MotorTrend review 2025 Air Pure -- Positive First Test

[Steveinarizona]

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2025-lucid-air-pure-first-test/

 

[Buffalo Bob]

Nice article. The only thing that bothers me is the statement about how the car's EPA 5.0 miles/kWh 'ignores the charging losses that consume additional electricity when you plug in'. The way it's written reads to me as though this is Lucid's doing, and thus misleading, when that's how the EPA calculates their miles/kWh for ALL vehicles.

 

[Adnillien]

Nice article. The only thing that bothers me is the statement about how the car's EPA 5.0 miles/kWh 'ignores the charging losses that consume additional electricity when you plug in'. The way it's written reads to me as though this is Lucid's doing, and thus misleading, when that's how the EPA calculates their miles/kWh for ALL vehicles.

The EPA does include Level 2 charging losses in their calculation. This is useful if you want to know what the cost of electricity to drive a certain number of miles. However, it is not helpful when trying to figure your range on a full battery. Both numbers a useful for different things. Lucid chooses to talk about efficiency while driving which is Lucid's key competitive advantage.

 

[illopp00]

Nice article. The only thing that bothers me is the statement about how the car's EPA 5.0 miles/kWh 'ignores the charging losses that consume additional electricity when you plug in'. The way it's written reads to me as though this is Lucid's doing, and thus misleading, when that's how the EPA calculates their miles/kWh for ALL vehicles.

That and their conflicting statement about the Sapphire being slower in the Quarter Mile than the recently tested Porsche Taycan GT Weissach.

"The Lucid Air is a car of extremes. Just a little over a year ago, a Lucid Air Sapphire prototype melted its tires and our minds after putting down the quickest quarter-mile time we’d ever recorded (it was recently surpassed by an electric Porsche)."

"
In the quarter mile, the 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Weissach hangs on to post the second-quickest time we’ve ever recorded, blowing through the lights in 9.23 seconds at 150.1 mph, just a tick ahead of the non-Weissach Turbo GT (9.34 seconds at 148.7 mph) and a hair behind the more powerful Air Sapphire, our quarter-mile record holder with its blistering 9.21 seconds at 157.1 mph. "

 

[Buffalo Bob]

The EPA does include Level 2 charging losses in their calculation. This is useful if you want to know what the cost of electricity to drive a certain number of miles. However, it is not helpful when trying to figure your range on a full battery. Both numbers a useful for different things. Lucid chooses to talk about efficiency while driving which is Lucid's key competitive advantage.

So, does the EPA miles/kWh that appears on EV window stickers include or not include charging losses? Stated differently, does Lucid report in a different manner from everyone else?

 

[illopp00]

The pure on 19in wheels will definitely do 5 mi/kwhr on the EPA drive cycle without charging losses included.

From Car and Driver's explanation of testing their real-world vs EPA.
"That's why there are two terms used: efficiency, which can be expressed in MPGe, includes charging losses, while consumption, the energy use while driving, doesn't include them."

 

[Adnillien]

So, does the EPA miles/kWh that appears on EV window stickers include or not include charging losses? Stated differently, does Lucid report in a different manner from everyone else?

Yes the mileage on the EPA label includes charging losses. The EPA also specifies efficiency on kWhr/100mi.

The Pure has an 84kWhr pack so Lucid calculates the driving efficiency 420 miles of range divided by 84kWhr or 5.0 mi/kWhr

The EPA shows efficiency of 23kWhr/100mi or 4.35 mi/kWhr. The details showing the inclusion of level 2 charging losses are in the testing procedure, not on the label.

 

[Buffalo Bob]

Yes the mileage on the EPA label includes charging losses. The EPA also specifies efficiency on kWhr/100mi.

View attachment 27886
The Pure has an 84kWhr pack so Lucid calculates the driving efficiency 420 miles of range divided by 84kWhr or 5.0 mi/kWhr

The EPA shows efficiency of 23kWhr/100mi or 4.35 mi/kWhr. The details showing the inclusion of level 2 charging losses are in the testing procedure, not on the label.

Thanks! I understand now! Much appreciated.

 

[scal_air]

I agree, nice article. Lucid getting some good press lately.

BTW - I couldn't stand it and emailed the author pointing out the Sapphire is indeed, the fastest car in the quarter mile...