Brand new Lucid owner, serious range concerns after first trip 2025 AT

[borski]

On those occasions when I get frazzled at a charging station (usually an Electrify America one), I just remind myself of all the gas station stops I avoid most of the rest of the year.

I’ll save my receipts for you

 

[BS8899]

I would also add that regardless of automaker, any of those factors impact range on EVs. Driving fast, cold weather, elevation changes, etc. Not exclusive to Lucid.

I've averaged 3.1 m/kwh over last 2 years on my GT. Have definitely gotten EPA performance on longer drives or when I've been conscious about efficiency. Having said that, I do a lot more stop-and-go/city driving which doesn't help. To be honest, I'm not that concerned about efficiency given all the extra range the car already has.

All good points and well explained. I believe we are still at the point where a true road tripping car can be "recharged" quickly and easily, and without anxiety. For my money, this means a car that can be filled up with gasoline. For those who wish to take road trips in their cars that require charging away from home, I'd recommend a PHEV. Electric within 30 miles of home and great for those road trips as well. As infrastructure and charging speeds improve, there's no doubt that an EV will become the better choice. Just not yet.

I own a AGT. And I do frequent road trips. Nothing insane like the I-90 run Shae was on. Nevertheless, I agree with Shane about the weak charging performance of the Lucid. In short, for road tripping, Lucid focused on the peak 5-10min charging, rather than the flat and sustained charging curve (as in the Porche and other cars).

My road trips are between Sausalito and Phoenix AZ, 780 miles door-to-door. I have driven this route in four different cars; a Lexus 450RX (hybrid), a Honda Clarity PHEV, the Lucid AGT (2022), and my Rivian R1S (2023, Large Pack, quad motor). To @Bobby's point, if I have to pay for the gas or the charging, the Honda PHEV wins hands down! The Clarity can go 47 miles on a full charge. The Clarity has a small gas tank (7 gallons). It takes 2 refueling stops to cover the 780 miles. With the Clarity, you can run in in a hybrid mode where the electric engine augments the gas engine. In this configuration, it runs silky smooth and gets great mileage. Around town, you can cover most of the trips with the 47 mile electric range. It is now my son's car. I don't have it anymore.

Nowadays, I drive the 2022 AGT and the Rivian R1S.

Starting with 100% SoC, I can do it in my AGT with 2 charging stops by charging to about 80-85% and driving at the speed limit. You might argue, what's the big deal with waiting another 15-20m on each of your charging stops? Well, my 780 mile strip takes about 10.5-11 hours in my Lexus/Honda. It takes ~13 hours on the Lucid, and about 14 hours (3 charging stops) on my Rivian. It adds up!

If the Lucid can charge like the Taycan, I can probably do my trip on the Lucid in 12 hours.

Yes, it makes a tangible differences on such a trip!

I don't know if it is possible....if Lucid can offer a charging mode that results in a lower peak charge rate but a longer, flatter charging curve, it would make road trips a lot better!

 

[Shane_SLC]

I agree with you, with three caveats:
1) The DE or GT, imho, is the ultimate road tripper. The Touring is held back by the lower voltage, but the DE and GT don’t have that same limitation. You mentioned this; I’m just underscoring it.

2) I do not agree that it is worse than 400V vehicles, which top out at 250kW max. I simply do not believe that the difference of about 3-4 minutes (which I have tested with a Touring and Model X side by side, because I was curious) makes any difference at all on a road trip. Other 800V cars, maybe; they do have more aggressive charging curves.

3) I would literally pay someone money to bring me my DE right now over this GMC Acadia I’m in driving from GA -> FL -> CA.

Now please forgive me while I scream a little bit into my pillow before I head out to get an oil change for this stupid thing, and new rear brakes. For a rental.

There are *some* ways EVs, in general, are definitely superior road trippers.

Hello from Las Cruces, NM! There’s a lovely Take 5 here which is about to change the oil and brakes in this lovely road tripper.

1. No argument from me there! Certainly most of the blame falls onto me for not doing more research and choosing more wisely (not that I don't love my car, regardless), but I am disappointed that the Touring feels significantly less suited for long distance travel than those trims, is all.

2. My basis for this statement is from data I've seen from Out of Spec's 10% challenge. I know this isn't the only measure of how suited an EV is for road-tripping, but I think it does show how quickly and easily it can cover long distances. I did my own 10% challenge last week (video posting soon?) and my car covered less distance than many 400V cars, including Teslas and Rivians which are not known for their charging performance and/or efficiency. Whether this data really means much in the real world is certainly debatable, but I feel like it has a good amount of relevance. Link to the data for those interested:

10% challenge — Out of Spec Studios

outofspecstudios.com

3. I have no doubt! I really do love road trips in my Touring as well, even without the massaging seats, better charging, and extra range! I'm all in on EV travel.

 

[bassem]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how an AT can get closer to 350kw rate of charging?

I tried let go of my floaties once and wade into the less than ten percent charge level but couldn’t get past 230kw on a deserted road in the outback

 

[Shane_SLC]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how an AT can get closer to 350kw rate of charging?

I tried let go of my floaties once and wade into the less than ten percent charge level but couldn’t get past 230kw on a deserted road in the outback

No one outside of the Lucid engineering team can really say, but I think the fact that my peak charging speed is noticeably lower now than it was before hints that this will probably never happen. I used to be able to peak around 270-280 kW, and now I'm lucky if I can break 250. The charging curve itself can be adjusted a bit more, perhaps, but my suspicion is that the LG cells used for the AT pack are simply not as good as the Samsung (and Panasonic?) cells used for the upper trims. This is just my own theory, but I think the different battery cells play a very large role in the differences in charging performance.

 

[borski]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how an AT can get closer to 350kw rate of charging?

I tried let go of my floaties once and wade into the less than ten percent charge level but couldn’t get past 230kw on a deserted road in the outback

You can’t. And I know GT says 300kW but that’s a CYA. I have personally gotten >340kW on a GT loaner, and I regularly pull >320kW in my DE (as in, every time I DCFC and have preconditioned, but I only ever DCFC if I’m at a low SoC).

Of note, the difference to add 200 miles of range is… 4 minutes.

 

[bassem]

You can’t. And I know GT says 300kW but that’s a CYA. I have personally gotten >340kW on a GT loaner, and I regularly pull >320kW in my DE (as in, every time I DCFC and have preconditioned, but I only ever DCFC if I’m at a low SoC).

Of note, the difference to add 200 miles of range is… 4 minutes.

View attachment 24946

Borski;

I hope you are aware that the minute I plug my vehicle into a 350kw dc circuit I revert to being an impatient minor without the slightest hint of patience.

 

[borski]

No one outside of the Lucid engineering team can really say, but I think the fact that my peak charging speed is noticeably lower now than it was before hints that this will probably never happen. I used to be able to peak around 270-280 kW, and now I'm lucky if I can break 250. The charging curve itself can be adjusted a bit more, perhaps, but my suspicion is that the LG cells used for the AT pack are simply not as good as the Samsung (and Panasonic?) cells used for the upper trims. This is just my own theory, but I think the different battery cells play a very large role in the differences in charging performance.

Has little to do with the cells (though that contributes). It has a significantly smaller pack (92kWh vs 118kWh) and is thus 700V vs 924V. That’s the difference. It has *fewer* cells; that’s why it maxes out at 250kW.

The Battery and Charging tech talks actually explain this pretty well.

 

[borski]

Borski;

I hope you are aware that the minute I plug my vehicle into a 350kw dc circuit I revert to being an impatient minor without the slightest hint of patience.

You and everyone else apparently

 

[bassem]

It’s official, Borski has convinced me to look at the 25 GT !

 

[borski]

It’s official, Borski has convinced me to look at the 25 GT !

Use someone else’s referral code I don’t want that pressure

 

[bassem]

I am putting a bumper sticker on my car

“Don’t blame her, Borski made me do it”

 

[borski]

I’ll save my receipts for you

In other news, I miss my damn car so much. This GMC Acadia rental has me presently changing the oil, adding brake fluid, pumping up the tires, adding coolant, and I’ve stopped at more gas stations these past 2 weeks than I have in like 3 years.

I’m so over burning little tiny fires in my car to make it go putt putt lol

Oh and Hertz has to approve all this bullshit but their hours are 4am-2pm pacific time wtf

And this oil change place has lovely people but also has absolutely no idea that they even have any kind of relationship with Hertz lol.

Love driving cross country in glorious ICE vehicles lol

 

[krmanz]

How is the cabin comfort inside the car? Do you have an issue with wind draft or cold air entering the cabin in colder temperatures?

Yes. The car felt drafty and didn't get to a consistent, comfortable 70 degrees.

 

[Blue Lectroid]

In other news, I miss my damn car so much. This GMC Acadia rental has me presently changing the oil, adding brake fluid, pumping up the tires, adding coolant, and I’ve stopped at more gas stations these past 2 weeks than I have in like 3 years.

I’m so over burning little tiny fires in my car to make it go putt putt lol

Oh and Hertz has to approve all this bullshit but their hours are 4am-2pm pacific time wtf

And this oil change place has lovely people but also has absolutely no idea that they even have any kind of relationship with Hertz lol.

Love driving cross country in glorious ICE vehicles lol

I probably missed this part, but why are you in a rental?

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

In other news, I miss my damn car so much.

Haven't had my car since July. Still in the body shop getting new front bumper cover. I drove it over = purely cosmetic damage.
You can see how badly damaged it was when a yearling deer ran into me.

No word yet. Bill is already over $30k and counting...which doesn't even count 5 months of no free fast-charging.

Meanwhile, as Borski notes, it's quite painful to be without your Air...I didn't even bother to get a rental. No other car will do. I'm ruined.
Looking at a Dream Edition in North Jersey ... wife caught me looking at photos of it ... felt like I was caught looking at porn.

Topic: haven't read the entire string but: the OP has a pretty spectacular range considering he's put every obstacle possible in his way. Very impressive range!
If any EV can go that far under such conditions let me know!

 

[Blue Lectroid]

So is the issue getting parts? Is that why the repair is taking so long?

 

[jedwin]

Haven't had my car since July. Still in the body shop getting new front bumper cover. I drove it over = purely cosmetic damage.
You can see how badly damaged it was when a yearling deer ran into me.
View attachment 24951 No word yet. Bill is already over $30k

That looks pretty minor….what’s driving the $30K bill? Were there sensor/safety issues that precluded you driving it til parts come, though you could drive it in to the shop?

(If you’ve gone into all this elsewhere, just say so and I’ll search it out!)