I'm going for a spirited drive in nice weather through back country roads.

 

[Joelaron]

So much in agreement with you. Aside from the usual WRX/STI and 87 Civic challenges that end in the whoosh of my GT silently nearing the speed of light as if the horizon owes me money…. It’s getting on the highways of Northern California’s ‘on-ramp testing grounds’… i joke, but the Sir Francis Drake highway 101 interchange is the crown jewel of bad planning for merging onto and off of a highway in Marin County (if not the entire country). back to the point.. I am constantly going to ‘sprint’ to merge, and back to ‘smooth’ as i get on the SB on-ramp as quickly as possible before my wife in the passenger seat vomits. I did similar w/ my Mercedes, using the kick down button with a full throttle push/click. I miss that. Would be AMAZING to treat the volume/play/stop as programmable functions to the drive system… cause I RARELY use the insanely latent volume and just use the dial/roller on the dash. Would LOVE to have the volume up/down be regen power, and the push button cycle drive modes or activate ‘sprint’ for 20 sec. Just a thought.