Charge port location- A problem for some?

[Lucken]

A topic that’s gotten frequent discussion on Audi forums is the location of the charge ports. The Audi is unusual in that the upper trim levels have 2 charge ports, one on both left & right front fenders. The passenger side port is for AC charging and the driver’s side is for both high speed, DC charging, as well as an additional AC charging port. In my case it’s convenient since I pull into my garage on the right hand spot and have an easy connection to my wall-mounted charger on the right hand side wall. But that’s only AC charging.

So what’s the issue? The problem that some here may not yet have experienced (including Tesla owners), is charging at high speed, level 3 chargers. Invariably the charging cables are very short, very stiff and very heavy due to the high voltage & required liquid cooling. This necessitates inching up as close as you can (I use the Audi’s cameras to ensure I don’t hit the charging station) to minimize the required reach to the port. Even then it is most definitely a two-handed operation due to the cable’s weight & stiffness (primarily EA chargers). Whenever I used a Tesla SC for my MS, the cables were also quite short but far lighter and thinner. I needed to use only one hand.

The Lucid’s high speed port is located in essentially the same location as the Audi’s, driver’s side front fender, aft of the front tire. I’d be curious to know the actual measurement from the front of the car to the center of the charging port. I’m not sure which car, the e-Tron or the Lucid, has a longer hood. That would give us a good idea which will have a longer reach to the port.

Is this a big deal? Not really for me, a bit of a PIA, but I’ve grown accustomed to it over the years. However in reading some posts, it is a big deal for some, with several owners cursing Audi for the location of the high speed port.

 

[hmp10]

This is probably why Rivian puts its charge ports right behind the headlights. However, since Lucid entered into the agreement with Electrify America a bit over three years ago, I can't imagine that the charge ports weren't located with access to EA charging terminals in mind.

My gripe with Level 3 charging stations is that very few of them have cover to protect a user from rain. It was bad enough with the Tesla Superchargers, most of which are uncovered unless in parking garages. But having to use two hands to plug in to an EA charger would prevent you from even using an umbrella. On top of that, if you have to use a credit card reader to activate the charging . . . .

Supposedly the EA chargers will be ready for plug-and-charge by the time Lucid hits the market, but I've read reports that the roll-out of plug-and-charge has not been exactly seamless.

 

[dawktah LucidGT]

This is probably why Rivian puts its charge ports right behind the headlights. However, since Lucid entered into the agreement with Electrify America a bit over three years ago, I can't imagine that the charge ports weren't located with access to EA charging terminals in mind.

My gripe with Level 3 charging stations is that very few of them have cover to protect a user from rain. It was bad enough with the Tesla Superchargers, most of which are uncovered unless in parking garages. But having to use two hands to plug in to an EA charger would prevent you from even using an umbrella. On top of that, if you have to use a credit card reader to activate the charging . . . .

Supposedly the EA chargers will be ready for plug-and-charge by the time Lucid hits the market, but I've read reports that the roll-out of plug-and-charge has not been exactly seamless.

I guess this is true, I hadn't put much thought into it. I had only considered our current parking in the garage and I park on the right and I briefly looked at 25' cable and it may not reach. One advantage is that we will probably be moving soon so next house this has to work for location of lucid bi-directional box. Circuit panel in garage would be bonus. Current house front wall of garage is just as far away. The third space in our garage has a single door but it's the farthest away from the circuit panel and would be a logistical nightmare running 80a line. Plus I'd have to always back in.

I have yet to walk up to an EA charger. Maybe a visit is in order.

Switching from ICE does require a learning curve.

 

[hmp10]

When we built in 2016-17 we already had a Tesla and knew we would have multiple EVs eventually. So we put in 400-amp service and a 50-amp and a 100-amp 240-volt line with FEMA 14-50 plugs. As it turns out, they're ideally located for the rear charging port of our Tesla and the front charging port of the Lucid.

I asked my Delivery Advisor when the Lucid wall charger would be available, and she said not until later in the year -- whatever that means. There's a good chance that the earliest Dream recipients will have to charge without a Lucid wall charger. We may decide to do without the wall charger. I never encountered a situation with bringing the Tesla home and needing to recharge it quicker than the FEMA rig allowed.

As we have frequent summer power outages where we live due to its being the lightning capital of the world, I might find the two-way charging Lucid provides useful. However, we have a 35kW whole-house generator. I've talked to an electrician about ganging the transfer switch of the Lucid wall connector to the transfer switch for the generator, and his eyes just rolled back into his head. He said he would have to get technical material from Lucid to figure out if it was possible.

We were without power for nine days in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, and we went almost two days without power while waiting to get the propane tank refilled after the generator drained it. It would have been nice to have covered the gap with a car battery. On the other hand, we would want to keep an EV available during a prolonged power outage. (One of the reasons we drained the propane tank was that we used the generator to keep the Tesla charged as well as run the house. Eight friends took refuge with us during the storm. As gasoline had become unavailable several days before the storm hit and remained unavailable for over a week after the storm, we used the Tesla to shuttle people to check out their own properties as soon as the roads became passable.)

 

[dawktah LucidGT]

@hmp10 if possible I plan on installing a whole house UPS this time around. It will be interesting to see how fast the lucid transfer switch will be. Will it eliminate the need for the UPS? Our Kohler generator starts immediately but takes about 20-30 seconds before transfer of the load. I've placed APC units all around house, which I'd like to get rid of.

The whole house UPS I'm looking at you can vary the time when it transfers over to the generator based on battery capacity remaining.

 

[hmp10]

We have a Generac, and the load transfers almost immediately upon generator start up. However, we (and several neighbors) have had to replace a lot of electrical and electronics components due to our constant summer outages. We're at the very end of the longest power line off the substation (20 miles), and we get voltage whipsawing as well as the constant triggering of the seven lightening arrestors between us and the substation.

We and our next door neighbor investigated whole-house UPS equipment and got quotes north of $20,000. Our Homeowners Association is thinking about trying to get a package deal for several houses.

I'd be interested to know what you find out when you explore this.

 

[Lucken]

This is probably why Rivian puts its charge ports right behind the headlights. However, since Lucid entered into the agreement with Electrify America a bit over three years ago, I can't imagine that the charge ports weren't located with access to EA charging terminals in mind.

My gripe with Level 3 charging stations is that very few of them have cover to protect a user from rain. It was bad enough with the Tesla Superchargers, most of which are uncovered unless in parking garages. But having to use two hands to plug in to an EA charger would prevent you from even using an umbrella. On top of that, if you have to use a credit card reader to activate the charging . . . .

Supposedly the EA chargers will be ready for plug-and-charge by the time Lucid hits the market, but I've read reports that the roll-out of plug-and-charge has not been exactly seamless.

My guess it will be as 'good/bad' as my Audi. With the ports in essentially the same location, you will need to tug on the cable and use 2 hands to make the connection. Trust me, this is not like it is with a relatively lightweight SC cable. The EA cables are extremely thick and stiff, thus requiring the 2 handed connection approach.

Everyone will have their own tolerance for this. I'm OK with it, having acclimated to it over the last 2 years. Others, based on the Audi forums, despise the 'struggle'. I can see those with arm or shoulder issues might have more of a problem.

 

[hmp10]

On those times I will have to charge away from home there'll be someone else along on the trip. I'll just issue instructions from the massaging front seat . . . .

 

[Lucken]

On those times I will have to charge away from home there'll be someone else along on the trip. I'll just issue instructions from the massaging front seat . . . .

You won't make any new friends that way.

 

[dawktah LucidGT]

We have a Generac, and the load transfers almost immediately upon generator start up. However, we (and several neighbors) have had to replace a lot of electrical and electronics components due to our constant summer outages. We're at the very end of the longest power line off the substation (20 miles), and we get voltage whipsawing as well as the constant triggering of the seven lightening arrestors between us and the substation.

We and our next door neighbor investigated whole-house UPS equipment and got quotes north of $20,000. Our Homeowners Association is thinking about trying to get a package deal for several houses.

I'd be interested to know what you find out when you explore this.

Don't want to go too off topic but never had issue with Kohler, I was advised to run away from Generac. I'll PM you info once I gather it back up.

 

[dawktah LucidGT]

My guess it will be as 'good/bad' as my Audi. With the ports in essentially the same location, you will need to tug on the cable and use 2 hands to make the connection. Trust me, this is not like it is with a relatively lightweight SC cable. The EA cables are extremely thick and stiff, thus requiring the 2 handed connection approach.

Everyone will have their own tolerance for this. I'm OK with it, having acclimated to it over the last 2 years. Others, based on the Audi forums, despise the 'struggle'. I can see those with arm or shoulder issues might have more of a problem.

I will let Design Studio know my test drive MUST include stop at EA charger.

 

[Sandvinsd]

in San Diego there will be an EA charger where the studio is located. Both the charging and the studio are in construction. Would be great if I can test drive one from the studio and test the charging too.

 

[dawktah LucidGT]

in San Diego there will be an EA charger where the studio is located. Both the charging and the studio are in construction. Would be great if I can test drive one from the studio and test the charging too.

That's my plan, charger isn't that close to Oak Brook Studio though. So I'm going to make sure they have enough time scheduled. I'll also request car be low on charge, what value should I be looking for?

 

[hmp10]

Most reviewers recommend that road trippers should plan on running packs down to 20% and recharging up to 80%, both to prolong battery life and to avoid risks of cutting it too close on getting to a charger should weather, traffic, or road conditions unexpectedly deteriorate.

However, it might be tricky for a Design Studio to ensure a car battery is running that low on a demo car. For one thing, the car's acceleration will be affected at such a low charge, and they might want the cars ready to impress customers with their punch off the line.

 

[Sandvinsd]

If you are looking for how fast it chargers, the lower the better. Once one gets to 80%, the charging speed slows considerably and continues to slow the closer you get to a full charge.

 

[Lucken]

If you are looking for how fast it chargers, the lower the better. Once one gets to 80%, the charging speed slows considerably and continues to slow the closer you get to a full charge.

So that very much depends on the car. That was very true with my MS, but far less so with my e-Tron. The e-Tron probably has the most linear charging curve of any BEV and thus charging times are very quick...at least within the BEV world. We actually know very little about the Lucid's charging curve, but hopefully that important information will come with some in-depth reviews (if they ever come).

 

[SDHacker]

That's my plan, charger isn't that close to Oak Brook Studio though. So I'm going to make sure they have enough time scheduled. I'll also request car be low on charge, what value should I be looking for?

The charge rate today isn't the rate you may see tomorrow. Kyle stated that Lucid engineers told him they would start with a conservative charge curve then ramp up The number to look for depends on where you are on the curve. Seems like every EV has a different charge curve designed for it...and manufacturers change the curve as they get more comfortable with how the vehicles are performing via OTA update. Lucid might go the Taycan route and be aggressive to 50% then taper off. They will probably charge the test cars every night and depending on demand, limit test drive duration.

On your cross country trip, you will also run into EA stations where they haven't upgraded to 350 and are still at 150 so be prepared for longer waits to charge since you might want to charge to 90 - 100% for some legs. Depending on the curve, it could take 2 to 3 times as long to get from 70% to 100% as it took to get from 20% to 70%.

 

[dawktah LucidGT]

As of right now charging is planned around meals. So as long as it takes less than that we'll be fine.

The charge rate today isn't the rate you may see tomorrow. Kyle stated that Lucid engineers told him they would start with a conservative charge curve then ramp up The number to look for depends on where you are on the curve. Seems like every EV has a different charge curve designed for it...and manufacturers change the curve as they get more comfortable with how the vehicles are performing via OTA update. Lucid might go the Taycan route and be aggressive to 50% then taper off. They will probably charge the test cars every night and depending on demand, limit test drive duration.

On your cross country trip, you will also run into EA stations where they haven't upgraded to 350 and are still at 150 so be prepared for longer waits to charge since you might want to charge to 90 - 100% for some legs. Depending on the curve, it could take 2 to 3 times as long to get from 70% to 100% as it took to get from 20% to 70%.

I guess what's weird to me is how fast these cars get above the speed limit and it's being encouraged. There's no place near Oak Brook where doing that is safe. Route 83 or I-88/294

 

[hmp10]

I guess what's weird to me is how fast these cars get above the speed limit and it's being encouraged.

This worries me, too, especially when more of these cars get into the hands of immature or aggressive drivers.

I have always loved quick acceleration when conditions allow but have no interest in driving at particularly high speeds, even on open roads. We've had our Plaid for almost two months and have not yet come close to opening the throttle all the way, and probably never will. The real appeal to me of these very powerful EVs is in how fluidly and instantly they adjust speed at typical roadway speeds -- and in both directions. I find the fluidity of strong regenerative braking and one-pedal driving just as enjoyable as quick acceleration.

 

[Sandvinsd]

As of right now charging is planned around meals. So as long as it takes less than that we'll be fine.

That is what I like about the AGTs range. I can actually drive until I need a meal break. Charge. Then drive to my destination, presumably a hotel with an overnight charger available. For road trips, one really needs a car with a 500 mile to a 1000km range. That solves both range anxiety and charging time issues.