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The electric vehicle (EV) market has seen remarkable advancements in recent years, with manufacturers pushing the boundaries of range and charging capabilities. Among these innovations, the Lucid Air stands out as a frontrunner, offering an impressive combination of long-range driving and rapid charging. This article delves into the charging performance of the 2024 Lucid Air Grand Touring, analyzing its capabilities and comparing it to other top-performing EVs in the market.
Lucid Air Grand Touring: Specifications and Range
The 2024 Lucid Air Grand Touring boasts impressive specifications that set it apart from many other EVs:
- Battery capacity: 118 kWh total, with approximately 111 kWh usable
- EPA-rated range: 516 miles (with 19-inch wheels)
- Real-world range: 463 miles at a constant 70 mph (based on testing)
It's worth noting that during the range test, there was potentially an additional 4.4 kWh of energy remaining in the battery pack, which could have extended the range to around 485 miles at 70 mph. This impressive range makes the Lucid Air Grand Touring the longest-range electric vehicle available today.
DC Fast Charging Test: Methodology
To evaluate the Lucid Air's charging capabilities, a full 0-100% charging session was conducted using a 350 kW DC fast charger on the Electrify America network. The test aimed to drain the battery as much as possible before beginning the charging session to get an accurate representation of the vehicle's charging curve.
Charging Performance Analysis
Initial Charging Rate
The Lucid Air demonstrated impressive charging speeds from the start:
- 0 minutes: 255 kW
- 1 minute: 295 kW
- 2 minutes 18 seconds: Peak rate of 319 kW
This rapid initial charge rate allows the vehicle to quickly add range, making it ideal for minimizing charging stops during long trips.
Charging Curve
After reaching its peak charging rate, the Lucid Air's charging power began to taper:
- 4 minutes 15 seconds (17% SoC): Dropped below 300 kW
- 8 minutes (30% SoC): 250 kW
- 11 minutes (41% SoC): 50 kWh added (nearly 200 miles of range)
However, at this point, an unexpected drop in charging power occurred:
- 11-16 minutes: Power intake decreased faster than expected
- 16 minutes (52% SoC): Bottomed out at 123 kW
Lucid's engineering team confirmed that this temporary reduction in charging power was likely due to thermal management. After this brief period, the charging rate recovered:
- 16-30 minutes: Climbed back to 140 kW
- 30-35 minutes (76% SoC): Began dropping again
- 35 minutes (80% SoC): 112 kW
Despite this temporary dip, the Lucid Air maintained impressive charging speeds even at higher states of charge:
- 83-91% SoC: Held steady at around 80 kW
- 91-100% SoC: Linear drop-off
The full 0-100% charging session was completed in 70 minutes, with the charging station dispensing a total of 126.6 kWh.
Charging Speed Milestones
To put the Lucid Air's charging performance into perspective, let's look at how quickly it can add range:
Based on EPA Range (516 miles)
- 100 miles: Under 5 minutes
- 200 miles: 10.5 minutes
- 300 miles: 20 minutes
- 400 miles: 30 minutes
Based on 70 mph Highway Range Test (463 miles)
- 100 miles: About 5.5 minutes
- 200 miles: About 12 minutes
- 300 miles: 23.75 minutes
- 400 miles: Just under 37 minutes
These figures demonstrate the Lucid Air's ability to add substantial range in short charging sessions, making it an excellent choice for long-distance travel.
Charging Efficiency Over Time
Analyzing the miles added per minute of charging reveals the importance of unplugging once sufficient range is achieved:
- 0-10 minutes: 17.1-19.1 miles per minute
- 10-20 minutes: 9.8-10.8 miles per minute
- 20-30 minutes: 8.8-9.8 miles per minute
- 30-40 minutes: 6.0-6.7 miles per minute
- 40-50 minutes: 1.8-2.1 miles per minute
- 50-60 minutes: 1.4-1.6 miles per minute
- 60-70 minutes: 1.4-1.5 miles per minute
This data clearly shows the diminishing returns of charging beyond 80% state of charge, emphasizing the importance of strategic charging during road trips.
Comparison with Other Top-Performing EVs
While the Lucid Air demonstrates exceptional charging capabilities, it's essential to compare it with other leading EVs in the market:
Chevrolet Silverado EV
- Larger battery pack (200 kWh)
- Can sustain higher charging rates for longer periods
- Reported to add 100 kWh in 18 minutes
In comparison, the Lucid Air added 66.5 kWh in 18 minutes during this test. However, the Air's superior efficiency means it can travel about 250 miles with that energy, compared to the Silverado EV's estimated 200 miles.
Porsche Taycan
- Can add power more quickly in the initial charging phase
- Reported to charge from 0-50% in 9 minutes, adding 50 kWh
In the same 9-minute period, the Lucid Air reached 34% state of charge, adding 42 kWh. However, the Air's efficiency allows it to travel about 175 miles with that energy, compared to the Taycan's estimated 160 miles.
Defining the "Best" DC Fast Charging EV
Determining the "best" DC fast charging electric vehicle depends on the criteria used for evaluation:
- Total power added: The Chevrolet Silverado EV and Porsche Taycan can add more kilowatt-hours in a given time frame.
- Miles of range added: The Lucid Air's efficiency allows it to add more miles of range per kilowatt-hour charged.
- Sustained high charging rates: The Silverado EV and Taycan maintain higher charging rates for longer periods.
- Real-world usability: The Lucid Air's combination of efficiency and fast charging may be more practical for most users.
Ultimately, the definition of "best" will vary depending on individual needs and preferences.
Conclusion
The Lucid Air Grand Touring stands out as an exceptional electric vehicle, offering the longest range of any EV currently on the market and demonstrating impressive DC fast charging capabilities. Its ability to add hundreds of miles of range in short charging sessions makes it an excellent choice for long-distance travel.
While other EVs like the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Porsche Taycan may be able to add raw power more quickly, the Lucid Air's efficiency allows it to translate that power into more miles of range. This combination of range and charging speed puts the Lucid Air at the forefront of electric vehicle technology.
As the EV market continues to evolve, we can expect to see further advancements in charging technology and efficiency. For now, the Lucid Air represents a significant step forward in making electric vehicles practical for all types of driving, from daily commutes to cross-country road trips.
Whether the Lucid Air is the "best" DC fast charging EV may be subjective, but it undoubtedly sets a high bar for performance, efficiency, and charging speed. As more consumers adopt electric vehicles, innovations like those seen in the Lucid Air will play a crucial role in overcoming range anxiety and making EVs a viable option for an ever-wider range of drivers.
Future Developments
Looking ahead, there are reports of even faster-charging electric vehicles being developed in China. While these claims are exciting, they will need to be independently verified and tested before they can be compared directly to vehicles like the Lucid Air, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and Porsche Taycan.
As charging technology continues to advance, we can expect to see further reductions in charging times and improvements in charging efficiency across the EV market. These developments will be crucial in addressing one of the main concerns potential EV buyers have: the time required for long-distance travel.
The Lucid Air's performance in this test demonstrates that electric vehicles are already capable of adding hundreds of miles of range in the time it takes to have a quick meal or coffee break. As this technology becomes more widespread and charging infrastructure continues to expand, the convenience gap between EVs and traditional internal combustion engine vehicles will continue to narrow.
In the coming years, we can anticipate:
- Higher peak charging rates, potentially exceeding 350 kW
- More consistent charging curves with less tapering at higher states of charge
- Improved battery thermal management to maintain high charging rates for longer periods
- Advancements in battery chemistry to support faster charging without degradation
- Expansion of ultra-fast charging networks to support these higher charging rates
These developments will further enhance the practicality of electric vehicles for all types of users, from daily commuters to long-distance travelers.
In conclusion, the Lucid Air Grand Touring represents the current pinnacle of electric vehicle range and charging capabilities. Its performance in this charging test demonstrates that EVs can now offer a combination of range and charging speed that makes them suitable for even the most demanding driving scenarios. As the technology continues to evolve, we can look forward to even more impressive achievements in the world of electric vehicles.
Article created from: https://youtu.be/B5zs2mH189M?feature=shared
