Lucid announced Atlas, its next-generation drive unit

[Joe]

Lucid announced Atlas, its next-generation drive unit, currently in development and undergoing extensive testing. This new drive unit enhances value for Lucid and its customers. The Atlas Drive Unit is designed for Lucid's upcoming midsize platform vehicles.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1833495259575423408

 

[skomarla]

What is the expectation of Atlas?

Smaller unit, more efficient, less powerful (as the mid size probably doesn't need the power out that a full size may need)?

 

[NoseyReporter]

Aptly named, almost scarily so.

 

[NoseyReporter]

What is the expectation of Atlas?

Smaller unit, more efficient, less powerful (as the mid size probably doesn't need the power out that a full size may need)?

Primarily, it's got to be cost. Whatever needs to happen to drive unit cost down, and improve efficiency so battery cost can be reduced.

So if it ends up being smaller, less powerful, and more efficient because the overall vehicle BOM is lower... Ta-Da. Easier said than done.

 

[hmp10]

Primarily, it's got to be cost. Whatever needs to happen to drive unit cost down, and improve efficiency so battery cost can be reduced.

So if it ends up being smaller, less powerful, and more efficient because the overall vehicle BOM is lower... Ta-Da. Easier said than done.

As a general rule, electric motors operate more efficiently lower in their power band. Rawlinson has, in fact, made this point to explain why Lucid motors are engineered to be so powerful and why this power, unlike with a gas combustion engine, therefore comes almost for free in pursuit of efficiency.

The Atlas motor was wrapped in mystery during the presentation, including even the blacked-out graphics. This doesn't strike me as just a scaled-down version of existing motor technology. I'm wondering if they're developing a motor that changes something about the power/efficiency equation.

 

[OCDC]

Speculating, I wonder if Atlas is a production version of this:

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